Stetson Wright Set to Return this Weekend in Ellensburg
By Tracy Renck
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Star rookie bull rider and saddle bronc rider Stetson Wright is set to return from injury this weekend, but not in bull riding.
Wright, who broke his jaw July 31 in the first round of bull riding at the Dodge City (Kan.) Roundup Rodeo, told ProRodeo.com he will compete in saddle bronc riding Aug. 31 at the Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo, a stop on the ProRodeo Tour.
“The recovery of my jaw has been good, but it is not something I ever want to do again,” said Wright, 20. “It’s been healing. I had to get four teeth in the bottom front of my mouth pulled because of the wreck, and I’m going to have to get some implants, I just don’t know when. I think I will be fine (competing). I’m just going to go out there and ride and hope for the best. I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”
Wright was injured in Dodge City following his 86-point ride on 4L & Diamond S Rodeo’s Last Cigarette, which was good for a third-place finish.
“My hand hung in my rope and his horn caught me underneath my helmet and broke my jaw by my chin,” Wright said. “They didn’t wire my jaw shut because it didn’t break in the back, it was all up front. They did have to put plates and screws in it, but it could have been a lot worse. It has not been fun (having a broken jaw) because I enjoy food and I have had to drink everything.”
Wright lost about 25 pounds, but he’s slowly gaining it back.
“They are supposed to give me some flipper teeth (Wednesday), so hopefully I can start eating somewhat normal then,” Wright said. “You can only eat so much soup. I was able to ride a bike (to stay in shape) and I was able to ride a saddle horse.”
Wright ranked first in the Aug. 26 PRCA | RAM World Standings in all-around with $162,715. He was second in the bull riding standings with $151,110 and 23rd in the saddle bronc riding world standings with $52,328. He trails 15th-place Colt Gordon by $25,513.
“The goal is to qualify for the NFR in saddle bronc riding,” Wright said.
Wright plans to compete at the ProRodeo Tour Finale at the Washington State Fair Pro Rodeo in Puyallup, Wash., Sept. 5-8, in saddle bronc riding and possibly bull riding. He was leading the Aug. 24 ProRodeo Tour standings in bull riding and was ninth in the saddle bronc riding standings.
With the ProRodeoTour, all cowboys eligible to compete in Tour rodeos can earn Tour points and qualify for the Finale in Puyallup, which takes the Top 24 contestants in each event.
Following Puyallup, Wright will compete at the Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up. He’s up in the bull riding Sept. 12 and in saddle bronc riding Sept. 13.
Wright is leading the PRCA | Resistol Rookie of the Year standings in all-around, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.
Courtesy of PRCA