Colletti’s Pecos Debut Proves Unforgettable

PECOS, TEXAS – Before this week, bareback rider Casey Colletti had never competed at the West of the Pecos Rodeo.

Now, the Pueblo, Colo., cowboy can’t wait to go back.

Colletti recorded an 89-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Outa Sight to capture the win at the June 25-28 rodeo.

“That’s awesome,” said Colletti, who made his winning ride on June 25. “That was my third horse back since I had my (right) knee surgery on March 25. I was really excited to have Outa Sight. I’ve wanted to get on that horse for three or four years now. I had seen that horse a lot and I knew if I got the chance to get on her, and I did my part and she did her part, it was going to be good. The ride went exactly how I wanted it to go.”

Colletti was 35th in the June 23 Windham Weaponry High Performance PRCA World Standings with $9,870, and that total will receive a boost from the $2,558 he pocketed at the West of the Pecos Rodeo.

“I heard how great (Pecos) was and I had entered it a bunch, but I either got hurt or I got doubled up at that rodeo and a different rodeo,” said Colletti, 28. “So now, going to Pecos for the first time and winning it is pretty damn cool. I can cross this off my bucket list and I can’t wait to go back again next year.”

Colletti has qualified for the past three Wrangler National Finals Rodeos, finishing a career-best fifth in 2011.

“We’re just going and blowing,” Colletti said about his frantic push to try to qualify again for the Wrangler NFR. “I’m not that far behind and my mindset is to make the NFR in 2014. If I draw well at the rodeos and I ride well I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t make it to the NFR again.”

Other winners at the $147,108 rodeo were all-around cowboy Trevor Brazile ($2,167, tie-down roping, team roping and steer roping), steer wrestler Austin Courmier (9.4 seconds on two head), team ropers Turtle Powell and Dakota Kirchenschlager (13.9 seconds on two head), saddle bronc rider Jake Wright (85 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Empty Pockets), tie-down roper Cody Jordan (18.1 seconds on two head), steer roper Randy Wells (41.7 seconds on three head), bull rider Trey Benton III (92 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Tabasco) and barrel racer Robyn Herring (17.76 seconds).

Courtesy of PRCA