PUEBLO, Colo. – Colten Fritzlan had hoped he could return this season and put off shoulder surgery, but he has finally accepted his fate.
Fritzlan confirmed to PBR.com Thursday that he underwent season-ending reconstructive left shoulder surgery Wednesday in Dallas. Dr. Tandy Freeman inserted eight anchors into Fritzlan’s free arm shoulder to repair a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff.
“I talked to Tandy in Nashville, and he just said as far as longevity goes, it is best to get it done now,” Fritzlan, who is ranked 19th in the PBR world standings, said. “Dave (Edwards) and Rich (Blyn of PBR Sports Medicine) looked at it too. I figured get it done now to where it is not as bad as it could be after this year. You never know. You could sit out a full year next year. I just decided to get it done now.”
Fritzlan was first injured on May 19 when he was bucked off by a practice bull in Granbury, Texas. He returned to competition at the end of June with a 79.5-point ride on Record Rack’s Overpass at the Greeley Stampede. He rode for another 79 points (Pass the Booze) before being bucked off Badger at the Cody Stampede.
The 2020 Wrangler National Finals bull riding event winner, though, knew his shoulder was still not right. He hoped physical therapy and some time off would be enough to help him return to competition in the second half and ride at his first PBR World Finals.
However, Fritzlan finally decided it was best to think of his future rather than return for the World Finals in November as a shell of himself and risk further injury.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Fritzlan said. “Yes, it would have been nice (to have gotten the surgery sooner), but I gave it an honest effort to try to come back a little sooner doing the rehab style.”
It is a disappointing finish to one of the sport’s rising stars in an impressive 2021 Rookie of the Year class.
Fritzlan made his premier series debut in stunning fashion this past January, going a perfect 3-for-3 in Okeechobee, Florida, to become the 10th rider in the past two decades to win his debut event.
With the victory, the 21-year-old immediately jumped into the lead for Rookie of the Year and was the favorite to take home the PBR’s top honor for a first-year rider all season long.
Fritzlan held the No. 1 rookie ranking for six months before 2018 NFR winner Chase Dougherty took over the top spot in the rookie race on Aug. 7 in Sacramento, California.
The Rifle, Colorado, native ends his first PBR season 11-for-31 (35%) on the Unleash The Beast with three Top-5 finishes.
Fritzlan says he will be out for six months and hopes to be cleared to return to competition in March.
“We will see where we are at and how I am feeling and everything is laying out,” Fritlzan concluded. “Right now, my main priority is getting right, getting healthy. When it is time to go, it will be time to go.”
INJURY CONCERNS PILING UP IN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RACE
The top two rookies in this year’s ROY race – Dougherty and No. 2 Rafael Henrique dos Santos (-25 points behind) – are also battling injuries.
Dougherty is attempting to ride through a torn left MCL in his riding elbow, while Santos is returning to competition at this weekend’s PBR ZipRecruiter Invitational in Newark, New Jersey, after missing the last three weeks with five broken ribs.
The Top 8 rookies are separated by less than 203 points heading into Round 1 at the Prudential Center.
Fans can watch the first round Saturday night exclusively on RidePass on Pluto TV beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media