As Janie Johnson said, “It’s been a very busy day at Justin Sports Medicine at Cheyenne Frontier Days,” Saturday on Day 2 of the Semifinals.
During the bull riding, reigning World Champion Stetson Wright (after making it to the buzzer) collided with his bull and hit the ground hard. In his effort to protect the bull rider, bullfighter Cody Webster also took some hits — a hoof to the chest and to the face.
“Cody Webster is a phenomenal bullfighter, and if it wasn’t for him there would be more serious injuries to Stetson and the others out there,” said Rick Foster of Justin Sports Medicine, who gave us an update on their injuries after the rodeo.
Luckily, both will be ok and able to perform on Finals Sunday, despite possible concussions.
Of Stetson Foster said, “He’s just looking for his hat, and ready for to go back tomorrow.”
By: Tanner Barth, PRCA Media Coordinator
Five-time PRCA World Champion Stetson Wright will miss the remainder of the Cowboy Christmas run with a wrist injury that required surgery.
Wright told ProRodeo.com it’s an injury he’s been dealing with for a while, but decided it was something that needed to be looked at after his trip to the Greeley (Colo.) Stampede.
“It’s an injury that’s been bothering me for awhile now, I’ve just kind of rode through it,” said Wright, 22. “One of the bones in my (left) wrist had broken off completely and was pressing against a nerve in my hand. I went to the doctor when I got home from Greeley, and they went in and removed the pieces of bone the next day (June 30).”
The injury was to Wright’s riding hand, but he said he doesn’t expect to miss much time. He currently sits first in the PRCA | RAM World Standings in the all-around and bull riding and second in saddle bronc riding.
“I will miss the Cowboy Christmas run then come back for everything else hopefully,” he said. “I’m planning on being back for Vernal (Utah) on the 9th (of July).”
Courtesy of PRCA
Stetson Wright, shown in this year-old photo from the PRCA, took the saddle bronc riding lead with an 88-point ride on Summit’s Dry Creek on Thursday night. He’s also fifth in bull riding with a 79.5-point ride on Summit’s Wired All D.
(PRCA PRORODEO PHOTO BY KURT STEINKE)
GOODING, Idaho – It’s been 12 years since anyone has won a Triple Crown in ProRodeo.
Stetson Wright is hoping to end that drought in 2022.
The last man to do it was legendary roper Trevor Brazile, who won the all-around, tie-down roping and heading world titles in 2010.
“That’s the only thing on my mind,” Wright said of the Triple Crown, which he could accomplish by winning his fourth straight all-round gold while also winning the bull riding and saddle bronc riding titles this season. “That was my goal in 2019, my goal in ’20 and my goal in ’21.
“I’m hoping going back to my fourth NFR that this is my year.”
Brazile went on to set a standard in both the overall world championships (26) and the most all-around gold buckles (14), and Wright is hoping to claim them both by the time his career is done. The 23-year-old from Milford, Utah, already owns five world championships, including the 2020 bull riding title and the 2021 saddle bronc riding crown.
He proved his all-around talent during Thursday’s first performance of the Gooding Pro Rodeo with an 88-point ride on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Dry Creek to take the bronc riding lead and a 79.5-point ride on Summit’s Wired All D to sit fifth in bull riding.
“That horse bucked me off in 2020,” Wright said of Dry Creek. “You either get bucked off him or you win on him, so I had a pretty good game plan coming in here not to let what happened the last time repeat itself. He’s just an outstanding horse.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
What was the difference between the two rides?
“I would just say confidence,” he said. “I’m the same weight and the same height I was in 2020, so there’s no reason I shouldn’t have done what I did today when I was on him two years ago.”
Confidence has also come with experience. Two more years of maturity have helped, but so have all the broncs he’s been on in the time since. Over that stretch, he’s piled up dozens of rodeo titles.
“Any type of win – it doesn’t matter if it’s at the NFR or the smallest rodeo – a win’s a win in my eyes. It’s all a stepping stone to me toward my goal at the end of every year.”
Victories also come with an added bonus this season. He suffered a broken foot in January, then broke his ankle two months later. In April, he tore his groin and popped his hip out of place. He returned to action when his body allowed, then had a wrist injury that required surgery.
“I’m feeling good right now, but every time you do good or win, it almost takes away the pain,” said Wright, the fifth member of his family to have earned a PRCA world championship “For the past couple of weeks, I was hurting, and I wasn’t doing good. I’m feeling pretty good now.”
Wright has earned $397,000 so far this year riding bucking horses and bulls. He’s atop the all-around world standings, the bull riding money list and is second in saddle bronc riding, and he still has six weeks left in the regular season. He’s assured himself a place at the NFR in two events and is the first true contender for the Triple Crown in more than a decade.
“When people look at the standings, I do look like I’ve had no hiccups, but I’ve had injuries on top of injuries and having a hard time getting into rodeos and getting drawn out,” Wright said. “There are a bunch of things that are behind the scenes that people don’t see.
“As far as the whole year put together, all the goods drown out all the lows.”
Gooding Pro Rodeo
Aug. 17-20
Bareback riding: 1. Caleb Bennett, 89.5 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Game Trail; 2. Bronc Marriott, 86.5; 3. Tim O’Connell, 85.5; 4. (tie) Cooper Cooke and R.C. Landingham, 85; 6. Cole Reiner, 84.5; 7. Jess Pope, 83; 8. Cole Franks, 82.
Steer wrestling: 1. Bridger Anderson, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Trell Etbauer and Connor McKell, 3.7; 4. Gavin Soleau, 3.9; 5. (tie) J.D. Struxness, Grady Payne and Dalton Massey, 4.0; 8. (tie) Justin Kimsey and Coby Brown,4.1.
Team roping: 1. Pace Freed/Cole Wilson, 5.0 seconds; 2. Wyatt Murray/Whitt Crozier, 5.9; 3. Cole Eiguren/Tyler Eiguren, 11.8; no other qualified runs.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Stetson Wright, 88 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Dry Creek; 2. (tie) Tegan Smith and Dawson Dahm, 83; 4. (tie) Allen Boore, Kole Ashbacher and Lucas Macza, 82; 7. Wade Sundell, 81; 8. Jake Finlay 79.
Tie-down roping: 1. Matt Shiozawa, 7.6 seconds; 2. (tie) Ladd King and Brayden Roe, 8.1; 4. Kincade Henry, 8.3; 5. Cole Eiguren, 8.4; 6. John Douch, 8.5; 7. Marcos Costa, 8.6; 8. Shane Hanchey, 8.7; 9. Cooper Martin, 8.8; 10. Britton Bedke, 9.2;
Breakaway roping: 1. Taylor Hanchey, 2.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Carley Christian and Mattie Turner, 2.3; 4. Candida Eldridge, 2.5; 5. Janey Reeves, 2.6; 6. (tie) Shelby Logan, Beau Peterson and Shelly Scrivener, 2.7; 9. (tie) Italy Sheehan, Braylee Shepherd and Bailey Patterson, 2.8; 12. Samantha Fulton, 2.9.
Barrel racing: 1. Michelle Darling, 16.88 seconds; 2. Stevi Hillman, 16.93; 3. Anita Ellis, 16.95; 4. Ashley Castleberry, 17.02; 5. Nicole Driggers, 17.07; 6. Tarryn Lee, 17.09; 7. Macee McAllister, 17.10; 8. Jennifer Kalafatic, 17.12; 9. Cheyenne Wimberley, 17.18; 10. Lauren Butler, 17.20; 11. Lynette Clyde, 17.22; 12. Sadie Wolaver, 17.24; 13. Haven Jones, 17.27; 14. Kellie Collier, 17.28; 15. Kristy Yerrington, 17.29.
Bull riding: 1, Garrett Smith, 86 points on Summit Pro Rodeo’s Wired All D; 2. Dawson Gleaves, 82.5; 3. (tie) Jordan Spears and Hayes Weight, 82; 5. Stetson Wright, 79.5; 6. Tyler Ray Tayler, 77; 7. Creek Young 76; 8. Dalan Duncan, 74.5.
Courtesy of twisTEDrodeo.com