Cowboys

As the 2020 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo nears to the end with the best contestants in the world of rodeo gears up for the final round amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Wright won the all-around gold buckle.

Stetson Wright has outdone himself by winning the 2020 All-Around World Champion for the second time in a row, and interestingly, in his first two seasons.

With a go-round to spare, Wright wrote his name in the book of champions in the PRCA all-around championship; he again ended the championship race ahead of Tuf Cooper and the reigning two-time champion header Clay Smith.

Wright is untouchable in the 2020 all-around PRCA | RAM World Standing with a whipping $305,360 behind him is Tuf Cooper at $179,412 while at third place is Clay Smith with $159,699, and neither can dethrone him.

In 1998, Ty Murray became the first cowboy to win the All-Around and bull riding titles in the same year, and the same could happen at the 2020 National Finals Rodeo with Wright after winning the all-around gold buckle. Now he is eyeing the Roughstock World Championship.

In bull riding, Wrights has won round 1, 2, 7 and 9, and in saddle bronc riding won round 7.

Already, Wright is the youngest cowboy at 21-years old to be crowned All-Around World Championship in his 1st two seasons.

In 2001, Wright became the first cowboy to win 2 roughstock events one night at the finals though Jesse Bail won the bull riding title.

The cowboy from Milford, Utah, Wright emerged victorious while riding on Beutler & Son Rodeo’s Smoke Stack with a 92-point ride in the bull riding at the WNFR at Globe Life Field, which enabled him to clinch the title and to add another $26,231 to his haul.

Wright expressed humbleness following his win, stating that he expected it to happen though he kept quiet about it as he worked so hard all year despite the COVID-19 pandemic making it more challenging.

Also, he couldn’t hide the joy in his eyes, especially after winning the title for the second time in a row, saying, “To get it this year means a lot, and winning it again makes me feel good because everybody might say that the first one was off pure luck, but now how many times can you be so lucky.”

Wright continues to set records and matching up with names of great cowboys of our generations, such as Trevor Brazile and Jesse Bail. Now, he is in the ranks of Trevor Brazile in winning back-to-back all-around gold buckle. Also, with Jess Bail in qualifying for multiple Wrangler National Finals Rodeo roughstock events.

Wright is eyeing to win his first career bull riding world championship though the competition for the title is stiff as he trails second behind by a mere $82 from leader Ty Wallace.

In the world standings, Wright is second with $204,479 and an average with 450 points on five head, while Wallace is 3rd with 444.5 points.

Truly, a living legend Trevor Brazile continues to portray undeniable professionalism every single time, he competes offering a thrilling feeling to his fans and spectators, and Saturday night was no different when in a spectacular fashion he became an 8th-time steeler roping world champion.  

The $7 million legendary cowboys clocked a 12.4 sec time in Round 10 as he needed to rope a steer and it was enough for him to clinch the world title, making it his 26th career gold buckle.

The 2020 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping which was held at the Kansas Star Arena ended well for Brazile as he earned $69,072 enabling him to finish with $117,459 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings edging runner-up Scott Snedecor’s $110,779.

At the moment, Brazile steers roping gold buckle winnings tally at 8 titles from 2006-07, 2011, 2013-15, 2019 and now 2020. He is second on the all-time list behind ProRodeo Hall of Famer Guy Allen who has 18 steer roping gold buckles.

The Decatur, Texas, cowboy expressed gratitude for his winnings by thanking the Lord for the blessings. However, he stated that one must be willing to do the work in capitalizing on the opportunities offered to them or somebody else becomes the world champion.

The race for the title was slim for Brazile going into round 10 as he was sitting 2nd in the average, 1.2 sec behind Snedecor though Brazile lead in the world standings over him with $1965.

It seemed the title was heading towards Scott Snedecor, a 4-time world champion (2005,2008 and 2017-18). Still, after falling to register any time in the final round, Brazile chances widen up, and he utilizes it perfectly.

Steer Roper John Bland, a 5-time NFSR winner (2012, 2014-15, 2019-20) loaned Brazile his horse Salty, 19 and together they brought magic at the 2020 Clem McSpadden National Finals Steer Roping at the Kansas Star Arena.

In the Round 10, Brazile recorded a 12.4 second time which enabled him to emerge victories ahead of Snedecor by gaining the average win as he was the only one to tie down 10.

Surely, 2020 has been tremendously hard for many Rodeos due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing many events to be canceled in response to mitigate the spread of the virus, which many people have succumbed to with the infections rate sky rocking.

As many complain about the new norm following the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, which caused havoc in the world of professional sport, including the suspension of the PRCA competition. For some, like Cort Scheer, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it gave him time to recuperate.

After he got injured in his left knee while competing at the Powder River Rodeo and being diagnosed with a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The veteran opted to relax his knee while exercising a little after much consultations from his doctor, who saw no need for surgery.

He went ahead to wear a knee brace for the following three months, and in the fourth month he began therapy getting laid-off the brace before he knew it, he was riding again. Therapy and horse riding turned out to be very helpful for his body in his recovery.

Scheer was quick to remember the ordeal he went through that fateful day by saying, “The horse kind of reared around the post there and kind of rubbed me off on the post, and I tore my knee up a little bit, and that injury was just a fluke deal. That’s an awesome horse who has been to the NFR a bunch of times. I dang sure would be excited to draw her again,”.

But he was grateful to put all that behind him when he went to compete at the Woodward (Okla.) on June 10 coming from injury and gained a 77-point ride. You could tell of the joy written all over his face for being back doing what he loves the most and passionate about by looking at him.

Evidently, “I feel great,” Scheer said. “I have been running around and I have been chomping at the bit the last month wanting to roll. I was skeptical to see how I would do, but it took me longer to wipe the mold off my chaps than it did to feel good about riding broncs again, so I was happy.”

Last year, in the PRCA | RAM World Standings, Scheer stood at number 19 with $72813. But after having more time in his hands, it got him re-thinking and strategizing, and we can’t wait to see how this year ends for Scheer. After promising to give his best in the NFR.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, which had the PRCA competition suspended to curb the spread in March and resumed again in Mid-May with measurements laid down by the government to be followed in response to control the spread of coronavirus by staying at home, sanitize and keep the distance. Now all the ProRodeo athletes are gunning up to qualify for the National Finals Rodeo in December.

Cowboys and Cowgirls have a chance to improve themselves while competing for big money at the Cowboy Christmas. This week follows rodeos scheduled (June 29-July five at the World’s Oldest Rodeo in Prescott, Arizona, and July 1-4 at the Cody Stampede) by the PRCA to take place across the United States. And have themselves move up in the PRCA World Standings.

Last year and in 2017, saddle bronc rider Brody Cress from Hilldale won the NFR average title, at the moment he is second with almost $56000 in the World Standings. Behind the leading Cowboy of Pampa, Texas, Wyatt Casper with more than $124000.

At 16th place in the World Standings is Kaycee rider Cole Reiner with nearly $21000 despite rodeoing at Sheridan College and Caper College and trailing behind Paden Hurst of Huntsville, Texas who is at 15th place by less than $400.

In Las Vegas, 15 Cowboys and Cowgirls will qualify in Barrel racing for the NFR season-ending.

At the moment, the leaders in the World Standings are as follows:

• Bull rider Sage Kimzey
• Bareback bronc rider Tim O’Connell
• Steer wrestler Matt Reeves 
• Tie-down roper Shad Mayfield
• Team ropers Luke Brown and Joseph Harrison 
• Barrel racer Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi.

Be sure not to miss on the action as we continue comprehending what seems to be the new norm by staying home, sanitizing, and keeping a distance.