USA Team Wolves.
By LORI ANN EDMO
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — USA’s Team Wolves finished third overall at the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Global Cup February 9 and 10 in Arlington, Texas and coach Wiley Petersen said there’s no shame in it as his team competed against the best bull riders in the world, along with the best bulls.
Team Brazil won the event with 939.25 points riding 11 of 18 bulls winning $365,100. The other USA team – Team Eagles finished second with 867 points riding 10 of 18 bulls earning $141,050. Cooper Davis of Team Eagles was the individual aggregate winner with 263.25 points taking home $30,000 for the top-finishing rider.
The all Native American Team Wolves rode 8 for 18 and collected 691.25 points winning $88,400. Ryan Dirteater (Cherokee) finished second overall in the individual aggregate. On Sunday, he first rode Scrappie (TNT Rodeo Co.) for 83.5 points, which he followed with an 89.25 ride on Bezerk (BMC Bucking Bulls/Jenkins Cattle Co.) in the final bonus round according to a PBR press release. Cody Jesus (Navajo, Window Rock, Ariz.) delivered a big ride for the Wolves on Sunday afternoon as he covered Black Rose (Broken Arrow Bucking Bulls) for 88.5 points in round 2. He finished sixth overall in the individual aggregate with 175.50 points. Other Team Wolves riders include Cannon Cravens (Cherokee) who finished in twelfth position with 87 points. Stetson Lawrence (Chippewa/Sioux) rode one bull for 85 points. Keyshawn Whitehorse (Navajo) and Justin Granger (Navajo) both bucked off their bulls.
Team Australia finished fourth with 514.25 points; Team Mexico was fifth with 337.75 points and Team Canada was sixth with 258 points.
Ryan Dirteater, Wiley Petersen and Colton Jesse on chutes.
Wiley said it was a really fun event and a great group of riders. “There was a lot of support from all the fans – it was a special experience and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
“I feel like my riders put forth their full effort. We didn’t win but we definitely got everyone’s attention for sure,” he continued.
“I’m really proud of all of them,” Petersen said and Ryan was their anchor. Cody Jesus rode with a sore ankle but he overcame the pain and made some great bull rides. “He had quiet confidence.”
Wiley said there was a strong presence of Native fans and they had a lot of people come up to say they were cheering for them. “We had awesome openings and introductions,” with fancy dancers, along with singers using hand drums, he added, that got the team pumped up. He was able to meet Southern Style drum group and posed for a photo with two male fancy dancers. At the Fancy Dance Showcase, master of ceremonies Ruben Little Head teased Wiley announcing there was a fancy dancer from Fort Hall, Idaho and Wiley wondered whom it was not realizing Ruben was talking about him. But Wiley didn’t get out there and dance because he didn’t want to embarrass himself.
However, he said he enjoyed his experience at the Global Cup and said, “It’s an honor,” to represent the Tribes.
He’s confident another Native American team could be represented at the next Global Cup when it’s again hosted on American soil.
Bo Vocu, Team Wolves assistant coach, said the event was exciting, prideful and a great thing to be a part of. The Native bull riders were definitely welcomed, along with the dancers. “It was pretty awesome, we didn’t mean to but we definitely stole the show.” Team Wolves had a few matches that didn’t go their way, “But I guess that’s bull riding.”
Vocu believes there will be another Native bull riding team be a part of a future Global Cup. “Everyone is pleased with the outcome.”