Youngest Wright Brother Continues Winning Ways with San Antonio Bracket Win

Countless NFR qualifications, world titles and a Hall of Famers all come from the Utah-based family of saddle bronc and bull riders, better known as the Wright family. This family and the sport of rodeo go hand-in-hand, and anyone who follows the PRCA can tell you of the phenomenon known as the Wright brothers.

In 2022, the PRCA was introduced to the youngest Wright brother, Statler. Due to the family history, greatness was all but expected of the 18-year-old bronc rider when he began his career. Thankfully, not many can rise to the occasion quite like a Wright brother.

Out of the first four rodeos of his professional career, he took first place at three and second place at one of them. He went on to finish No. 2 in the Resistol Rookie race and No. 20 in the World Standings for his first year of professional rodeo.

Likewise, 2023 brought major success for the young talent, including a round win at Houston, the championship at Reno, Nev., for the second year in a row, an average title at the NFR Open, and many more.

His efforts, although valiant, left him just short of a trip to the NFR yet again in 2023. Wright says that watching the rodeo from the stands in the Thomas and Mack Center is exactly the motivation he needed to light a fire in him going into the 2024 season.

“I’m excited, feeling healthy, and my saddle is feeling good. I’m just ready to keep rodeoing… Lately, I’ve just been trying to keep it one horse at a time and do all I can do with what I have drawn; if it works out, it works out, and if it doesn’t, then there’s always another one.”

Wright started this year’s season strong with a Wilderness Circuit Finals Average Championship, which he split with his uncle, Spencer Wright. He then used that momentum to press on and win Odessa, Texas, and place in the finals at the National Western in Denver, Colo., and Fort Worth, Texas, as well.

More recently, we saw the youngest Wright brother win back-to-back rounds at San Antonio and take the top honors in Bracket 2. He picked up a total of $6,500 for his efforts, and the rodeo is far from over. While he waits on his shot at the semi-finals in San Antonio, Wright will nod his head at Jackson, Miss., and Tuscon, Ariz., in hopes of adding to his lead in the world standings.

“If you’re going to do it, go all in and do it. You can’t rodeo and do it halfway.”

Wright has had some legendary role models to look up to and travel with going into his professional career as a saddle bronc rider. He says that traveling with guys like his brothers and uncles is the best advantage because there isn’t a struggle in rodeo that one of his family members hasn’t experienced. Having this expertise to look towards is crucial when on the road for months at a time, especially if things aren’t going in your favor.

If the past two years of rodeoing and being just short of the end goal have taught the 20-year-old anything, it’s how to keep a positive attitude. Wright says that a positive attitude can be the changing factor in getting bucked off one day and being 90 the next, and it’s all about the attitude that you keep through it all.

This year is off to a great start as Wright sits in a position that the Wright family name is no stranger to. His natural talent, positive attitude, and abundance of wisdom on his side will prove to be a huge advantage to him in his race towards his first NFR qualification and World Championship.