Sacramento 15/15 Draw: Team USA Eagles’ Triplett Returning to Action With Broken Ribs
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Matt Triplett about jumped through the phone Tuesday when informed of his bull for this coming weekend’s 15/15 Bucking Battle at the Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic.
“Hocus Pocus? Hell yeah!” Triplett exclaimed. “Holy cow, I can’t be more excited to have that draw in the 15/15. That is a good welcome back. That bull should be feeling fresh. He is going to fire.”
Triplett is returning to competition this weekend in Sacramento, California, after missing last weekend’s Manchester Invitational with a few broken ribs.
Fans can watch the 15/15 Bucking Battle Sunday on CBS national television at noon ET.
The 28-year-old rode Hocus Pocus for 89.75 points last year at the Caterpillar Classic in Kansas City, Missouri. Triplett was bucked off in 1.83 seconds at the 2018 World Finals, where Hocus Pocus tied with Legit for the Bull of the Finals event title, but won a challenge that showed he did not nod for the gate when it was opened.
“At the Finals when I drew him, I didn’t nod and he got me real fast,” Triplett recalled. “So I knew if I could get a fair shot at that bull he would fit me to a T. He jerked me down and I about hit his head twice and it popped me back up.”
15/15 Bucking Battle Matchups
Fabiano Vieira vs. The Right Stuff (6-1, UTB)
Brady Sims vs. Chiseled (5-5, UTB)
Eduardo Aparecido vs. Struttin Stuff (27-2, UTB)$
Bradley Brittain vs. Frequent Flyer (36-4 UTB)
Aaron Kleier vs. Speed Demon (39-7, UTB)
Matt Triplett vs. Hocus Pocus (6-1, UTB)$
Derek Kolbaba vs. Smooth Wreck (20-7, UTB)$
Dener Barbosa vs. Smooth Operator (71-7, UTB)
Mason Taylor vs. Safety Meeting (6-2, UTB)
Jose Vitor Leme vs. Cool Customer (19-4, UTB)*
Colten Jesse vs. Fearless (23-5, UTB)
Daylon Swearingen vs. Sitting Bull (15-7, UTB)
Kaique Pacheco vs. Spotted Demon (43-7, UTB)$
Joao Ricardo Vieira vs. Foghorn Leghorn (3-2, UTB)
Jess Lockwood vs. Red Dawn (24-5, UTB)*
$Rider has previously ridden the bull
*Rematch
Triplett said X-rays revealed the fractures after he was stepped on by Landslide on Jan. 15 at the mid-week Denver PBR Chute Out at the National Western Stock Show Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event.
“I got hung up and he stepped all over me,” Triplett said. “I fractured my ribs a little bit. The time off was well needed. I am a little sore, but it is nothing I can’t handle.”
Triplett said he wanted to take the extra precautions last week knowing the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy, is only three weeks away.
“I probably could have done it, but I want to be 100 percent when I am riding,” Triplett said. “We have the Global Cup right around the corner. I don’t want to be on the sidelines for that, too.”
The Team USA Eagles are already trying to overcome the loss of Chase Outlaw (reconstructive shoulder surgery) and 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis (neck fracture).
Triplett said he knows Outlaw and Davis will be in the Eagles’ ears all weekend long on Feb. 15-16 even if they are unable to compete as riders.
“Those are my good buddies,” Triplett said. “They are out and hurt, but they are going to do everything they can in their willpower to give us a chance to win. Obviously they can’t ride, but they are going to be there to support us. We have to step in and try to fill their shoes as best that we can. We will have to bring our game a little bit stronger without Cooper and Chase.”
Triplett is ranked 11th in the world standings and is 4-for-8 in two UTB events with two Top-10 finishes.
Eagles head coach Justin McBride expects his team to rally together, and he believes Triplett is one of the guys that can help the team continue to push ahead.
“Triplett has been riding great,” McBride said. “Especially when you can try and match him up (with a certain bull). At the end of the day, they have to realize that doing their job is enough. If they can each do their part, then collectively that is enough and they can beat them.”
Triplett may have to attempt at least five bulls this weekend with the 15/15 Bucking Battle taking place Saturday night during the first three-day UTB event of the season.
The Columbia Falls, Montana, cowboy is confident his ribs can hold up just fine.
“I didn’t feel as confident in myself last week to perform,” Triplett concluded. “This weekend, they are a little sore, but it is nothing in the back of mind saying, ‘Take it easy.’ I am going to go at them 100%, and after these five bulls we will see how it goes.”
LOCKWOOD TAKES 14.5-POINT LEAD INTO SACRAMENTO, HAS 1 OF 6 REMATCHES
World leader Jess Lockwood is one of six riders with a rematch in the 15/15 Bucking Battle. Lockwood takes on Red Dawn after previously being bested by the bull in 3.9 seconds in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Lockwood leads No. 2 Kaique Pacheco by 14.5 points in the world standings.
15/15 Bucking Battle Rematches
Triplett vs. Hocus Pocus (1-1; 89.75 points in Kansas City, Missouri, in last meeting)
Lockwood vs. Red Dawn (3.9 seconds in Bismarck in 2018)
Kolbaba vs. Smooth Wreck (2-5; 5.79 seconds in Billings, Montana, last year in last meeting)
Aparecido vs. Struttin Stuff (1-1; 2.2 seconds in Springfield, Missouri, last year in last meeting)
Leme vs. Cool Customer (0-2; 6.49 seconds last year in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in last meeting)
Pacheco vs. Spotted Demon (1-2; 4.23 seconds in Tacoma, Washington, last year in last meeting)
The 2018 World Champion is set to face Spotted Demon for the fourth time. Pacheco has bucked off Spotted Demon in two consecutive trips since riding him for 90 points at the 2017 Last Cowboy Standing event.
Derek Kolbaba and Smooth Wreck will meet for the seventh time. Smooth Wreck holds a 5-2 record against Kolbaba.
This week’s 15/15 Bucking Battle is the first of 2020 that is based on the current world standings.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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