ProRodeo Sports News - Nov. 22, 2019

DECEMBER 5-14 LAS VEGAS

Rookie Rocket Stetson Wright leads All-Around race

BY MATT NABER T he Wright family is ProRodeo saddle bronc riding royalty with world champions and multiple qualifiers for the Wran- gler National Finals Rodeo. But the youngest competing member brought his own twist to ProRodeo competition in 2019. StetsonWright is aiming to add all-around and bull riding world titles to the family’s long list of ProRodeo accomplishments. “They all rode bulls, but nobody continued really,” said Cody Wright, Stetson’s dad and a two-time world champion saddle bronc rider. “Stetson carried on, and it’s something he’s liked to do. It’s not very surprising to me, honestly. It has been an awesome year. I’m tickled for him.” As he enters theThomas &Mack Center, StetsonWright is in the running for three rookie-of-the-year titles and two world titles. He leads the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings in the all-around and is second in bull riding. He’s also at the top of the rookie standings for all-around and bull riding and has already sealed the saddle bronc riding rookie of the year title. “I’m feeling really good,” StetsonWright said. “Most people say if you go in at No. 1 to keep doing what you’re doing with no pressure.” The rookie races will be decided at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Dec. 5-14. StetsonWright, Haven Meged and Daylon Swearingen are battling for the all-around rookie title. Meged and Shad Mayfield are competing in tie-down roping. The bull riding rookie race involves StetsonWright, Swearingen and Trey Kimzey. The all-around world title race depends on how well Tuf Cooper performs at the ClemMcSpadden National Finals Steer Roping, how well Clay Smith does in team roping and how well Caleb Smidt and Cooper do in tie-down roping at the Wrangler NFR. And of course, StetsonWright’s performance in bull riding. “He can do just about anything he wants,” Cody Wright said. “He rides broncs super good but didn’t have the best of luck this year, but it’s coming around and that’s why they call it your rookie year. I’m proud of him.” Stetson leads the all-around race in the rookie standings as well as the world standings with $182,999. The 20-year-old Utah cowboy won $152,422 in bull riding and $71,301 in saddle bronc riding. However, $40,724 of his bull riding earnings came from Xtreme Bulls events, which do not count toward the all-around standings. “I feel like it (winning the all-around world title) would help me tremendously with everything,” Stetson said. “This being my first year going pro, to have that kick-start the rest of my career would help me a lot.” Ryder Wright, Stetson’s brother and the 2017 saddle bronc riding world champion, will be cheering Stetson at the Wrangler NFR. Ryder leads the world standings for saddle bronc riding. “It’s cool to see him at the top of the all-around standings,” Ryder Wright said. “I think everyone is pulling for him to get the all-around title.” ProRodeo stardom is a lifelong dream for Stetson. But it wasn’t until his junior and senior years of high school that he

2019 ALL-AROUND STANDINGS

1. Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah............... $182,999 2. Clay Smith, Broken Bow, Okla................. 161,364 3. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas.................... 145,190 4. Tuf Cooper, Decatur, Texas...................... 136,025 5. Steven Dent, Mullen, Neb........................ 101,577 6. Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah................. 94,653 7. Josh Frost, Randlett, Utah......................... 82,732 8. Tanner Green, Cotulla, Texas..................... 72,714 9. Trevor Brazile, Decatur, Texas.................... 72,047 10. Daylon Swearingen, Rochelle, Ga.. ........... 70,920 11. Landon McClaugherty, Tilden, Texas......... 66,979 12. Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas............. 65,388 13. Cody Doescher, Webbers Falls, Okla......... 62,883 14. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D................................ 56,378 15. Chance Oftedahl, Pemberton, Minn........... 50,613 QUOTABLE “I’m feeling really good. Most people say if you go in at No. 1 to keep doing what you’re doing with no pressure. ... I feel like it (winning the all-around world title) would help me tremendously with everything. This being my first year going pro, to have that kick-start the rest of my career would help me a lot.” – Stetson Wright IN THE RUNNING All-Around World Champion – Stetson Wright (bull riding), Clay Smith (team roping), Caleb Smidt (tie-down roping) and Tuf Cooper (tie-down roping and steer roping) All-Around Rookie of the Year – Haven Meged (tie-down roping), Stetson Wright (bull riding) and Daylon Swearingen (bull riding) Bull Riding Rookie of the Year – Stetson Wright, Daylon Swearingen and Trey Kimzey started to show his potential to be the caliber of competitor fans witnessed during the 2019 regular season. “He really started to ride good the last two years of high school, and he was just dominating the high school standings and the amateur rodeos,” Ryder Wright said. Like most ProRodeo athletes, Stetson competed in mutton bustin’ and stepped up to riding steers in junior high school. “It seemed like something he was a real natural at,” Cody Wright said.

ProRodeo Sports News 11/22/2019

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