Statler Wright – Wins Round 3

By Patrick Everson

Last year, in his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, saddle bronc rider Statler Wright made a mistake. Or at least what he continues to think was a mistake.

“On the third night, I looked at the standings. Then I fell off my horse,” Wright said. “So I don’t look at the standings anymore. It’ll work out in the end, whether I look at them or not.”

On the third night this year, Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center, that strategy – or perhaps superstition – served Wright just fine. The 22-year-old outdueled his more famous older brothers, Stetson and Ryder, to win with 88.25 points aboard Angel Cat.

Statler snagged a paycheck of $36,668 for his first go-round win of the 2025 NFR. That gives him season-long earnings of $238,003, putting him No. 7 in the world standings.

Not that he’s paying attention to that. But he recognizes that go-round wins are needed to get where he wants to go.

“It’s really important to win any round here,” Statler said. “Fourteen other bronc riders are gunning for the win. You’ve gotta do something special here.

“I’m trying to be No. 1, so hopefully I can just keep doing this.”

He’ll have to keep overcoming his brothers, among others. Stetson is red-hot through three nights, and Ryder is riding solid as well. In Thursday’s first-go round, Stetson won the saddle broncs and bull riding, while Ryder cashed a check by taking sixth in saddle broncs.

On Friday night, Stetson took second in saddle broncs and again won bull riding, while Ryder took fourth and Statler fifth in saddle broncs.

But Saturday night was younger brother’s time, as Ryder predicted beforehand.

“Right before I got on, he told me that tonight was my night,” Statler said, while still deferring to his siblings. “They’re two of the greatest in the world. To see my name above theirs tonight feels great.”

Ryder finished in a three-way tie for second with 87.5 points, while Stetson finished just out of the money with an 84.75. Of course, about an hour later, Stetson won the bull riding for a third straight night, continuing his run as a human ATM this week.

But Statler isn’t competing in bull riding, so he’s leading the cheers for big brother in that event.

And much as he likes to beat his brothers in saddle broncs, Statler has a dream scenario for an NFR go-round vs. Stetson and Ryder.

“A three-way tie for the win would be awesome,” he said.

There are seven more go-rounds this week. Stranger things have happened, for sure!