ProRodeo Sports News - September 1, 2023

RAPID CITY, S.D.

On Track

Injury-riddled Wyatt Casper gets big X-Broncs win BY BRADY RENCK Special to ProRodeo Sports News N othing blends rodeo and America like the Fourth of July. The fireworks, the electric performances, and the eye-opening checks spangle the country. But you can excuse Wyatt Casper if he sits out the holiday next season. His past two Fourth of Julys have featured his hamstrings turning into Rice Krispies: PRCA XTREME BRONCS 2023 TOUR STANDINGS

(Unofficial as of Aug. 29) 1. Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta....... . ......$60,453 2. Wyatt Casper, Miami, Texas................... ...................48,320 3. Sage Newman, Melstone, Mont............. . ...........47,307 4. Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho.................... ....................46,689 5. Ben T Andersen, Eckville, Alberta.......... . .........41,768 6. K. Wanchuk, Sherwood Park, Alberta.....35,171 7. Damian Brennan, Injune, Australia......... .........35,013 8. Layton Green, Millarville, Alberta........... ...........32,063 9. Lefty Marvel Holman, Visalia, Calif........ . ......28,705 10. Stetson Wright, Milford, Utah.............. ..............25,292 11. Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo.................... ...................24,439 12. Ryder Wright, Beaver, Utah................. . ................23,388 13. Ross Griffin, Tularosa, N.M................. . ...............21,212 14. Dawson Dahm, Tomahawk, Alberta......18,151 15. Isaac Diaz, Desdemona, Texas............. .............17,643

Snap, Crackle, Pop. “I tore my hamstrings in back-to-back years. I might just take July 4 off in the future,” Casper joked. His legs healthy and his mindset right, Casper is busy delivering on other days. It required tackling doubt caused by ineffectiveness and injuries for the three-time qualifier at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “I hadn’t really struck big in a while. I have been through a little bit of heck, beating my head up against the wall,” Casper said. “I had to keep my confidence up and it finally ended working in my favor.” All the pieces of the puzzle fit at the recent Xtreme Broncs Finals in Rapid City, S.D., on Aug. 20. The 27-year-old won the event with a score of 181 points on two head at WW Grandstand Arena, earning $30,838. “The key before this was to try and win everything I went to,” Casper said. “But after getting this win, it takes a little bit of weight off my shoulders.” Rapid City is saddle bronc country and Casper put on a show for the locals. He began with a blast, registering an 89-point ride on Burch Rodeo’s Pip Squeak. “The first ride, she was feeling fresh. She did everything a bronc rider wants a horse to do,” Casper said. What followed was a chance at redemption. He drew J Bar J’s Straight Jacket. In a previous ride, he scored a disappointing 80, admitting, “I screwed up.” Armed with experience from that failure, Casper delivered a 92-point trip. “I am ecstatic. I knew he would fire out really

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hard. And everything just clicked. The key was getting a good spur out. And getting ahead of him,” Casper said. “I absolutely knew I had a chance when I drew him. That’s a great horse.” It’s impossible to overstate the importance of this victory. It moves Casper back into the Top 15, which speaks to his mental and physical toughness. Sidelined from July 5 to Aug. 5, he put himself in a tough position, requiring urgency when he returned. The win in Rapid City amounts to a cannon shot of momentum to make his fourth NFR. He has finished 13th, eighth and second in his previous appearances. “For sure, this should put me up there to make the NFR. I am not sure I can take my foot off the pedal, but this takes some pressure off. This is the best I have ever done here. It was a great event,” Casper said. “It couldn’t have been a better place for this type of win to happen.”

Doug Jorgensen photo Wyatt Casper clinched the average title at the Xtreme Broncs Finals with a 92-point ride on J Bar J’s Straight Jacket.

ProRodeo Sports News 9/1/2023

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