Sterling Crawley Sidelined with Broken Collarbone

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Saddle bronc rider Sterling Crawley, a four-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, will likely be sidelined for six weeks while recovering from a broken right clavicle.

Crawley suffered the injury following his 84-point ride on Calgary Stampede’s Young Karma on Feb. 23 in the second round of the semifinals at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.

“It was a regular ride,” Crawley said, “the horse was bucking, and he came around at the whistle and I came off about that same time. I just came down wrong and landed on my shoulder and hit my head and broke my collarbone. They were looking at my head for a concussion, and then when I went to pick up my saddle with my right arm I realized it was hurting. I had never ridden that horse before, I had only seen video of her before, and when I came off after the whistle, I just came off kind of funny and got my shoulder whipped down first.”

Dr. Tandy Freeman performed surgery on Crawley’s collarbone Feb. 27 at Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas. This is the first time Crawley has broken his collarbone. He recovered from the concussion from the fall.

“They put a plate and four screws in my collarbone,” said Crawley, 26. “They are thinking with the plate and the screws the collarbone will be stronger than just letting it come back on its own. I’m back at the house (in Weatherford, Texas) with ice on my collarbone and starting to recover.”

Crawley earned $6,911 at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and moved up to second place in the 2018 PRCA World Standings as of Feb. 26 with $34,648.

“I’m going to miss some rodeos, but at least I will not be missing like three every weekend,” Crawley said.

Crawley qualified for the WNFR in 2012-13, 2016-17. A year ago, he finished a career-best sixth in the world standings with $215,530.

Courtesy of PRCA