BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN
After a breakout 2020 season that saw him win $320,984 and finish second in the PRCA Saddle Bronc Riding World Standings, Wyatt Casper proved early in 2021 that it would be more of the same.
On Jan. 2, he capped off a 3-for-3 performance at the Texas Circuit Finals to be crowned the champion. A month and change later, he rode Palindrome for 88 points to win the Dixie National Rodeo. He continued to dominate the Southeast into March when he won the Arcadia All-Florida Championship and the Southeastern Livestock Exposition and Rodeo in back-to-back weekends.
By the time the calendar had turned to April, Casper had already tallied $21,194 and was No. 5 in the World Standings.
WYATT CASPER RIDES MISS ELLIE FOR 89.5 POINTS IN ARCADIA
Capser slipped down to No. 8 in the World Standings after winning about $7,000 in April and May, but he quickly picked things up in June.
In the first two weeks of the month, he was second at the Old Fort Days Rodeo (Arkansas) and the Parker County Sheriffs Posse PRCA Rodeo (Texas). He also was the champion at the Coleman PRCA Rodeo (Texas).
In July, Casper shined at The Calgary Stampede by winning at least $2,500 on each of his first five rides. Overall, he took home $14,000 from Canada and two weeks later, he earned $6,500 in the final weekend of the month by placing second at Deadwood and first at Nebraska’s Big Rodeo.
CASPER RIDES LUNATIC FROM HELL FOR 89.5 POINTS IN DEADWOOD
In August, Casper notched a second-place finish at the Caldwell Night Rodeo thanks to an 89.5-point ride on Ols Tubs Little Muffin and a day after that rodeo concluded, he was second at the Xtreme Broncs in Gardiner, Montana to win $3,784.
Casper won only about $2,000 from Aug. 22-Sept. 22, but capped his season in thrilling fashion at the ProRodeo Tour Finale.
In Salinas, he was 4-for-4 with all three rides of 86 points or more. He ended up finishing third in the four-man Shootout after an 88-point ride on Wild Cherry. He brought in close to $9,000 to remain in the Top 10 at the end of the regular season.
Casper averaged 82.01 points per qualified ride and had 31 rides of 85 points or more, both improvements from 2020 and new career-highs.
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