ProRodeo Sports News - September 21, 2018

Wright nabs first Puyallup crown R yder Wright looks every bit the defending saddle bronc riding world champion making a move to keep his gold buckle. The 20-year-old fromMilford, Utah, from the famedWright family, took home $17,350 from the Justin Finale in Puyallup, Wash., after winning the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour with his victory at the Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo, Sept. 6-9. The victory has him in second place in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings as of Sept. 17, only $1,615 behind leader Jacobs Crawley. “I’ve had good luck at all the Tour rodeos this year,” saidWright, who won $185,577 at last year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, paving the way for his world title. “To be able to get in here and win it is awesome.” Wright rode Calgary Stampede’s Wild Cherry for 89.5 points in the finals. He also won the semifinals with an 87.5-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Zedorilla Hills and the second round on Korkow Rodeos’ Redemption with 86.5 points. In the first round, Wright tied for fifth, helping him take second in the average. “I’ve seen her (Wild Cherry) a bunch,” Wright said. “I was excited to get on her here. It (the ride) felt awesome. That’s a bucker.”

Ryder Wright had an 89.5-point

ride on Calgary

Stampede’s Wild Cherry in the Justin Finale. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule

While Crawley has been atop the standings most of the 2018 season, Wright has been reeling him in, making for a close race as the regular season neared its conclusion. “It’s fun,” Wright said. “What are you riding for if there’s not any competition?” – Scott Kaniewski Tryan & Graves notch big victory W inning the team roping competition in Puyallup, Wash., was nothing new for header Clay Tryan or heeler Travis Graves. Team ropers Clay Tryan, right, and Travis Graves each won $12,784 at the Justin Finale. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Kent Soule

Tryan had won three times in Puyallup,

while Graves had won twice.

After some traveling troubles elsewhere, they leaned on that experience and went out and roped their steer in the finals in 4.6 seconds. “We’ve had kind of a long weekend getting over here,” Graves said. “We were entered in Lewiston (Idaho) but didn’t get to go because our flight got canceled. But we made it for Puyallup.” With so much money on the line, the pair wanted to make sure they didn’t miss, so they could keep pace in the world standings. (Tryan ranks fourth among team roping headers with $96,990 as of Sept. 17, while Graves sits sixth among heelers with $93,133.) Winning at such a big rodeo might mean more momentum for the duo. “I’ve been telling him, lately, I’ve roped good at the little stuff, but not good at the big stuff,” Tryan said. “It used to be the other way around.

check like this. To win a lot of money at one rodeo is huge for us.” After winning the Tour, Tryan, quoting NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss, needed only a few words. “Straight cash, homie,” he said. – Scott Kaniewski

Hopefully I’m back to winning at the big stuff, because that’s what matters.” Tryan and Graves each won $12,784 and the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour. “It means a lot,” Graves said. “This is one of the biggest rodeos of the year, especially at the end of the year it is the biggest one. It’s awesome to get a big

ProRodeo Sports News 9/21/2018

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