Team USA Wolves’ Jesse: ‘Right now, my mind’s bulletproof’
By: Justin Felisko
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Colten Jesse looked down at his iPhone last week and saw he had a long text message from Ted Nuce.
The Team USA Wolves coach for the upcoming 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy, followed up the text to Jesse with a “call me.”
Jesse made sure to give Nuce a buzz and the two caught up on a variety of things. One area of improvement that Nuce wanted to see from Jesse was getting better at his get off.
The 22-year-old agreed with the critique, but he did not follow through on Nuce’s wishes this weekend at the Manchester Invitational.
“He said, ‘I want you to practice getting off. I want you to practice getting off and landing on your feet every time,’” Jesse said, shaking his head, in the PBR sports medicine room Sunday afternoon in Manchester.
Jesse then readjusted the bag of ice underneath his left hamstring and smiled.
“I didn’t do it here, but next week we will.”
Jesse bruised his hamstring when he was stepped on by Big Shot in Round 2 in Manchester following his 87.5-point ride.
Even though he may have failed at following through on Nuce’s initial wishes, Nuce will certainly be proud of Jesse’s fortitude to continue fighting on Championship Sunday.
Nuce has been stressing mental strength to his Wolves squad ever since he was named coach of the Wolves in July.
Jesse made sure to not let a small hamstring issue slow him down Sunday, and he rode Bad Beagle for 88.75 points and a season-best, second-place finish at the Manchester Invitational.
“It’s something that I’ve really worked on for the majority of my career,” Jesse said of his mentality. “Ted sends me stuff all the time about mental toughness and whatnot, and I feel like right now my mind’s bulletproof, and it just keeps getting better.
“That bull was definitely something you had to be mentally tough to get through, I feel like. I had to dig pretty deep, but I’m a professional. This is what I do, no matter what. I felt solid to get that bull rode. It would’ve felt a lot better if I didn’t get my damn hamstring stepped on in the second round, but you’ve got to do your job.”
Team USA Eagles assistant coach J.W. Hart said on CBS Sports Network that Jesse made his ride on Bad Beagle seem easier than it was.
“The reason he does is because he is up on those legs,” Hart said. “He is getting around that corner, taking the power away from that bull. The bull jumps out of it right there at the end and kind of takes off. His legs are sore. He is going to limp out of here, but, I promise you, first- or second-place money here makes you feel better come Monday.”
Jesse left SNHU Arena with 75.5 points toward the world standings to move up to No. 5 in the world standings. The Konowa, Oklahoma, native trails No. 1 Jess Lockwood, who won the Manchester Invitational with 92.25 points on Big Black, by 128 points ahead of next weekend’s Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic in Sacramento, California.
Fans can watch Round 1 exclusively on RidePass beginning at 10:45 p.m. ET.
Jesse is 7-for-10 (70%) through the first three UTB events compared to his 15-for-46 (32%) 2019 season. He began Manchester with an 87.25-point ride on Gubber.
The third-year pro was named to the Team USA Wolves last week along with Cody Jesus, Cannon Cravens and Wyatt Rogers (alternate). The four riders will team up with veterans Ryan Dirteater, Stetson Lawrence and Keyshawn Whitehorse in hopes of bringing the Wolves their first Global Cup title.
The third-year pro said his hamstring should not be an issue for next weekend, which is the first three-day event of the 2020 UTB season, even though he felt it some during his ride on Bad Beagle.
“Yeah, it’s a minor deal, but it was still there,” Jesse said. “I could feel it the whole time I was riding. It didn’t hinder me at all, but it’s just one of them things you’ve got to block out and cowboy up.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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