CORTEZ – After a devastating injury that stole away his 2024 season, five-time PRCA all-around champion Stetson Wright is back in the saddle again – and he’s returning to Cortez.
A torn hamstring and multiple surgeries sidelined the Beaver, Utah cowboy on what had been one of the most dominant stretches in the rodeo’s history.
Ever since making his Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo debut in 2022, Wright drew a crowd – and for good reason. His score of 89 in 2023 edged out his siblings Rusty, Statler, and Spencer on his way to a Montezuma Fairgrounds arena record in the saddle bronc.
So, after missing the entirety of last year recovering from surgery, the 25-year-old is back in pursuit of the top spot to add to his nine-time work champion status. Wright will take center-stage on Friday night in Cortez, competing in both the saddle bronc and bull riding competitions.
Heading into the midpoint of the 2025 PRCA season, Wright leads the all-around world standings with over $140,000 in earnings through the first couple months of the campaign. He ranks third in bull riding winnings to complement his top-20 position in the saddle bronc.
He’ll join the Stetson brothers on Friday evening, led by Ryder, who currently leads the PRCA saddle bronc standings, while Statler sits at number five. Rusty Wright, the eldest of the group, rounds out the quartet that will descend on Cortez on Friday night at 7 p.m., meaning four top-25 saddle bronc riders will showcase their skills in front of a raucous UMR crowd on Friday night.
The UMR Rodeo will once again showcase some of the top competitors in the sport over the three-day event at the fairgrounds. Action begins at 7 p.m. every evening, with this year’s festivities kicking off on Thursday night with 4-H night, followed by Military Night on Friday night, and FFA night capping the weekend on Saturday.
