ProRodeo Sports News - November 17, 2023

SADDLE BRONC RIDING Chasing Gold Stetson Wright aiming for second saddle bronc title

BY TANNER BARTH S tetson Wright has accomplished more in the first six years of his ProRodeo career than most contestants will in their lifetimes. That isn’t a knock-on the other contestants, it just proves how good the Milford, Utah, cow boy has been from the jump. Among those accomplishments are seven PRCA World Championships. Four of those have come in the all-around (2019-22), two in bull riding (2020, 2022), and a lone saddle bronc riding gold buckle (2021). That last of those is maybe the most special for Wright. “I’ve worn almost every one of my gold buckles except for my saddle bronc riding one,” said Wright, a now nine-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier. “It’s something that I have a hard time even looking at because that’s something I’ve wanted my whole life. It’s funny to say because I’m so lucky to have any all-around or bull riding buckles, but to have one that’s the same as my dad’s that to me is what’s so special.” He has his sights set on adding another to his collection in 2023. Wright wrapped up the ProRodeo regular season No. 1 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings in the saddle bronc riding with $251,626. It will mark the second time he’s headed into Las Vegas leading in the event, his last came back in 2021. His strong campaign this season was spurred by wins at the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo and the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver. Those are just two of his 19 total wins in saddle bronc riding. Wright came up just short of breaking Sage Newman’s record for the most money won in a regular season, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a record-breaking year. He set the PRCA regular season record in the all around and the bull riding in 2023. In total, he has earned $620,256 this year so far. His ultimate goal is reaching the $1.2 million mark at the conclusion of this year’s NFR. He said he knows even if he comes up a bit short, he will become the first cowboy to earn $1 million in a single season. His dream of becoming the ‘King of the Cowboys’ is what drives him. “When I look back, I can say that I’ve done great things, but it feels like I haven’t done enough. It feels like I’m so far from my end goal right now,” he said. “I want to become the best and I’m doing everything in my power to do it. When I leave rodeo, I want to be known as the King of the Cowboys.”

2023 SADDLE BRONC RIDING STANDINGS

1. Stetson Dell Wright, Beaver, Utah.......... $251,626 2. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont................ 247,264 3. Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho....................... 225,259 4. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta............ 221,919 5. Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta.............. 155,974 6. Ben T. Andersen, Eckville, Alberta............ 150,940 7. Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah...................... 150,402 8. Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas..................... 142,421 9. Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont............. 139,221 10. Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta............ 136,829 11. Tanner Butner, Daniel, Wyo..................... 135,289 12. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo.................... 132,743 13. Damian Brennan, Injune, Australia.......... 129,744 14. Lefty Marvel Holman, Visalia, Calif.......... 128,955 15. Ryder Sanford, Sulphur, La..................... 125,388

FROM THE CHAMP

“This one was probably the hardest one I have ever had. I had to work for this one given the competition. I had quite a bit of money to make up

coming into the Finals. I knew if I just made the best ride I could on every horse and kept placing in the rounds I would give myself a fighting chance. And that’s what I did. Having my family and everybody there, it was really cool.” – Zeke Thurston Thurston

Stetson Wright shared the saddle bronc riding title at the Home of Champions Rodeo in Red Lodge, Mont., July 4. He went on to earn an

QUOTABLE “When I look back, I can say that I’ve done great things, but it feels like I haven’t done enough. It feels like I’m so far from my end goal right now.” – Stetson Wright

event-best $251,626.

Phillip Kitts photo photo

ProRodeo Sports News 11/17/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 11/17/2023

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

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