FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, December 18, 2017
STEPHENVILLE, Texas—Brody Cress couldn’t make the Dec. 15 commencement exercises that marked his graduation from Tarleton State University with a degree in agri-business.
He was busy claiming the PRCA saddle bronc riding average title at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
“It’s been a great week,” he said. “Being able to compete against the top guys in the world, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The only NFR saddle bronc rider with 10 qualified rides, Cress earned 86 points on his final ride Saturday for a total of 841.5, more than 77 points better than the event’s runner-up.
“I came in here and did my job,” Cress said. “I took it one horse at a time, and rode ’em the best I could. It’s awesome to be able to walk away with an (NFR) average buckle.”
Besides becoming a new graduate and winning an NFR crown, Cress almost added another title Saturday, finishing close behind 19-year-old Ryder Wright in the final world standings. Wright pocketed $284,938 in total earnings for the year while Cress won $282,287. Cress won more than $176,000 at the 10-day NFR.
“I’m extremely happy,” Cress said, “but I expected to come here and do that. I’ve been riding good all year. I had a game plan coming in here, and I stuck to it.”
A two-time College National Finals Rodeo qualifier, Cress, now a grad student in his final season of eligibility at Tarleton, leads the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region heading into the spring season with the chance to earn a national title in Casper in June.
“What I try to focus on is the process,” he said. “Doing the best I can every time I get on a bucking horse. It’s the same thing whether it’s in the practice pen, in a college rodeo or on the biggest stage of the world.”
Tarleton, celebrating 100 years as founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven educational experience marked by academic innovation and exemplary service, and dedicated to transforming students into tomorrow’s professional leaders. As a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) with campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online, Tarleton engages with its communities to provide real-world learning experiences and to address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, leadership, excellence and service.
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Contact: Phil Riddle, News & Information Specialist
817-484-4415
priddle@tarleton.edu
