No Scores For Stetson Wright at NFR Doesn't Change Mentality

The circumstances may have changed before the 2023 NFR, but that hasn't changed the mentality of how Stetson Wright plans to go about the largest event of the year.

Following the tragic events of a shooting at the campus of UNLV on Wednesday, the PRCA decided to push back the first day of National Finals Rodeo events so that things would begin on Friday, Dec. 8.

A quick change to the schedule can throw the athletes off their game heading into the NFR.

That includes Team Polaris Athlete Stetson Wright, saddle bronc rider and No. 1 all-around cowboy in the world.

And it was certainly different for the highest ranked cowboy in the country.

He received a no score in both his saddle bronc and bull riding rounds that shocked the crowd in Las Vegas.

Wright has been dealing with an injury to his leg that may be holding him back, but that won't keep him from enjoying the best parts about NFR and the finer things that a day off presented him.

However, he used the day off to do something that normally he and his family aren't able to do.

"I get to spend more time with my family. We don't get to do that much because we're always on the go. So, getting to slow down here, normally, is very rare and doesn't happen, so I'm pretty excited about it," he said in an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated's Rodeo Daily.

The time spent with family allows Wright to take in some more advice from his father, who has been instrumental to his success throughout his career.

"Like I talked about with my dad, he’s been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, so pretty much anything he says I think is the way it’s supposed to be," he told Sports Illustrated.

He'll need to channel that mentality.

Wright is going for his eighth gold buckle at the 2023 NFR this year.

But he doesn't feel the pressure to perform.

"I don’t put the pressure on me. I always pretend that I’m always in second place like the other guys have to do this and being number one in all three, I mean I have an advantage," he said.

If the injury slows him down then this will become a more interesting race to see who finishes as the best cowboy in the country.

One thing is for certain, Wright will continue to chase his ultimate goal of becoming the best that's ever live even if that doesn't happen at the NFR this year.