Creek Young captures glory at SWELS – Xtreme Bulls in Fort Worth 2024

Sometimes less is more and three-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier Creek Young proved that on Jan. 17 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.

Young captured the second Division 1 Xtreme Bulls win of his career at the SWELS – Xtreme Bulls event. His first came back in 2021 at the Lovington (N.M.) Xtreme Bulls. He was one of just two cowboys to ride both bulls ran underneath him on his way to the title with 179.5 points on two head.

The Rogersville, Mo., cowboy took a unique approach into his lead-up for Fort Worth. Young made the decision to spend time around home and let his body fully heal after the grueling 10 rounds at the NFR. In fact, he hadn’t climbed on a single bull since Round 10, the strategy seems to have paid off.

“I like to give myself a little bit of a longer break than most guys,” said Young, 23. “I don’t go to Denver or Odessa (Texas). This is actually the first event I’ve been to besides the (Prairie) Circuit Finals Rodeo that counts toward the 2024 season and it’s definitely a great way to kick it off.”

Young’s march toward the $21,835 payday he earned in Fort Worth began with a picture-perfect match up on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Pegasus in the long round. He matched the bull jump for jump on his way to a 92-point trip, which ties for the highest-marked ride of his career.

“I had never been on that bull before tonight. I saw him at the NFR a couple of times, Tristen Hutchings actually won a round on him at the NFR,” Young said. “It always feels good to crack the 90s and make a good bull ride on a bull that’s been to the Finals and proved itself.”

The 10-man short round provided Young with yet another golden opportunity. Fulton Rutland was the only cowboy to cover his bull in the short round on night one, Jan. 16. They say lightning never strikes in one place twice, but it did inside Dickies Arena. Young drew the exact same bull as Rutland just 24 hours later. It was nearly déjà vu as Stockyards Pro Rodeo’s Train Station led him to an 87.5-point ride and the Xtreme Bulls win.

“I knew I had a pretty good chance to walkout with the win if I was able to get that bull rode,” Young said. “It’s an advantage being the last guy out. You just hope you can stay on, and the bull does his job.”

-courtesy of the PRCA-