ProRodeo Sports News - November 19, 2021

SADDLE BRONC RIDING Sitting at the Top

Record season has Wright in No.1 spot BY TANNER BARTH S tetsonWright is on the path to greatness in the sport of ProRodeo and his 2021 season bolstered his resume just that much more. At just 22 years oldWright became the winningest regular-season all-around money earner in PRCA history with $320,482 in saddle bronc riding and bull riding. A record that was previously set by legend Trevor Brazile in 2015. In 2021, Wright will head into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in a new position and that’s in the No.1 spot in the world in the saddle bronc riding. This season in saddle bronc he earned $193,095 spurred by big wins at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo and the Pendleton Round- Up. “It was a really good season for me, I mean everything seemed to go my way for the most part,” saidWright, the reigning PRCA Bull Riding and All-AroundWorld Champion. “I drew good stock all along the way and I felt like I rode good too.” Wright credits his success this season to finding consistency in every ride. He says it took him to the next level of riding he was looking to achieve as his career progresses in not only saddle bronc, but bull riding as well. He finished the regular season second in the bull riding PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. “The consistency is what really stuck out to me this year,” he said. “Like I’ve had consistency in one or the other every rodeo leading up to this season, but this year it seemed to be that I had consistency in both at nearly every rodeo that I went to. “All of us want to be consistent, that’s the main thing in this sport. But you have to learn not to be timid while you’re being consistent. I felt like every single ride I had this year I was laying everything out on the line trying to be 90. I wanted to be consistent on a 90-point level and win every single time. I think that’s what really helped me reach the next level this season.”

2021 SADDLE BRONC RIDING STANDINGS

1. Stetson Dell Wright, Milford, Utah. ........ $193,096 2. Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah...................... 181,894 3. Brody Cress, Hillsdale, Wyo..................... 142,225 4. Dawson Hay, Wildwood, Alberta. ............. 120,349 5. Layton Green, Meeting Creek, Alberta...... 102,246 6. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta.............. 99,802 7. Chase Brooks, Deer Lodge, Mont............... 97,388 8. Kolby Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta... 86,859 9. Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas. ...................... 84,948 10. Tegan Smith, Winterset, Iowa. .................. 82,814 11. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont.. .............. 82,718 12. Ben Andersen, Rocky Mtn. House, Alberta... 82,234 13. Wade Sundell, Boxholm, Iowa. ................. 79,160 14. Cody DeMoss, Heflin, La........................... 74,799 15. Spencer Wright, Milford, Utah. ................. 74,061

FROM THE CHAMP

Headed into the 2020 season, Ryder Wright already had the title of PRCA World Champion Saddle Bronc rider under his belt, but the Milford, Utah cowboy, proved his skills even further during one of the most unique seasons in ProRodeo

His ride to the top of the saddle bronc standings this year didn’t come without stiff competition. The entire 2021 season he was battling back and forth with his brother and reigning PRCA Saddle Bronc World Champion Ryder Wright. “Neither him nor I were focusing on first or second place, we were just focused on doing our jobs,” Wright says. "We never really talked about it to be honest with you. We’ve always known going in No.1 doesn’t mean anything. It’s who leaves there No.1, that’s all that matters in this sport.” That’s a mentality he will carry with him headed into this years NFR. He knows anything can happen once you step foot inside theThomas &Mack Center in Las Vegas. “I don’t really care howmuch money the No.1 guy has, or the No.15 guy,” QUOTABLE “All of us want to be consistent that’s the main thing in this sport. I felt like every single ride I had this year I was laying everything out on the line trying to be 90. I wanted to be consistent on a 90-point level and win every single time. I think that’s what really helped me reach the next level this season.” – Stetson Wright

Wright

A $20,000 win at the Veater Financial Group Battle of the Best in Coarsegold, Calif., May 22, helped Stetson Wright to the No.1 spot in the world. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Alaina Stangle

he said. “There’s always a chance regardless of howmuch money everyone has won at that point. There’s a lot of good money to be won once you get to Vegas. So, I’m not focused on anything other than staying on and doing my job.” That’s what help leadWright to his second and third world title at last year’s NFR in Arlington, Texas. One horse at a time, one bull at a time, and everything else will take care of itself in Vegas. “That’s my goal at the start of every year is to come out a world champion,” Wright said. “But my main goal is that I’m not going to look at the world title right now, I’m looking at riding all 10 of my bulls and all 10 of horses. If I do that, I know for dang sure I’ll walk out with three gold buckles from theThomas & Mack.”

history. It was a battle until the very end, but Wright edged out Wyatt Casper for the 2020 title by $37,487, thanks to winning the Wrangler NFR average with a record-setting 876.5 points on 10 head. “It was awesome and definitely something I won’t forget that’s for sure,” said Wright, a two- time (2017,2020) PRCA World Champion. “It was a dogfight between me and Wyatt Casper clear to the last round. He’s a great bronc rider, so it was awesome to be able to come out on top.”

ProRodeo Sports News 11/19/2021

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

DEC. 2-11, 2021

ProRodeo Sports News 11/19/2021

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