Stetson Wright Claims First San Antonio Rodeo Title
SAN ANTONIO – Stetson Wright strode to the stage to make his selection for the bull he wanted to ride in the finals of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
After winning the wild-card round earlier in the day, Wright’s good day kept rolling when his name was chosen first for the draw.
With zero hesitation, the reigning PRCA bull riding world champion and two-time all-around world champion called out Frontier Rodeo’s Trophy Rack.
About four hours later, Wright rode Trophy Rack for a 93-point ride and his first San Antonio title at the Freeman Coliseum on Saturday night.
“It was a great week,” said a beaming Wright.
Wright hadn’t been on Trophy Rack, but he knew what to expect, and that’s why he selected the bull with the first pick.
“He bucks exactly like a bucking horse, as far as jumping, kicking, snapping and blowing the air,” Wright said. “I knew as long as I rode forward and back, I’d ride him like I was supposed to.”
The 21-year-old nearly lost it all. With less than two seconds remaining until the whistle, Wright appeared to be falling off. Somehow, he adjusted himself before gravity could drag him to the dirt.
“I almost messed up big time,” Wright said. “He was going left and I was getting to where I was counting money before I got to the bank. I got down in the well and I was like, you’re either going to get bucked off or kick loose with everything and get back to the middle.”
Wright got back to the middle and earned $9,000 for first to win the rodeo with $15,800, more money than any other winner. Before San Antonio, Wright was seventh in the world standings. His San Antonio winnings will more than double his earnings in the world.
Getting a jump this early in the season is new for Wright.
“Having a good winter is something that I really haven’t done in the past two years,” he said. “… This is the exact way I wanted to start my year. I ride better when I get into the summertime and we’re riding more bulls and more horses every day. Starting like this, hopefully I can roll on through and keep everything going.”
Wright also finished fourth in the saddle bronc riding. He went into San Antonio in second place in the all-around world standings.
Wright had to go through the wild-card round after getting bucked off in the semifinals. He posted an 84-point ride on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Cabo on Saturday afternoon to win the round and advance to the finals.
“I wish I’d gone to the semifinals and done my job,” Wright said. “But I tend to do that thing where I make it really tough on my mind and my stomach to go through the hard stuff to get to the top. It’s stressful, but when it works like this it’s cool.”
Team ropers Clay Smith and Jade Corkill set a San Antonio rodeo record with a 3.3-second run in the finals. The previous record was set by Dustin Bird and Levi Tyan in 2020 at the AT&T Center. Smith and Corkill won the rodeo with $12,000 apiece.
Other winners of the $644,840 rodeo were: Bareback rider Clayton Biglow ($13,700); steer wrestler Stockton Graves ($11,250); saddle bronc rider Kolby Wanchuk ($13,500); tie-down roper Adam Gray ($13,700); and barrel racer Carly Taylor ($13,300).
Courtesy of PRCA