Rookie Report: Brady Turgeon Ready to Get Summer Started with Oklahoma Freedom
By: James Youness
PUEBLO, Colo. – When last month’s 2023 PBR Teams Draft concluded inside the Fort Worth Stockyards on May 17, each of the league’s eight teams exited the draft by welcoming the next wave of 5-on-5 talent to their respective squads.
With the draft serving as the official kickoff for Year 2 of PBR Teams action, and several sets of both established and new riders declaring themselves eligible to be drafted, coaches and front office personnel from each squad had plenty of digging to do when it came to researching this year’s field of prospects.
Eventually seeing the Carolina Cowboys select 28-year-old Sage Kimzey with the first overall selection, the Jerome Davis-led contingency doubled down on its “Win Now” strategy by selecting fellow veteran in 28-year-old Josh Frost with the No. 2 pick to earn the blue and black team a spicy start to the evening.
Holding the third and fourth selections, the Missouri Thunder opted into welcoming both Joao Lucas Campos and Kade Madsen, before watching on as the Kansas City Outlaws selected Cassio Dias.
With the Oklahoma Freedom officially on the clock, things had fallen right into place for Head Coach Cord McCoy and his red, white and blue group.
When the team officially submitted its selection and the lights were shining bright, PBR CEO and Commissioner Sean Gleason announced the organization had selected Brady Turgeon with its sixth overall pick.
“I knew that I was going to be on the Freedom. Cord (McCoy) had called me a few times over the last few days and said he was really interested,” an ecstatic Turgeon shared just moments after being welcomed to the organization.
“Right when they were about to pick, I got the butterflies a little bit, but it was pretty dang cool to walk out there and shake Sean (Gleason)’s hand and meet Kody Lostroh and Cord and get this jersey right here. Yeah, it’s awesome, man. It’s a great opportunity.”
Of the seven riders selected in the first round of the draft, Turgeon not only logged the most UTB appearances throughout the 2023 campaign, but also finished the year ranked No. 40 on the premier series despite participating in just six contests leading into the 2023 PBR World Finals in Fort Worth, Texas.
A season highlighted by three Top 10 finishes in said events, including a career-best third-place finish April 29-30 during the tour’s regular season finale in Louisville, Kentucky, Turgeon made the most of his opportunities at the end of the season, effectively punching his ticket to his first-ever season-culminating event en route to capturing the attention of McCoy and company.
“I think they saw that I’ve tried on every bull that I’ve gotten on and just try to keep my hand shut,” Turgeon offered.
“I think that’s what they’re looking for, guys that try their heart out and are going to improve throughout this series and throughout their career. I can only get better from here, so it’ll be awesome to see what’s going on.”
Nicknamed “Red” a few years back, an ode to the 19-year-old’s hair color and freckle-friendly face, Turgeon understands the implications and expectations of being selected in the first round of the league’s draft, but won’t look to overcomplicate things when his squad gets started next month in Cheyenne, Wyoming, July 24-25 during the season-opening event at Cheyenne Frontier Days.
“I’ve got to just keep doing what I’m doing. Keeping it simple and riding bulls like I know how to, believing, and I think it will take its course. If we don’t win, it is what it is, I’m just blessed to have this opportunity to be here and I’m going to just keep it simple,” the youngster shared.
“I didn’t have the best weekend in my first couple of rounds (at World Finals), but I got the jitters out and this (being drafted by the Freedom) is a good confidence-booster right here with everyone, so I think we’ll be able to get something done this weekend.”
While the Freedom rookie-to-be only managed a 1-for-7 showing at World Finals, he did stay true to his word of wanting to get something done, eventually covering Drago for 83.25 points in Round 6 to get on the board during his first appearance on the world’s biggest bull riding stage.
Thankfully for Turgeon and Oklahoma as a unit, the New River, Arizona, native will be surrounded by plenty of veteran talent, including the likes of Chase Outlaw, Eli Vastbinder, Derek Kolbaba and company when the team begins to ramp things up for the summer during training camp.
“We’re excited to create the group that we have … We had several young guys that we felt like we had a big influence on developing, and we think Brady can be that next guy for us,” McCoy said.
“Then you got Kolbaba, Vastbinder and Outlaw, the veterans. Getting those guys back together in the same locker room and rooting for each other … I think we’re all pretty pumped about Season Two. I think we have just enough of a taste of defeat and winning to know which one we like, so I think we’re all ready to go again.”
With the veteran presence noted by both coach and prospect, including the talents of Jess Lockwood and Casey Roberts, who are both currently banged up, albeit with a chance to compete for Oklahoma this summer, the established riders may need to carry the weight for a few events, but Turgeon will be ready and willing to get into the lineup as soon as next month.
“They’re the dogs, man. I’ve watched Chase since I was young. He’s rode so many fire-breathing dragons, so just to be there right next to him, doing what I know how to do, I think we’re going to make a good dent in PBR Teams this year.”
After earning $25,976 this season in limited action, the newest member of the Freedom is looking forward to making it rain this summer as he saves up to buy a home of his own, as he currently resides with his father in Arizona.
Just because the regular checks may be getting cashed, doesn’t mean the talented cowboy is settling for anything less than giving it his all, though.
“That’ll be awesome. I’m blessed to have this opportunity and bull riding is definitely improving in that aspect because if you don’t ride for 8 seconds, you aren’t getting paid, so just showing up and getting a check every time, it’s going to be a little different, but that’s not enough for me,” he concluded.
“I want to do my job and earn those bonuses and do whatever I can to help my team and improve as much as I can.”
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
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