ProRodeo Sports News - September 17, 2021

PUYULLAP, WASH.

WASHINGTON STATE FAIR RODEO Stetson Wright sets regular-season mark Money Man

BY ALLY GALLAGHER, Special to ProRodeo Sports News W ith an $8,860 payday at the Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo in Puyallup, StetsonWright did more than add another all-around title to his resume. The Milford, Utah, cowboy made ProRodeo history by becoming the winningest regular-season all-around money earner with $282,722 in saddle bronc riding and bull riding. ProRodeo legend Trevor Brazile held the record, earning $218,852 in the regular season all-around standings in 2015. Brazile’s money total was initially reported to be $282,242, but that figure was incorrect because it included the money he earned at the 2015 National Finals Steer Roping “I guess it’s going pretty good,” Wright said of his outstanding season. “I guess I never think about the money won, and never records too. I just think gold buckles. So, it’s pretty awesome to hear that.” Brazile, who won a PRCA record 26 world championships and earned more than $7 million in career earnings, is an inspiration to many cowboys on the rodeo trail, Wright included. “To have my name in the same sentence as Trevor Brazile is pretty awesome,” Wright said. “And to break a record that the 26-time world champion set is pretty special, too.” At just 22 years old, Wright is already setting records and claiming NFR titles. In 2019, he became the first rookie to win the all-around world title. In 2020, he added gold buckles in the all-around competition and bull riding. Some of those accolades stand out more than others, andWright said this is one of them. “This earnings record ranks up there, especially because Trevor Brazile held the record,” Wright said. One might thinkWright’s fame and recognition would change his mindset, but he said he likes to stay in the present, always focusing on his next ride. “I don’t pay too much attention to anything I’ve done in the past or what I can do in the future,” Wright said. “I just focus on staying on my bull and horse every day. That’s all I can control, and I guess everything else will come if I do my job.” He’s certainly doing his job, claiming 23 all-around, nine bull riding and four saddle bronc riding wins so far this season. Looking back on his successful career, Wright expressed one emotion – gratitude. “Everything means a lot to me, and I think, for sure, I’m thankful for everything that’s happened to me,” he said. Wright still has a couple more weeks to add to his all-around regular- season total, which ends Sept. 30 The final weekend of the regular season, Wright will head to the ProRodeo Tour Finale presented by PendletonWhisky in Salinas, Calif., Sept. 23-26. After that, it’s all eyes on the prize for Wright and other Wrangler National Finals Rodeo-qualifying cowboys at the 2021Wrangler NFR in Las Vegas Dec. 2-11. But until Vegas, Wright’s mindset is straightforward: control what he can, and stay on the horse or bull. “Just ride everything,” Wright said. “Ride everything I get on from here on out and just start getting ready for the NFR.”

TOP MONEY WINNER TOP SCORES

Stetson Wright ($8,860, saddle bronc riding, bull riding). BAREBACK RIDING

Wright

1. Austin Foss ............... 168.5 pts. on 2 (Tie) Clint Laye ......................... 168.5 (Tie) Landingham .................... 168.5 STEER WRESTLING 1. Ty Erickson ................... 7.5 sec. on 2 2. Payden McIntyre .......................... 7.7 3. Dirk Tavenner ............................... 8.2 TEAM ROPING 1..C. Snow/W. Thorp ....... 9.3 sec. on 2 2. J. Flenniken/R. Cardoza ................ 9.6 3. C. Proctor/L. Medlin ..................... 9.9 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Rusty Wright ................ 175 pts. on 2 2. Stetson Wright ......................... 171.5 3. CoBurn Bradshaw ....................... 171 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1..Roger Nonella ............ 15.6 sec. on 2 2. Westyn Hughes .......................... 15.8 3. Justin Smith ............................... 15.9 BARREL RACING 1..Katie Pascoe ............ 29.85 sec. on 2 2. Michelle Alley ........................... 29.90 (Tie) Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi ...... 29.90 BULL RIDING 1..Boudreaux Campbell .... 172 pts. on 2 2. Shad Winn ............................... 158.5 3. Sage Kimzey .................. 88 pts. on 1

Kent Soule photo Stetson Wright took all- around cowboy honors in Puyallup, Wash., and earned $8,860, putting his name in the ProRodeo record book as the winningest regular- season all-around money earner with $282,722 in saddle bronc riding and bull riding.

$6,936 The amount of money earned by bull rider Boudreaux Campbell in Puyallup. Campbell, who won the two-head average, is aiming to qualify for his fourth- consecutive National Finals Rodeo.

ERICKSON NOTCHES KEY WIN Steer wrestler Ty Erickson saw his streak of qualifying for National Finals Rodeos end at six last year. Erickson, who won his first steer wrestling world championship in 2019, is back in the mix to make a return trip to Las Vegas in 2021. Erickson clocked a 7.5-second time to win the two-head average in Puyallup and left town after earning $5,812. This was his first career Puyallup victory. The Montana cowboy is 11th in the world standings with $61,800.

Complete results/Page 63

ProRodeo Sports News 9/17/2021

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