LAS VEGAS — For the first time in more than two decades, the world’s best all-around cowboy in the country isn’t a roper.
Milford High alum Stetson Wright, son of two-time World Champion Cody Wright, was crowned the All-Around Champion thanks to his saddle bronc and bull riding skills at the National Finals Rodeo Saturday night at the Thomas and Mack Center. It’s an award given to the cowboy who earns the most money in a season while competing in multiple events.
The 20-year-old, competing in his second season on the PRCA, won six saddle bronc events and earned victories when he competed in bull riding. He is the only one of the Wright clan, which includes his dad, uncles and brothers — who share five NFR saddle bronc championships between them — to compete in bull riding professionally, although a few did compete in the event in high school.
“I’ve done it for so long, my family knows I do it. I don’t really have much to say about that,” Wright told the Las Vegas Review-Journal after Saturday’s final NFR performance. “Hopefully many more.”
“I’ve done it for so long, my family knows I do it. I don’t really have much to say about that. Hopefully many more.” — Stetson Wright
Wright is the first Utah cowboy to win the all-around championship since the late Lewis Feild earned it from 1985-87 in saddle bronc and bareback.
Wright won the first night of bull riding at the 61st National Finals, which finished its 10-day run Saturday. The all-around title has been dominated by the cowboys in timed events, due in large part because of ropers like Trevor Brazile, who earned 14 all-around championships, breaking a record held by Ty Murray, who won nine. It was Murray who started the streak in 1998.
If Wright has anything to say about it, rough stock cowboys might hang onto the title for a few more years.
“I’m going to try to have a full, healthy season next season,” he told the Star-Telegram. “But I couldn’t be happier right now.”
Wright’s older brothers competed in the NFR in saddle bronc competition. Ryder Wright ended up in a three-way tie for third, while Rusty Wright finished in sixth place. Tyler Bingham of Honeyville, Box Elder County, who is a former high school national champion, finished third in bull riding.