PUEBLO, Colo. – The last time Ryan Dirteater put on the Team USA jersey, he was 20 years old and riding for J.W. Hart’s American squad at the 2009 World Cup in Barretos, Brazil.
Almost nine years later, and Dirteater was slipping on a Team USA jersey of a different sort Wednesday morning in Arlington, Texas.
Dirteater (Cherokee) and Stetson Lawrence (Chippewa and Sioux) were the first two riders named by coach Wiley Petersen to the inaugural all-Native American Team USA squad, which will be known as the Team USA Wolves, that will be competing at the 2019 WinStar World Casino & Resort PBR Global Cup USA on Feb. 9-10.
“I am excited,” Dirteater said. “It is time to step up and represent the Native Americans out there and let them know there are options and to work hard and let them know dreams are possible. They just have to work hard and go after what they want.”
Lawrence is honored to represent his heritage and his country next year. The 29-year-old went 1-for-2 for Team USA, which finished in fourth place at the Sydney Global Cup in June.
“The whole Native American deal is exciting,” Lawrence said. “To involve a whole other aspect of people to get the tribes involved is great. Hopefully they all jump for it and it is a great turnout.”
The PBR announced on Wednesday a change in format for the PBR Global Cup.
Team USA – as the host country – will deploy two teams at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the third edition of the Global Cup.
The Team USA Eagles will be composed of seven riders and one alternate, picked by third-year coach and two-time World Champion Justin McBride.
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The Team USA Wolves will be composed of seven Native American riders and one alternate, as chosen by Petersen.
“I am excited to be here. This is a fun time and I am very honored to get the call from Sean Gleason inviting me to be the coach of the Native American team,” Petersen said during Wednesday’s introductory press conference at Texas Live! “I think this is going to be a great opportunity for us to showcase the Native American talent that we have and just really show what the Global Cup is all about and how exciting it can be. I can’t express how excited I am to be a part of this event.”
Petersen, a Black Foot, Idaho, native, is of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and won the 2007 PBR World Finals event title by going 6-for-8 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
This isn’t the first time that an all-Native American squad has competed in an international competition or professional sporting event.
The Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team won its second consecutive bronze medal last month at the 2018 FIL Men’s World Championship.
Jim Thorpe was the legendary player and coach of the Oorang Indians in 1922 and 1923. The traveling team of Native American football players competed for two seasons in the National Football League.
The Hominy Indians were also a professional football team in the 1920s and 1930s featuring players from 22 different tribes. They famously defeated the New York Giants 13-6 three weeks after the Giants had won the NFL championship.
Dirteater and Lawrence agree that the Team USA Wolves can find unity in their Native American blood.
“Yeah it is pulling all of the tribes together,” Dirteater said. “We are not one tribe. We are multiple tribes. It is going to pull all the people together. It is going to show that we are strong, great athletes and great people.”
Both the Wolves and Eagles will be able to defend the United States of America’s portion (horn) of the Global Cup trophy, but they will also be competing against each other, as well as the other visiting teams, for the Global Cup title and prize money.
“I am excited to see what they can do because that is a really cool thing,” McBride said. “That is awesome they get to represent like that. Everybody with a different jersey on is our opponent. They are still on a different team at that event, but I do love the fact that either way that trophy will stay in the U.S.”
Dirteater had four qualified rides and finished fifth in the event average as the Americans won the 2009 World Cup.
“To represent your country is pretty cool, really,” Dirteater said. “This is the bull riding Olympics. It is neat to ride and represent for your country – the red, white and blue. I know there are a lot of Americans out there that will be pulling for us, and backing us up, and supporting us. I am looking forward to it. I really just can’t wait.”
Dirteater turned down the last two opportunities to compete for Team USA, citing family reasons, while Lawrence was a member of the fourth-place Americans at the Sydney Global Cup in June.
“The last two Global Cups was partially the travel,” Dirteater said of his decision. “Right after the PBR Finals I just want time with my family. I have been doing this for a long time. Twelve years. This will be my 10th time qualifying for the PBR World Finals. I have been doing this my whole life. I just kind of try to take care of my body now, and it was partially the timing of it. That is the real reason. Timing is everything.”
Dirteater and Lawrence understand the Wolves may not be the favorite between the two Team USA squads, but they are confident they can contend.
Both think any of the six teams can leave the home of the Dallas Cowboys as the Global Cup victors in less than six months.
“There is potential for us to be contenders at the top,” Lawrence said. “It always depends how the chips roll and who gets what bulls. I think we have a good chance at least.”
Dirteater concluded, “Any of the teams have a shot to win. We are the best bull riders in the world and everyone is going to be there. It just has to be your day, your time.”
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko