ProRodeo Sports News - Nov.20, 2020

ALL-AROUND COWBOY

Down to the Wire Wright, Cooper and Smith in three-way battle

BY MATT NABER T he potential to win three world titles boiled down to an eight-second ride on Burch Rodeo’s Lunatic FromHell at the end of the regular season. Luckily, StetsonWright thrives under pressure. With a 90-point ride, the reigning all-around world champion simultaneously took the lead in the PRCA | RAM World Standings for the all-around title and qualified in a second event for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo during the Gold Buckle Beer ProRodeo Tour Finale at the end of September. “I honestly wasn’t paying too much attention to the all-around standings since I was third, but when the season ended, I looked and was like, ‘How the heck did that happen?’” Stetson laughed. “I’m not going to lie, I don’t feel like I had a good year when it came to bull riding. I started riding good at the end of the year and that is better than having a bad end to the year and carrying that into the Finals.” Wright’s lead, however, didn’t last long. Following the ClemMcSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, Nov. 6-7, Tuf Cooper finished sixth in the steer roping world standings to move into the lead of the all- around standings with $111,450. “I did pretty well at the NFSR, and I have the lead in the all-around now,” said Cooper, 29. “But Stetson has broncs and bulls each night and I have calves. Who knows what will happen? Stetson might ride all 10 (in his events), who knows? Honestly, my focus is winning the world championship in (tie-down) roping. If I win the world championship in (tie- down) roping I’m probably going to win the all-around.” Cooper’s brother-in-law, Trevor Brazile, notched his eighth steer roping world title and climbed to second in the all-around world standings. But Brazile isn’t competing at the Wrangler NFR. Then there’s Clay Smith, the two-time defending world champ in team roping heading. Smith is fourth with $80,737 and in contention for his third consecutive heading title. Although saddle bronc riding is a Wright family tradition – Stetson will be joined by his brothers Rusty and Ryder in the saddle bronc riding competition – Stetson almost pulled out of the race. “In bull riding fromDay 1 of this year I kept getting hurt, but in bronc riding I was so done with it and I didn’t even want to do it anymore,” Stetson said. “I was tired of getting bucked off and making myself look dumb. Then I wasn’t doing well in bull riding and was doing well in saddle bronc riding; but at the end of the season I was riding well in both and I haven’t felt that since high school.” Stetson’s saddle bronc riding turned around in February, GETTING BOTH EVENTS GOING

2020 ALL-AROUND COWBOY STANDINGS

1. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas..................... $111,450 2. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas..................... 94,803 3. Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah.................... 86,584 4. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla.................... 80,737 5. Zack Jongbloed, Iowa, La........................... 44,170 6. Thomas Smith, Barnsdall, Okla.................. 40,401 7. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D................................. 37,509 8. Maverick Harper, Iowa, La.......................... 17,000 9. Laramie Allen, Llano, Texas........................ 16,057 10. Marcus Theriot, Poplarville, Miss.............. 15,666 11. Luke Gee, Stanford, ................................. 13,619 12. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah................. 13,555 13. Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss......................... 13,433 14. Blake Deckard, Henryetta, Okla................. 12,308 15. Caleb McMillan, Soap Lake, Wash............ 10,600 QUOTABLE “I honestly wasn’t paying too much attention to the all-around standings since I was third, but when the season ended, I looked and was like, ‘How the heck did that happen?’” –Stetson Wright

WHERE THINGS STAND

• All-Around World Champion – After the Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, Tuf Cooper grabbed a lead of $24,866 over third- place Stetson Wright (saddle bronc riding and bull riding) and $30,713 over Clay Smith (team roping). Trevor Brazile, who is not at the Finals so can't earn any more money, is in second.

Stetson Wright acknowledges the audience at Las Vegas' Thomas & Mack Center during the first night of the 2019 Wrangler Nationals Finals Rodeo. He's looking to add to his trophy case in Texas. PRCA ProRodeo file photo

Cooper

Smith

ProRodeo Sports News 11/20/2020

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

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