Path to Victory: Swearingen Learning How to Handle the Big Moments
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – It was a blistering cold night 1,300 miles northwest of Chicago when Daylon Swearingen may have actually turned the corner long before he won his first Unleash The Beast event this past weekend in the Windy City.
Swearingen was getting set to square off against Tyko Pound Sand during the championship round of the 2019 PBR Canada Finals in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, last November when he had to calm himself down. A qualified ride against a bull that he had ridden before, but one he also had bucked off against, was all that separated him from his first professional championship at any level, and a massive payday.
The 20-year-old did his best to channel his emotions, and focused on riding Tyko Pound Sand for 89 points. The ride earned Swearingen the 2019 PBR Canada Championship, the 2019 PBR Canada Finals event title and $52,528.30.
Swearingen thought back to his Canadian championship this past weekend as he sat alone inside the back corner of the shower stalls of the Allstate Arena locker room, an area that two-time World Champion J.B. Mauney would normally be occupying.
The Piffard, New York, native had just ridden Big Black for 91.75 points to cap his 3-for-3 victory at the Chicago Invitational.
Sunday was the 2019 collegiate national bull riding champion and Panola College student’s first premier series win since making his debut on tour last spring.
This was a moment that could have gotten the best of Swearingen. Despite all the success riders had on Big Black last season – five event wins and seven 90-point rides — there was still the chance that Swearingen would stub his toe against the K-Bar-C Bucking Bulls stud.
It is normally 90 or nothing with Big Black, and Swearingen made sure it was more than just 90 points.
“I just had to keep moving and kicking loose, and it kind of takes the power away,” Swearingen said. “And I feel like I’m pretty good at kicking loose and keep moving, so that helps a lot on them bulls.”
The calmness Swearingen displayed in Chicago is a work in progress, he admits.
It was there in Canada, but it was also lacking at times during the 2019 PBR World Finals and 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
“Yeah, I would definitely say (Canada) was (a turning point) because when I was about to get on that last bull, I know I’ve had him before, and he’s bucked me off,” Swearingen said.
“So just knowing that, you have to keep a clear mind and just know you can do it, and that helps a lot.”
There have been moments where Swearingen has been too aggressive on the back of his bovine opponents.
With the music blaring throughout the loud speakers Sunday afternoon, and the pressure mounting, Swearingen sat down to say a prayer and clear his mind – something he also took the time to do in Saskatoon.
“I just kind of went in with a clear mind, and just knowing that I’ve been doing what I need to do, so just let my body do it,” Swearingen said. “I prayed, and God definitely helps me keep a clear mind, and so that helps.”
Swearingen did not get worked up or too excited when Jess Lockwood and Jose Vitor Leme both bucked off in Round 2 to solidify Swearingen the top pick in the championship-round draft.
Still, Swearingen was “surprised” about the turn of events and could not have been more thrilled than to get his first crack at Big Black.
Kenny McElroy told Swearingen to “go be a bull rider” and get that win. McElroy has known Swearingen for years through the International Pro Rodeo Association, which Kenny’s father is involved with.
“Daylon has come to some of our rodeos,” McElroy said. “I have known him since he was a young kid. It is so awesome to see him come and perform at this level. For him to come from the east where we are, and ride these caliber of bulls, is just awesome.
“What more can you ask for? I have said it since I started bucking Big Black. You are either 90 or nothing. He is either going to throw you off or be in the 90s.”
“Yeah, I could not get too excited,” Swearingen said. “Because you can’t be too excited, because I have a problem with going faster than the bull. So I just kind of need to slow everything down.”
That is especially true when it comes to bulls that go away from his left riding hand.
Swearingen was pleased with his 86-point ride on Thunder on Hooves in Round 2, which was away from his hand.
“That helps a lot,” Swearingen said. “It makes you feel like you are progressing, and you need to just keep progressing and not get complacent, and just keep working forward. I’m just going to keep working on them bulls away from my hand, and I feel like it’s going to make me a lot more consistent, and (keep me) up there a lot more.”
Swearingen began his weekend in Chicago with an 87.75-point effort on Invizibull Fire.
The second-year pro earned 115.5 world points in the Windy City, and he is No. 3 in the world standings ahead of this week’s Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event in Denver. Swearingen has begun 2020 5-for-8 on the Unleash The Beast a year after finishing 13th in the world standings.
The Denver PBR Chute Out began on Monday night. Round 1 is split over the course of Monday and Tuesday with the Top 30 riders qualifying for Round 2 on Wednesday. The Top 15 riders in following the first two rounds then advance to the championship round.
Fans can watch all of the action from Denver live on RidePass beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
One rider can earn a maximum of 51 points toward the world standings.
Swearingen has drawn Zorro (9-1, all levels) for Round 1 on Tuesday, and he could leave Denver as the new world No. 1. He trails world leader Kaique Pacheco by 42.34 points.
He will step inside the National Western Stock Show with an added boost of confidence courtesy of his first premier series victory.
“It feels really good,” Swearingen said. “I’ve never been consistent throughout a whole weekend. I don’t know, this is pretty exciting here.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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