Lockwood to Make PBR Team Series Debut for Oklahoma Freedom this Weekend at Gambler Days

By: Kacie Albert

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Drafted as the No. 1 pick overall in the Supplemental Draft, two-time PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Champion Jess Lockwood will make his Team Series debut for the Oklahoma Freedom this weekend in Austin, Texas, slotted into the roster’s closing position for their opening game of Gambler Days against the Ariat Texas Rattlers.

The Freedom’s starting lineup for the initial round of games in Austin also includes the return of the team’s first three draft picks in Eli Vastbinder, Derek Kolbaba and Chase Outlaw. The five-man lineup is rounded out by surging young gun Casey Roberts, who will ride in the leadoff position for the Cord McCoy-coached outfit.

Lockwood had been on Injured Reserve since July 16 as he continued to recover from a left shoulder injury and returned to prime bull riding form.

The charismatic Montana native will make his debut for the Oklahoma Freedom, who host their inaugural homestand on Sept. 16-18 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, looking to further etch his name in the PBR record books.

Lockwood, 24, is both the youngest World Champion and two-time World Champion in the PBR’s history and is sixth on the all-time earners list, having won more than $4.1 million in competition to date.

In his debut for the Freedom, Lockwood will ride in the closing position for the Sooner State team when it goes head-to-head against the Ariat Texas Rattlers on Friday, Aug. 26.

Lockwood will go head-to-head with Mike’s Effect (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd/High Voltage Cattle), who has been ridden just three times in 12 trips across all levels of competition.

In addition to removing Lockwood from Injured Reserve, the Oklahoma Freedom made two additional roster changes entering PBR Gambler Days, dismissing both Caden Bunch and Matt Triplett.

Third-round draft pick Outlaw will also make his debut for the Freedom alongside Lockwood.

Outlaw will face Draco (Blake Sharp/Koe Wetzel/Hurt/Wilson/Lee) as the second rider out for the team.

First-round draft pick Vastbinder returns to the starting lineup after not riding at the two most recent PBR Team Series events in Anaheim, California, and Nashville, Tennessee.

Captain Vastbinder has already proved an integral member of the team, delivering a walk-off, 87.25-point ride atop Marquis Metal Works Red Clark (Paradigm Bull Co./Marquis Metal Works), to propel the Freedom to a 173-87 victory against the Missouri Thunder in early August in Kansas City, Missouri.

As the fourth rider out for the Freedom, Vastbinder has been tasked with a familiar opponent in Walking Tall (Braswell Buckers). Vastbinder has found past success atop this animal athlete, having ridden him for 87.75 points during Round 4 of the 2022 PBR World Finals.

Second-round draft pick Kolbaba is back and ready to ride after missing the recent event in Nashville, as he and his wife welcomed their first baby. Kolbaba has proven a key member of the team in recent weeks, having gone 2-for-4 in Kansas City and 2-for-3 in Anaheim.

In Kolbaba’s return, he will be the third rider out for the Freedom, scheduled to attempt Cool Whip (Julian/Staci Addison/D&H/Crooked W).

Young gun Roberts rounds out the starting lineup and will look to start the team off on a strong note when he attempts Siroucho (Dozier Cattle Co./Martinez Bucking Bulls).

The 20-year-old has already made a strong impact on the team, converting in three games and delivering the squad’s first 90-point ride in Cheyenne, Wyoming, when he covered Magicbru (D&H Cattle Co./Buck Cattle Co.) for 90.25 points.

Roberts, Outlaw, Kolbaba, Vastbinder and Lockwood will look to propel the Freedom to victory against the Ariat Texas Rattlers. The Freedom have played their Texas rivals once prior, beating them 174.75-86 in Anaheim.

The starting lineup for the Rattlers in buck order is:

Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Dark Hunt (Martinez Bucking Bulls, LLC)
Cody Jesus vs. Tijuana Two-Step (M Rafter E Bucking Bulls)
Brady Oleson vs. Alakazam (D&H Cattle/Buck Cattle/Tommy Julian)
Daniel Keeping vs. Savage (Blake Sharp/Michael Floyd/High Voltage Cattle)
Ednei Caminhas vs. Twisted Steel (Cooper/Scruggs Bucking Bulls)

Following their game against the Rattlers on Friday, Aug. 26, the Freedom will play the Carolina Cowboys on Saturday, Aug. 27 and the Missouri Thunder on Sunday, Aug. 28.

CBSSN will broadcast LIVE the Freedom’s game against the Missouri Thunder on Sunday, Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET, check your local listings. PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will bring viewers exclusive LIVE coverage of the Freedom’s games against the Rattlers and Cowboys starting at 10 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 26 and 7:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 27.

The Freedom are one of eight founding teams in the new PBR Team Series – playing five-on-five bull riding games to crown a team champion Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas. During the regular season, all teams will compete in 10 events, playing in a combined 28 games. The Freedom will compete in Oklahoma City at Paycom Center on Sept. 16-18.

The bull riding action for the 2022 PBR Team Series’ Oklahoma Freedom Days at Paycom Center on Sept. 16-18 begins at 7:45 p.m. CDT on Friday, Sept. 16, 6:45 p.m. CDT on Saturday, Sept. 17, and 1:15 p.m. CDT on Sunday, Sept. 18, times subject to change.

Tickets for the three-day event are on sale now and start at $20, taxes and fees not included. Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Paycom Center Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

For more information about Oklahoma Freedom, visit https://pbr.com/teams/freedom/, Oklahoma Freedom on Facebook, @OK_Freedom_ on Instagram, or @OKfreedom_ on Twitter.

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