SAN ANGELO, TX — A familiar draw set up Milford, Utah, cowboy Rusty Wright for glory in the championship round of saddle bronc riding at the San Angelo Stock Show and rodeo.
Wright rode Pete Carr’s Hometown Girl for 89.5 points and a total of 177 on two rides for his third win in Angelo. That was the same horse Wright scored 82 on in 2018’s short go.
However, the delivery was different this time around. Last year, Hometown Girl came out in a left-handed delivery that sent the ride into the fence and Wright out of the money. This year, the horse came out right-handed and things lined up perfect for Rusty.
WATCH: Our interview with Rusty Wright just after winning the 2019 San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Saddle Bronc category:
[[{"fid":"54604","view_mode":"wysiwyg","fields":{"format":"wysiwyg"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"wysiwyg"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-wysiwyg","data-delta":"1"}}]]
“I knew she was really good and if I rode her, I’d be a bunch of points,” Wright said. “This year they had her out of a right hand delivery. So, I knew she wasn’t gonna get in that fence. I was real excited. She didn’t disappoint and I tried to ride her the best I could.”
Much like last year, Rusty and his brother, Ryder, were in the running for the money. Ryder rode for 88 points.
When the dust settled at the Coliseum on Friday, both had placed, with Ryder taking third, and the Wright household was $5,496 richer.
It was the third time in the last five years that Rusty had won in San Angelo. Overall, the family has now won four of the last six competitions at San Angelo.
Why is that? They’re confident in the quality of livestock for each ride, Rusty says.
“We come in and we’ve done so good here,” Rusty added. “So, we expect ourselves to ride good. Rodeo’s just like any other sport; it’s 90 percent mental. So, if you’ve got the mental part down, all you’ve gotta do is go out there and have fun. That’s what I love about this rodeo, I know I’m gonna get on something good. So, I’ve just gotta go out there and have fun.”
Being able to compete with his brothers at the biggest stages is “a dream come true” for Rusty after he and his brothers spent their childhood on the family’s bucking barrel dreaming of touring the PRCA together.
It also adds fuel to each brother’s fire to succeed.
“When I see [Ryder] ride good, it fires me up. It makes me wanna ride just as good, try to beat him,” Rusty said. “I feed off how he rides, you know. If he goes out there and makes a great ride, it just gets me pumped up and it just makes me wanna get on that much more.”
Now, you don’t have to tell anyone in the Wright clan what winning San Angelo means. Rusty won in 2014 and qualified for the NFR the next year. Ryder won San Angelo in 2017 and won the NFR the same year, just as Wade Sundell did in 2018.
“It’s huge,” Rusty said simply. “It’s the beginning of the year, you don’t have that much money won. You do good here, it puts you up in the world standings and gets your momentum rolling for the rest of the year. It seems like every year I do good here, it carries on the rest of the season.”
San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
Feb. 1-3, Feb. 8-10, Feb. 13-15
Bareback riding: 1. 2. Nate S. McFadden, 90 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s South Point Gambler, $4,890; 2. Bill Tutor, 88, $3,749; 2. Kody Lamb, 85, $2,771; 3. Caleb Bennett, 85.5, $1,793; 4. (tie) Austin Foss and Clayton Biglow, 85, $978 each; 7. (tie) Taylor Broussard, Jake Vold and Wyatt Ortega, 84, $380 each. Final round: 1. Caleb Bennett, 93 points on Northcott Macza’s Spilled Perfume, $1,650; 2. Clayton Biglow, 89.5, $1,250; 3. Kody Lamb, 89, $900; 4. Hunter Brasfield, 85.5, $600; 5. (tie) Zach Hibler and Tanner Aus, 82, $300 each. Average: 1. Caleb Bennett, 178.5 points on two rides, $4,890; 2. Kody Lamb, 175, $3,749; 3. Clayton Biglow, 174.5, $2,771; 4. Hunter Brasfield, 168.5, $1,793; 5. Wyatt Ortega, 165.5, $1,141; 6. Tanner Aus, 164.5, $815; 7. Zach Hibler, 164, $652; 8. Jake Vold, 154, $489.
WATCH: Caleb Bennett on Spilled Perfume sets the arena record with a 93-point ride:
[[{"fid":"54605","view_mode":"wysiwyg","fields":{"format":"wysiwyg"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"2":{"format":"wysiwyg"}},"attributes":{"class":"media-element file-wysiwyg","data-delta":"2"}}]]
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Tucker Allen, 3.6 seconds, $3,636; 2. (tie) Don Payne and Josh Clark, 3.7, $2,925 each; 4. (tie) Scott Guenthner and Sam Shelton, 3.8, $1,976 each; 6. Denell Henderson, 3.9, $1,265; 7. Jacob Talley, 4.0, $791; 8. Dru Melvin, 4.2, $316. Second round: 1. Richard Coats, 3.2 seconds, $3,636; 2. Edward Beardsworth, 3.7, $4,162; 3. Dirk Tavenner, 3.8, $2.688; 4. Tom Lewis, 3.9, $2,213; 5. (tie) Tanner Brunner, Gary Gilbert and Bridger Anderson, 4.0, $1,265; 8. (tie) Sam Powers, Ross Mosher and Josh Garner, 4.1, $106 each. Final round: 1. Cody Devers, 3.5 seconds, $1,645; 2. Tyler Pearson, 4.3, $1,430; 3. Jacob Edler, 4.4, $1,216; 4. Mike McGinn, 4.5, $1,001; 5. Tucker Allen, 4.6, $787; 6. Denell Henderson, 5.0, $572; 7. Stephen Culling, 6.5, $358; 8. Josh Clark, 12.5, $143. Average: 1. Tucker Allen, 12.8 seconds on three runs, $5,455; 2. Cody Devers, 13.2, $4,743; 3. Denell Henderson, 13.3, $4,032; 4. Jacob Edler, 13.6, $4,032; 5. Tyler Pearson, 13.8, $2,609; 6. Mike McGinn, 14.3, $1,897; 7. Stephen Culling, 16.2, $1,186; 8. Josh Clark, 21.2, $474.
Team roping: First round: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.6 seconds, $3,763; 2. Nelson Wyatt/Rich Skelton, 3.7, $3,272; 3. Levi Simpson/Cole Davison, 3.8, $2,782; 4. Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, 3.9, $2,291; 5. (tie) Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, Manny Equsquiza Jr./Dustin Searcy and Tyler Waters/Brady Norman, 4.0, $1,309 each; 8. Anthony Lucia/Wesley Moss, 4.1, $327. Second round: 1. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 3.5 seconds, $3,763; 2. (tie) Luke Brown/Paul Eaves and Caleb Smidt/Will Woodfin, 3.6, $3,027 each; 4. Brandon Webb/Kollin VonAhn, 3.7, $2,291; 5. (tie) Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, Lathen Bryant/Morgan McVay and Shane Phillip/John Phillip, 3.8, $1,309; 8. Marcus Theriot/Coleby Payne, 3.9, $327. Final round: 1. Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, 4.2 seconds, $1,711; 2. Garett ChickRoss Ashford, 4.6, $1,416; 3. Lane Santos Karney/Dillon Wingereid, 5.0, $1,121; 4. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 5.1, $826; 5. Bart Brunson/Trace Porter, 5.6, $531; 6. Marcus Theriot/Coleby Payne, 6.5, $295.Average: 1. Aaron Tsinigine/Kyle Lockett, 13.2 seconds on three runs, $5,645; 2. Ty Blasingame/Brandon Bates, 13.7, $4,909; 3. Garett Chick/Ross Ashford, 14.3, $4,172; 4. Marcus Theriot/Coleby Payne, 16.3, $3,436; 5. Lane Santos Karney/Dillon Wingereid, 16.9, $2,700; 6. Bart Brunson/Trace Porter, 17.1, $1,963; 7. Levi Simpson/Cole Davison, 19.4, $1,227; 8. Clay Smith/Jake Long, 21.0, $491.
Saddle bronc riding: 1. Zeke Thurston, 88.5 points on Rafter H Rodeo’s Aces Wild, $3,508; 2. (tie) Rusty Wright and Lefty Holman, 87.5, $2,339 each; 4. (tie) Cody DeMoss and Colt Gordon, 87, $1,052 each; 6. Ryder Wright, 84, $585; 7. Jade Blackwell, 83.5, $468; 8. (tie) Preston Burr, Wade Sundell, Chase Brooks and Shade Etbauer, 83, $88 each. Final round: 1. Rusty Wright, 89.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hometown Girl, $1,650; 2. Ryder Wright, 88, $1,250; 3. Chase Brooks, 87, $900; 4. Zeke Thurston, 84, $600; 5. Lefty Holman, 82.5, $350; 6. Jade Blackwell, 81.5, $250. Average: 1. Rusty Wright, 177 points on two rides, $3,508; 2. Zeke Thurston, 172.5, $2,690; 3. Ryder Wright, 172, $1,988; 4. (tie) Chase Brooks and Lefty Holman, 170, $1,052 each; 6. Jade Blackwell, 165, $585; 7. Rhett Fanning, 160.5, $468; 8. Preston Burr, 160.0, $351.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Jake Pratt, 7.0 seconds, $4,792; 2. Michael Otero, 7.1, $4,167; 3. Kyle Lucas, 7.4, $3,542; 4. (tie) Trevor Brazile and Blair Smith, 7.5, $2,604 each; 6. Tuf Cooper, 7.6, $1,667; 7. (tie) Blane Cox, John Douch and Bryson Sechrist, 7.7, $486 each. Second round: 1. Adam Gray, 7.1 seconds, $4,792; 2. (tie) Justin Smith, Marty Yates Bradley Bynum, 7.2, $3,542 each; 5. (tie) Tyler Milligan, Cory Solomon and Reid H. Zapalac, 7.3, $1,667 each; 6. (tie) Cimarron Boardman and Jesse Clark, 7.6, $308 each. Final round: 1. Michael Otero, 7.8 seconds, $1,909; 2. Matt Shiozawa, 8.0, $1,660; 3. Jake Pratt, 8.1, $1,411; 4. Blake Ash, 9.4, $1,162; 5. Cory Solomon, 10.2, $913; 6. Marty Yates, 10.5, $664; 7. Trevor Brazile, 10.8, $415; 8. Tuf Cooper, 19.0, $166. Average: 1. Michael Otero, 23.0 seconds on three runs, $7,187; 2. Jake Pratt, 24.0, $6,250; 3. Matt Shiozawa, 25.2, $5,312; 4. Trevor Brazile, 26.0, $4,375; 5. Blake Ash, 26.1, $3,437; 6. Marty Yates, 26.2, $2,500; 7. Cory Solomon, 27.5, $1,562; 8. Tuf Cooper, 25.1, $625.
Barrel racing: First round: 1. Wenda Johnson, 15.91 seconds, $4,295; 2. Jill Tanner, 15.97, $3,681; 3. Sidney Forrest, 15.99, $3,068; 4. Ryann Pedone, 16.00, $2,659; 5. Jackie Jatzlau, 16.04, $2,045; 6. Angela Ganter, 16.05, $1,636; 7. Kelly Bruner, 16.07, $1,227; 8. Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, 16.08, $819; 9. Hailey Kinsel, 16.09, $614; 10. (tie) Sara Withers, Nisa Berry, Jimmie Smith, Brittney Barnett and Kenna Squires, 16.10, $82 each. Second round: 1. Nicole Love, 14.08 second, $4,295; 2. Alex Lang, 14.19, $3,681; 3. Jimmie Smith, 14.24, $3,068; 4. (tie) Teri Bangart and Sherry Cervi, 14.29, $2,352 each; 6. Stevi Hillman, 14.32, $1,636; 7. (tie) Halyn Lide and Kappy Allen, 14.34, $1,023 each; 9. Mindy Goemmer, 14.35, $614; 10. Dona Kay Rule, 14.38, $409. Final round: 1. Jill Tanner, 13.81 seconds, $3,181; 2. Jimmie Smith, 14.20, $2,386; 3. Lacinda Rose, 14.26, $1,590; 4. Nicole Love, 14.30, $795. Average: 1. Jill Tanner, 44.36 seconds on three runs, $6,442; 2. Nicole Love, 44.50, $5,522; 3. Jimmie Smith, 44.54, $4,801; 4. Alex Lang, 44.81, $3,988; 5. Lacinda Rose, 44.88, $3,068; 6. Teri Bangart, 44.96, $2,454; 7. Stevi Hillman, 44.97, $1,841; 8. Cheyenne Wimberley, 45.07, $1,227; 9. Sidney Forrest, 45.08, $920; 10. Brittney Barnett, 45.16, $614.
Bull riding: 1. (tie) Aaron Williams, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Tequila Worm, and Stetson Wright, on United Pro Rodeo’s Happy Days, 89 points, $3,286 each; 3. Jeff Askey, 88, $3,108; 4. Brady Portenier, 87, $1,364; 5. Jordan Wacey Spears, 86.5, $868; 6. Rorey Maier, 85, $620; 7. (tie) Cole Meloncon and Riker Carter, 84, $434 each. Final round: 1. Jordan Wacey Spears, 88.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Tequila Worm, $1,800; 2. Aaron Pass, 87, $1,400; 3. Chase Dougherty, 84, $1,050; 4. Jeff Askey, 81.5, $750. Average: 1. Jordan Wacey Spears, 175 points on two rides, $3,720; 2. Aaron Pass, 170.5, $2,852; 3. Jeff Askey, 169.5, $2,108; 4. Chase Dougherty, 167, $1,364; 5. Stetson Wright, 89 points on one ride, $868; 6. Brady Portenier, 87, $620; 7. Rorey Maier, 85, $496; 8. Riker Carter, 84, $372.
Subscribe to the LIVE! Daily
Required
Post a comment to this article here: