PHOTO: Maci Berry Photography
Currently sitting at No. 7 in the PRCA | RAM World Standings (just one spot ahead of brother Jacobs), saddle bronc rider Sterling Crawley has been having a fantastic season, with three rodeo champion titles and more than $50,000 won. Unfortunately, his luck took a turn for the worst this past Sunday in Baker, Montana.
Matched up with Brookman Rodeo’s Lunatic Bait in the final round of the Fallon County Fair and Rodeo, the 6X NFR qualifier suffered several breaks to the tibia and fibia in his right leg when getting caught up in the gate. With surgery still to come, the PRCA reports that Sterling is sidelined indefinitely.
“That was a big horse and it kind of jumped forward toward the post,” Crawley told ProRodeo.com. “I was trying to mark him out, and my toe went in between those pipes and it snapped my leg around and broke bones through there. I’m on my way to Texas right now, and I will have a consultation (Aug. 18). I’m going to have surgery in Dallas (Aug. 19). (Dr.) Tandy (Freeman) said we can hope that I will be out 12 weeks.”
If healed up and ready to get back in the saddle in 3 months, Crawley will make his return just in time to compete at the National Finals — but only if he can hold a spot in the top 15 with his current $51,608. The regular 2020 season ends September 30 and No. 15 bronc rider Rusty Wright has $32,929.88 won to date.
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