2017 World Champions

Steer Wrestling

Tyler Pearson Bulldogger earns world champion status

When steer wrestler Tyler Pearson won his inaugural steer wrestling gold buckle at the 2017 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, he was in disbelief. “This is unreal. This is always what I wanted to do, but this is going to take me a while to believe this happened,”said Pearson, 33. “This is nuts. I’ve been around a bunch of world champions and hung out with a lot of them. I’m just blessed to be a world champion, and now to always be known as a world champion is unbelievable.” The Louisville, Miss., cowboy’s world title came together for him in a drama-packed Round 10. During Round 10 Pearson clocked a 5.2-second run. That gave him a 45.9-second time on 10 head in the average, then he just had to wait and see how the night would pan out. Before the final round, Pearsonwasn’t crunching numbers – he didn’t have time to because he had to haze for his good friend, Ty Erickson, the last contestant out. Erickson, who also was riding Scooter, the PRCA/AQHAHorse of theYear co-owned by Pearson

and Kyle Irwin, had a chance to win the world championship if he finished third or better in Round 10.When Erickson stopped the clock in 4.5 seconds, he placed fourth in the round, giving Pearson the improbable crown by $2,190. Pearson’s world championship became a reality thanks to placing second in the average and earning $54,577. Pearson finished the season with $265,457, followed by Erickson’s $263,267 total. “I didn’t want to know (what the numbers were),” Pearson said. “That would’ve just made me more nervous. I didn’t want to look and see what somebody else did and then see what I had to do. I just wanted to go throw my steer down and let the cards lay. I thoughtTy (Erickson) won it andwas proud for him, and then they toldme I won and that was awesome. I was ecstatic. I’m on Cloud 9. I just thank God, my family and everybody for being here.” Pearson placed in five rounds andwon $155,538 at the Finals. He finished second in Rounds 1 and 2 and tied for second in Round 7. He placed third in Rounds 3 and 5. Pearson credited

Scooter’s horse- power for reaching gold-buckle glory. “We’ve had him (Scooter) for almost two years and he has been an absolute blessing,” Pearson said. “That horse is just amazing. Hewon a pile of money here (in Las Vegas) and we are so blessed to have him. Kyle (Irwin) also was hazing for me at the Finals, whichmade winning the gold buckle even more special because we own the horse together.” –Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Greg Westfall

Tyler Pearson won his first world championship at the 2017 NFR, with a 3.9-second run during Round 1. He placed second in the average.

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2017 WORLD CHAMPIONS