Sterling Crawley Captures First California Rodeo Salinas Win
SALINAS, Calif. – After missing the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo a year ago, saddle bronc rider Sterling Crawley is hungry to make a return to Las Vegas in 2015.
The Stephenville, Texas, cowboy gave his season a much-needed boost when he won the prestigious California Rodeo Salinas (July 16-19).
Crawley captured the coveted crown with 164 points on two head July 19 at the Wrangler Million Dollar Tour gold rodeo before 16,123 fans at the Salinas Sports Complex.
“This is the first time I’ve won this rodeo and I always wanted this buckle,” said Crawley, 24. “I couldn’t be happier. Honestly, things weren’t going too great about two months ago and my brother (Jacobs) helped me get my head together and go back to the basics and I’ve been able to get some stuff going again. I was very lucky to have Jacobs there for me.”
Jacobs Crawley, 27, was sixth in the July 13 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings. He has qualified for the WNFR four times (2011-14).
Sterling Crawley took the lead at Salinas with an 84-point ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Sundance July 16, and then he clinched the average crown with an 80-point ride on Four Star Rodeo’s Rounder.
“That was an awesome horse,” Crawley said about Rounder. “I was just plum-tickled when I found out I had him. I had never been on either of those horses, and I would love to have those two horses at any rodeo.”
Sterling Crawley was 20th in the latest world standings with $26,251. Last year, he placed 17th in the standings, on the heels of making back-to-back WNFR’s in 2012 and 2013. Crawley placed 14th and 15th in his two WNFR appearances.
“I just need to stay with the basics and keep my momentum going,” said Crawley, who won the Central Wyoming Fair & PRCA Rodeo, a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour silver rodeo, July 7-11 with 169 points on two head.
Other winners at the rodeo were all-around cowboy Doyle Hoskins, bareback riders Will Lowe and Caleb Bennett (164 points on two head), steer wrestler Ty Erickson (21.5 seconds on three head), team ropers Jake Cooper and Tyler McKnight (43.9 seconds on five head), tie-down roper Reese Riemer (34.8 seconds on three head), barrel racer Christina Richman (65.21 seconds on four runs) and bull rider Shane Proctor (170 points on two head).
Courtesy of PRCA