“Love Of The Game”: Texas Rodeo Icons Secure Their Legacy at Bull Riding World Teams Championship

The PBR 2023 Team Series has been the highlight of the rodeo world for the past three months. Starting in late July, the season welcomed 8 teams with bull riders from across the world for 5-on-5 matches throughout. The best of the industry battled over 8 weekends, one for each team’s home ground, rightfully drawing in the crowd; as thrill and fierceness took over the arena each night.

The season saw its finals overtake the sport over the weekend, as teams fought for the final 4 chances to make it to the top. Austin Gamblers and Kansas City Outlaws were the favored teams entering the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on the 20th. But as the battle took hold on the first day, it was a different name that emerged atop. The contests, over the course of three days, were no short of standing worthy of the 3-month wait.

Texas rodeo champs rattle the weekend at Las Vegas

Throughout the season, Austin Gamblers and the Kansas City Outlaws established dominance on the table. While Gamblers never stepped down to the first spot, the Outlaws were crowned champions for three weekends sitting on the second. The stellar numbers and performances of the two teams earned them the first round-bye. As the two headed first, they were very closely followed by the Texas Rattlers.

The Rattlers sitting third on the table before the championships, had missed out on the first-round bye. The position hence placed them against No.8 Mussoorie Thunder. On the opening night, the Texas Rattlers took on the Thunders with a strong start. Brady Olson and Joao Ricardo Vieira led the team to dominance for the night. But taking the spotlight was the latter with the best game score; reports PBR.com. The night ended with 174-84.5 in favor of the Rattlers.

For Round 2 on the 21st, the champions were to head against Oklahoma Freedom sitting on No.4. The night again was led by Joao Ricardo Vieira and the challenger series’ final week event winner, Eli Vastbinder. It was an equally daunting start for both teams as each suffered two buck-offs consecutively. However, to save the day, Eli took the ground atop Lone Star to score 86.25; pushing the team for a win with 170.75-87.

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Next was an intense Round 3 against the No.5 Arizona Ridge Riders. A win in this round would push the Rattlers to the Championship game. Brady Fielder and Vieira took the first two rides for the team to put in a total of 175.25. The lead lasted as Ridge Riders failed to meet the score through the following three rounds; helping Rattlers make their way to face in-state rivals in the final.

State rivals battle for the title

The table toppers, Austin Gamblers earned a berth to the Championship round after winning the first round-bye and later defeating Mussoorie Thunder. For the start, Vieira gave the team a strong lead with 88.75 aboard Outlaw. Another lead came for the team from Brady Fielder atop Ah Hell for 87.25 points.

But the season champions knew not to back down. First Rafael dos Santos topped Mike?s Motive for 89.5 followed by Lucas Divino?s 86-point ride on Skippy. However, to win it back for the team, Cody Jesus rode Tijuana Two-Step for 88.75. The night ended with Rattler’s Daniel Keeping clinching a 90-point ride and leading the team towards the title with 355.25-265.25.

?This is so exciting,? said Rattlers Head Coach?Cody Lambert. ?I got the right group of guys ? humble men who ride for the love of the game… these?guys love to ride, and they got it done;” reports PBR.com. Rattlers became the second team to win the rodeo series since their first appearance in 2022.

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