ProRodeo Sports News - September 20, 2019

PRORODEO TOUR FINALE PUYALLUP, WASH.

Stetson Wright returns from injury to set Puyallup record Wrighteous BY MATT NABER S tetsonWright was out with a broken jaw a month before the ProRodeo Tour Finale. Despite that injury, the two-event cowboy who is second in the world in bull riding

TOP SCORES

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Clayton Biglow .................... 90.5 pts. 2. Steven Peebles .............................. 90 3. Tim O’Connell ................................ 88 4. Zach Hibler .................................... 87 STEER WRESTLING 1. Hunter Cure .......................... 4.0 sec. 2. Tristan Martin ............................... 4.6 3. Kyle Irwin ..................................... 6.0 No other qualified runs TEAM ROPING 1. B. Hall/C. Tryan ..................... 5.9 sec. 2. M. Sherwood/H. Koch ................ 10.1 3. K. Driggers/J. Nogueira .............. 20.3 No other qualified runs SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Stetson Wright .................... 93.5 pts. 2. Spencer Wright ............................. 90 3. Rusty Wright ................................. 86 1. Haven Meged ........................ 8.5 sec. 2. Tyler Milligan ................................ 8.9 3. Shad Mayfield ............................ 10.0 4. John Douch ................................ 17.1 BARREL RACING 1. Ivy Conrado ...................... 14.16 sec. 2. Amberleigh Moore .................... 14.22 3. Leia Pluemer ............................ 14.16 4. Alishea Broussard .................... 38.60 BULL RIDING 1. Jordan Hansen ....................... 89 pts. 2. Josh Frost ..................................... 85 No other qualified rides No other qualified rides TIE-DOWN ROPING

showed his family roots in saddle bronc riding, setting the Puyallup, Wash., record with 93.5 points on Calgary Stampede’s Yesterday’s Delivery to win the ProRodeo Tour Finale. “This win means everything because I struggled so much in bronc riding,” Wright said. “When you go from the top and then break your jaw, you get humbled real fast. Then to come back and ride strong like I have, I couldn’t be happier. I don’t want the year to end now.” Unlike the rest of his family, Wright also competes in bull riding. But in Puyallup there was no denying the family resemblance in saddle bronc riding. Wright’s dad Cody was the 2008 and 2010 saddle bronc riding world champion, while his brother Ryder was the 2017 world champion. At Puyallup, placing third in the second round and tying for third in the average took Stetson to the eight- man semifinals. From there, it was a clean sweep, as he won the semifinals with 89.5 points on Bridwell Pro Rodeos’ Mama’s Boy before making his 93.5-point ride in the finals, where he was up against his brothers Rusty and Ryder, and their uncle Spencer. “You’d think going with those guys that you can’t beat them, but this puts confidence back into myself,” Stetson said, adding that he’d previously watched Spencer and Rusty ride Yesterday’s Delivery. “I knew not many guys got by her, so I was super happy.” Stetson’s Puyallup efforts were worth $10,701 and had him in 18th in the Sept. 16 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings for saddle bronc riding. He’s also second in the bull riding standings and leading the PRCA | Resistol Rookie Standings in both events. “I’m so happy with the way my rookie season has gone, even with the injury,” Stetson said. “I feel like the luckiest 20-year-old there is.” With a few weeks left in the regular season, Stetson’s original goal of winning world titles in bull riding, saddle bronc riding and the all-around at the 2019Wrangler National Finals Rodeo was still in play. “This is crazy to have this opportunity,” Wright said. “My family is giving me tons of advice, and dad said to stick to the basics and believe in yourself. Winning Puyallup has boosted my confidence, and I’m ready for what’s coming next.”

Complete results/Page 63

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ProRodeo Sports News 9/20/2019

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