Cover photo: Champion steer wrestler Brandon Harrison takes a victory lap on Saturday night at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in Frost Bank Center. Photography courtesy of San Antonio Stock Show.
An underdog rose from the ranks of qualifiers, overcame adversity in the semifinals, and triumphed in the short round to become a champion in San Antonio.
On the other end of the rodeo arena, a top dog is back to claim his territory. He also faced adversity earlier in the tournament, but that top dog closed the rodeo with a victory lap.
The pro rodeo tournament wrapped up on Saturday night in Frost Bank Center, where champions were crowned at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
Underdog triumph
Brandon Harrison won the steer wrestling championship in a triumphant victory fit for a movie. Or at least it could be a rodeo song.
Harrison entered San Antonio via a qualifying rodeo in Uvalde, TX. He placed second in a go-round, before outright winning another round with a fast time of 3.4 seconds.
While Harrison missed his steer on a leap of faith in the semifinal round, resulting in a “no time” for him. Tough luck and a few trashy steers for other bulldoggers in that same round, and Harrison is able to move on.
Among the bulldoggers in the short round, Harrison went into the finals having won the least amount of money with $4,727. An underdog in the making, Harrison backed in the box with one last chance.
It all came down to this one run. Bulldog one steer to win over $15,000, and Harrison did just that when he bulldogged his steer in 4.3 seconds.
When the dust settled, Harrison was the high money earner in steer wrestling with $19,979. Brandon Harrison also takes home the championship buckle.
In the world of rodeo, an underdog can become a top dog. Likewise, a top dog can even sometimes be an underdog.
Return of a top dog
Stetson Wright made some headlines in his return to the rodeo trail, and he even won a go-round in Denver last month.
The highs and lows of rodeo soon greeted his return. On Saturday in San Antonio, Wright experienced both in one day.
Calgary Stampede’s bronc Annual News bucked off Stetson during a matinee performance on Saturday. Despite getting thumped in the semifinal round, Wright still pocketed $4,727 after winning a go-round bronc riding and placing second in another.
Although Stetson failed to advance in saddle bronc riding at San Antonio, he did not fail to make the short go. Stetson would also not fail again this year in San Antonio.
On Saturday evening in the short round of bull riding, Wright rode Cervi Championship Rodeo’s Ringling Road for 91.5 points and $19,454. Add that to his day money from both bulls and broncs, and Wright takes home over $32,000 in earnings.
The story of Wright’s return to his winning ways, along with the underdog story of Brandon Harrison’s triumph, are merely two success stories from the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
More coverage from San Antonio coming soon, including stories of dominant wins in breakaway roping and bronc riding.
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