PUEBLO, Colo. – Jaxton Mortensen and Mason Moody had never met each other until the two Nashville Stampede riders connected during the PBR Team Series Preseason Event in Tryon, North Carolina, last month.
However, if all goes according to plan for Stampede coach Justin McBride and his staff, Mortensen and Moody could eventually become quite the tandem for years to come for Nashville’s PBR Team Series squad.
The two free agent signings by the Nashville Stampede following the 2022 PBR Team Series Draft, presented by ZipRecruiter, on May 23 are part of Nashville’s long-term outlook as they hope to become a stout contender year after year.
Moody, 19, is coming off a second consecutive South Dakota High School Rodeo Association bull riding title, while Mortensen, 18, finally won his first Arizona High School Rodeo Association bull riding state title following three consecutive runner-up finishes.
McBride told PBR.com that while a state title will not go down as any rider’s greatest accomplishment in their careers, it is one of the highest accolades a rider can earn prior to a full-time professional career, and that says something about a rider’s compete level.
“At the end of the day, 25 years from now, no it won’t matter, but at this point int their life, it matters a lot. It is a big deal to them. It is something they are working for. It is no different than Kaique (Pacheco), Jose (Vitor Leme), Daylon (Swearingen) and those guys who were trying to win a world title two months ago. That is their goal, and what they are working toward. That is the same thing with Jaxton, Mason and these young kids getting brought into this Teams deal.”
Both Moody and Mortensen will be attempting to punctuate their high school bull riding careers with a national title at the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette, Wyoming, on July 17-23.
The duo is set to ride on July 19 and July 21, and they will do so in their Nashville Stampede-branded vests and jerseys.
“I just met Jaxton for the first time (in Tryon) so we will see how it goes,” Moody said. “We are all at the same point in our career where we are taking steps to get bigger and better, having kids your age who know your problems you are going through, but also having these really good mentors to help all of us out will be really good for the future of our team. I respect Justin (McBride) a lot and it is cool watching him when I was a little kid and to be able to ride under him is an honor.”
Mortensen agreed with Moody about feeding off each other, while learning from veteran riders such as Pacheco and 2016 PBR World Finals event winner Ryan Dirteater.
“It’s going to be good,” Mortensen said. “We’re all hungry and fired up, and Ryan and Kaique, they’re going to teach us young guys the ways, and we’re going to fire them up, get that hunger in them. We’re ready to go.”
Mortensen is 0-for-4, but he has not been 100% because of an injury to his right, riding wrist that thankfully he will not need surgery on.
Still, Mortensen will attempt to win a national title while riding with his opposite hand (left).
“I rode four bulls already,” Mortensen said. “It feels weird, but I believe it’s going to work out good. Hopefully, I’ll be back to riding right-handed in less than a month.”
Mortensen’s brother, J.C., was drafted by the Texas Rattlers, and the brothers are the sons of 2000 PBR World Finals qualifier Judd Mortensen.
Jaxton could be frustrated about the situation, but he is approaching the high school finals with the same kind of attitude he hopes to bring to the Stampede once he is fully healthy and ready to contribute during the PBR Team Series.
Mortensen has a follow-up with Dr. Tandy Freeman in a month, so he will likely be out for the Stampede’s season-opener in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on July 25-26.
Nashville is set to host its first PBR Team Series event – Stampede Days – on Aug. 19-21 at Bridgestone Arena.
“Just keeping everything positive,” Mortensen concluded. I’ve been pretty good at that my whole life. I feel like I like people, and I need people to keep me positive, too. We all need it, and all of us to feed off each other, like Kaique and Ryan, they never get negative. Those are seasoned guys. We need that.”