PRCA Weekly Recap: Westyn Hughes Fighting to Finish 2022 Season Strong
Westyn Hughes hasn’t had the 2022 ProRodeo season he was hoping for coming off his second trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
A hip injury at the end of last season forced Hughes to undergo surgery in early February and caused him to miss nearly five months of action. He returned to the arena during the Fourth of July run but didn’t feel like himself until recently.
“I had hip surgery right after the NFR,” said Hughes, 25. “This past month it finally started feeling good. When I first came out here to rodeo, the first few months were still somewhat of a struggle, but this last month it has been good.”
Hughes clocked the fastest tie-down roping time of the week in ProRodeo (Sept. 12-18). He stopped the clock in 7.3 seconds at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo in Abilene. The quickest run of the rodeo was registered by Adam Gray with a 7.1-second run, but that time came back on Sept. 11.
“I made a pretty good run down there to put myself in the money in the round,” he said. “I came into this week with a long outside chance (to make the NFR), but it didn’t really quite go my way.”
The Caldwell, Texas, tie-down roper sits 18th in the PRCA | RAM World Standings with $87,431. That puts him $11,888 outside of the Top 15 to qualify for the Wrangler NFR. He said while it’s a long shot for him to make the Finals this season, there is still plenty to work toward for the 2023 season.
“I don’t think it’s possible for me to make the Finals this year, but it’s one of those deals where I left the house around the Fourth and I’m not going back until all of my rodeos are done,” Hughes said. “I’m not quitting on the season. A guy never wants to end up 18th, but at the same time to go in with $80,000 in three months isn’t bad either for next year.”
Below, are the other top times and rides for the week of Sept. 12-18.
Kaycee Feild put together the highest marked bareback ride of the week. Feild had a 90-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Mlw’s Irish Eyes at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up, Sept. 17.
Gavin Soileau clocked the fastest steer wrestling time this past week. He had a 3.5-second run at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo in Abilene, Sept. 17.
Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley had the quickest team roping time of the week. The duo clocked a 4.3-second run in Abilene, Sept. 15.
Kolby Wanchuk had the top saddle bronc ride this past week. He put together a 90-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ The Black Tie in Pendleton, Sept. 17.
Lari Guy had the fastest breakaway roping run of the week. She stopped the clock in 1.7 seconds at the Abilene (Texas) Breakaway Roping, Sept. 16.
Alex Dollar and Acey Pinkston tied for the quickest barrel racing time this past week. Both cowgirls clocked 15.26-seconds runs.
Dawson Gleaves had the highest scored bull ride of the week. Gleaves had a 91-point ride on Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Time For Religion at the Pendleton (Ore.) Whisky Xtreme Bulls Finale in Pendleton, Ore., Sept. 12.
Garrett Hale clocked the quickest steer roping run of the week. Hale had a 10.8-second time in Sept. 17.
Courtesy of PRCA