Teel Embracing ‘warrior mentality’ Heading into Last Cowboy Standing Finale

By: Justin Felisko

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – 2012 PRCA champion Cody Teel has not forgotten just how exhausting and grueling the Last Cowboy Standing format can be.

It was one reason why he had plans to drink plenty of water Monday night following Round 1 of Last Cowboy Standing after he advanced to Tuesday’s competition (10 p.m. ET CBS Sports Network) with an 89.75-point ride on American Gangster.

“I always drink a lot of water anyway, but I will drink a little extra,” Teel said. “I might drink a bottle of Pedialyte, so I am ready for that worst-case scenario. That is what a lot of it is. Every individual is different, so you have to just do your own deal.”

Two years ago, Teel went through a gauntlet that was even more extreme than what usually happens during the PBR Major event.

The final three rounds of Last Cowboy Standing becomes a true physical and mental grind unlike any other event on the PBR calendar. Even with the possibility of one rider having to face his Round 3, Round 4 and Round 5 bulls in a span of 45 minutes after advancing beyond Round 2, no one could have anticipated what was in store for Teel at the 2019 Last Cowboy Standing.

Teel had ridden eventual two-time World Champion Bull Smooth Operator for 91.75 points to advance out of the second round and had plenty of momentum to make a push at a second career PBR Major victory.

Instead, the Texas cowboy would attempt four bulls in Round 3, including his last three in a span of 12 minutes, after he received three re-rides in the round.

“It was a grind,” Teel recalled shaking his head Monday night at Frontier Park Arena. “I came close to ending it with a couple 7-second rides. Hopefully I don’t have to do that again, but you have to be prepared for anything in this format.”

Teel admitted that he was basically gassed for his final two bulls that year.

“After the third one on Catfish John, I put a lot of effort, and I was just done,” Teel said. “Then I got two more. I was just along for the ride at that point. It sucks, but I wasn’t able to be very competitive.”

 
Teel heads into his Round 2 matchup against Chiseled sitting in second place in Cheyenne. The No. 8-ranked bull rider could make a big surge up the world standings heading into the stretch run to the PBR World Finals (Nov. 3-7 in Las Vegas) with a victory.

The winner of Last Cowboy Standing will earn 150 points toward the world standings and a minimum of $75,000.

Chiseled is coming off two impressive and electric outs at the Days of ’47 Cowboy Games & Rodeo in Salt Lake City. The 2019 ABBI Classic champion bucked off Trevin Bundy in 3.14 seconds (46 points) and Dalton Davis in 2.06 seconds (45 points).

The 6-year-old bull was ridden for 90 or more points in three of his last four outs in the first half, but he has since bucked off eight riders in a row at all levels of competition. Chiseled was marked 48 points at two PRCA rodeos this summer as well.

Teel was previously bucked off by Chiseled last year in Billings, Montana, in 3.17 seconds.

The 29-year-old will need to ride Chiseled or remain in the Top 8 of the event aggregate to advance to the third round on Tuesday.

Round 4 will then consist of the Top 4 riders in the aggregate based upon the previous three rounds.

Round 5 will feature every rider that posted a qualified ride in Round 4. A minimum of two riders will compete in Round 5. If only one rider covers in Round 4, then the PBR will bring back one rider (based on aggregate scores following Round 4).

The rider with the highest score in Round 5 will win the title of Last Cowboy Standing. If all riders buck off in Round 5, then the LCS crown will go to the rider with the highest aggregate score among those that attempted a bull in Round 5.

“When you get the adrenaline running, it drains you,” Teel said. “It takes it out of you. When you get on, you just have to be ready for anything. You just kind of have to develop a warrior mindset, especially on this kind of bulls. Any bulls, that number is a lot, but at this caliber is a lot different.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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