ProRodeo Sports News - November 17, 2023

Fantastic Five Stetson Wright eyes fifth PRCA All-Around World Championship ALL-AROUND COWBOY

2023 ALL-AROUND COWBOY STANDINGS

2023 was a season to remember for Stetson Wright. His record-breaking year was highlighted by winning the bull riding at the historic Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up in September. Roseanna Sales photo photo

1. Stetson Dell Wright, Beaver, Utah.......... $459,621 2. Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Ala....................... 144,134 3. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas..................... 133,424 4. Brushton Minton, Witter Springs, Calif..... 132,688 5. Paul David Tierney, Oklahoma City, Okla.. 118,342 6. Coleman Proctor, Pryor, Okla................... 113,610 7. Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas............... 112,947 8. Marcus Theriot, Lumberton, Miss............ 104,875 9. Jake Cooper Clay, Sapulpa, Okla.............. 101,149 10. Taylor Santos, Creston, Calif..................... 91,017 11. Trevor Hale, Perryton, Texas..................... 88,550 12. Chet Weitz, London, Texas........................ 66,438 13. Slade Wood, New Ulm, Texas................... 63,090 14. Eli Lord, Sturgis, S.D................................ 52,168 15. Clay Clayman, Highlandville, Mo............... 50,228

BY TANNER BARTH T he PRCA All-Around World Championship in the sport of rodeo is a special one. The illustrious group of cowboys to take home multiple all-around titles is full of legendary names like Larry Mahan, Ty Murray, and Trevor Brazile just to name a few. Stetson Wright is well on his way to joining the star studded group. In 2022, at the age of 23, Wright became just the sixth cowboy to win at least four all-around gold buckles. His campaign a year ago, was one for the record books. Wright set the PRCA record for the most money in a single year in the all-around with $758,829 after earning $414,222 last year at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Winning the award is not necessarily something he focuses on because he knows if he does his job inside the arena it’ll take care of itself. “I don’t really focus on the all-around because I know those will come if I’m doing bull riding and saddle bronc riding right,” said Wright. “But I will say, every year you get to strap on one of those buckles it really is a dream come true.” Wright finds himself in a prime position to add No. 5 in the all-around in 2023. He leads the next closest cowboy by over $300,000. He said every year it seems like the stakes continue to rise, but he’s more than up for the challenge it presents. “I thought last year was the best, but this year it seems like things are going even better,” he said. “I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had, and I still have a lot of rodeoing to do.” Wright’s six years in ProRodeo have been nothing short of astonishing, as he creeps closer toward the all-time greats in career earnings. It makes you wonder what the now 24-year-old still has left to accomplish in the sport. According to him, this is only the beginning. “I keep telling myself that people don’t hit their prime until their 30s, so I should be getting better every single year. I feel like at times I set unrealistic goals, but then by the end of the year it was actually realistic, and I need to go even higher,” he said. “It’s one of those things that I expect of myself, but at the same time I see how blessed I am to be doing what I’m doing. It’s something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid.”

FROM THE CHAMP

“I feel like I have shocked myself a lot this past year. It came with patience and trusting that everything would be all right. That was what last season was really about for me. When you break your own record, it means you did better than the

Wright

year before, whenever you set it,” Wright said. “The way I look at it is that I’m improving every year, and to improve just from last year is pretty special and I’m just happy with the way things are going in my career.” – Stetson Wright

QUOTABLE “I don’t really focus on the all-around because I know those will come if I’m doing bull riding and saddle bronc riding right. . . . But I will say, every year you get to strap on one of those buckles it really is a dream come true.” – Stetson Wright

ProRodeo Sports News 11/17/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 11/17/2023

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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