ARLINGTON, Texas – Heading into the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy, the Team USA Eagles’ injuries were the big story.
At the end of it, however, it was the injuries of the Team USA Wolves.
Hoping to improve on a third-place finish at the 2019 edition of the event, the Wolves slipped to sixth place, going just 1-for-16 across the two days of competition.
The one ride came courtesy of Colten Jesse in Round 1, an 85.25-point trip aboard Harold’s Genuine Risk.
Otherwise, the Wolves were hitting the dirt hard, several walking away with injuries.
According to Dr. Tandy Freeman, Cannon Cravens sustained a concussion in Round 3 after Millennium’s Buck bucked him off in 3.20 seconds, and then – to add insult to injury – suffered a potential ankle fracture when he was stepped on after being thrown to the ground.
Cravens had already been riding with a broken leg, an injury he re-aggravated early this season after the initial break kept him out for the entire second half of 2019.
Not only did it rule Cravens out of the Bonus Round on Sunday, but he’s now questionable for the U.S. Border Patrol Invitational in St. Louis next weekend.
Meanwhile, Cody Jesus limped off the dirt following his 4.87-second buckoff by Lil’ Man in Round 1. He did not suit up for competition on Sunday, and Freeman later confirmed a right leg injury. While Freeman suspects it’s only a bad bruise, Jesus will go for X-rays in the coming days.
“I came off funky last night, and I really did something to my knee,” Jesus said. “It don’t really hurt to walk around, but when I go to lift it or bend it, there’s pain that just shoots right up in it. It kept me up last night from 2 to like 5, man. I couldn’t get no sleep.”
Jesus was initially supposed to be in the draw for the Bonus Round, but head coach Ted Nuce advised him to sit this one out and let his healthier teammates get on instead.
“If it was any other bull riding and it was just me, I’d grit it out and tough it out,” Jesus said. “But we all ride the same. We’re all here for a reason, so why not put one of the other guys on them?
“It really sucks. It feels like I let my team down. Before, just watching them warm up their bull ropes and get ready, I wish I was doing the same.”
While Cravens left the sports medicine room on crutches with his bad ankle wrapped, Jesus was mobile enough to accompany Nuce, assistant coach Bo Vocu and honorary team captain Ryan Dirteater on the back of the chutes and assist his teammates.
Nuce and Jesus discussed the bulls and the matchups, giving the 21-year-old the opportunity to soak up some knowledge even as he was unable to ride.
“Every time we see a good ride, we talk about it,” Jesus said. “We’re just really talking about bulls and bull riding, mainly. And he’s just told me, while we were walking, he said, ‘You did make the right decision to go heal up and take care of yourself, because there’s other guys that can do it, and they all have the potential to do it.’”
Nuce, a positive-mindset guru, knows his riders have the potential, and they can all bounce back from their rough outings in Arlington.
“I just told them that I’ve been in this situation, and this is where your passion shines,” Nuce said Saturday night. “Because you don’t quit, you don’t give up, keep a positive attitude, and you come back tomorrow and you hit them just as hard as hard or harder.”
OTHER INJURY UPDATES
Team Australia’s Nathan Burtenshaw was unable to compete in the Bonus Round Sunday after sustaining a right shoulder (riding arm) injury when he landed on his elbow following his 87-point ride aboard Quasimodo.
Team Canada’s Zane Lambert tore the medial ulnar collateral ligament of his left elbow (free arm) when he landed on his left hand as he was thrown from Arctic Assassin after his 87.75-point ride in Round 1.
Team Australia’s Ky Hamilton sprained his right knee (grade 3 medial collateral ligament) after his 3.3-second buckoff on Smokin’ Gun in Round 1.