Eight seconds of being whipped around on the back of a bull, pretty much describes what a professional bull rider has to endure in order to receive a score during competition. The PBR returns for it’s 19th annual stop in Tulsa this weekend as the PBR’s Express Ranches Classic, presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, takes place at the BOK Center.
I spoke with Coweta native Wyatt Rogers recently to get his thoughts about competing in his home area.
“It’s an honor and a dream come true,” Rogers said by phone while competing in the PBR event in Sacramento last weekend. “I grew up watching the PBR there in Tulsa and last year was my first year to compete there. It really gives me an extra charge. It’s unlike any other event.”
The 26-year-old now lives in Hulbert, but he said being a rodeo cowboy is all he ever wanted to do.
“I grew up in a rodeo family,” he said. “Both of my parents competed in the timed events portion. I fell in love with bull riding when I was very little. Mom says that I’d sleep through the other events and wake up for the bull riding. I just knew that’s what I wanted to be, was a bull rider.”
His father was a steer wrestler and team roper. Rogers excelled in rodeo competitions at an early age, and was a multi-time Oklahoma High School bull riding champion before embarking on his professional career.
Last year, at the Tulsa event, Rogers failed to stay on a bull for the mandatory eight-seconds in the first two rounds, so he finished with no score and no pay check. Rogers said he wants to change that this weekend.
“I didn’t like how things went last year in Tulsa, so I hope to do much better this week,” he said.
Rogers said he doesn’t feel the same level of pressure to succeed when he’s competing at events away from home.
“There’s always pressure and I want to win, but there’s really not the same pressure to do good, there’s added pressure when competing in front of friends and family,” he said. “If I don’t do so good, they give me a lot of grief.”
Rogers currently ranks 34th with 66 points in the standings, out of 80 competitors, which I thought was pretty good for a guy who has only been on the tour since 2017. However, he didn’t agree.
“That’s a little low right now,” he said. “I need to improve that. I know I’m good enough to be a top 10 guy and expect myself to get there.”
Rogers can certainly move up the rankings this weekend with a few good rides in Tulsa.
The PBR event will begin Friday evening at 7:45 p.m. and Saturday evening at 6:45 p.m. at the BOK Center.
TULSA BEACON WEEKEND
My guests this week on the “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show will be Todd and Julie Huston. We’ll explore the different facets of love. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.