KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Thunder first-round draft pick Colten Fritzlan pulled his coaches Luke Snyder and Ross Coleman aside before the start of Outlaw Days on Friday afternoon in Kansas City with a proposition.
Fritzlan noticed the Thunder had him riding last in its game Friday night against Oklahoma, and it was a situation Fritzlan admittedly has struggled with in the past. There have been plenty of times in his individual bull riding career where Fritzlan would be the last rider out with a chance to win a round or an event only to buck off before the requisite 8-second mark.
The 22-year-old wanted to change that trend in his career, and what better place to do so then knowing he would have to ride for his fellow teammates to taste victory in the PBR Team Series. So he told his coaches to always put him in that spot whenever possible.
Fritzlan did just that on Saturday night, riding Cold Creek for an 86.75-86.25 walk-off victory for the Thunder (3-1, Outlaw Days 1-1) against the Austin Gamblers (1-3, Outlaw Days 0-2) at T-Mobile Center.
“Honestly, that situation has kind of killed me in seasons prior, and I never told Luke or Ross this until yesterday, but I said, ‘I want you to put me dead last in almost all of these events. I want to get used to that feeling, I want to get used to that pressure. I want to turn myself into a better bull rider every day.’
“This is one step to getting closer to that and when it all comes down to it, you just have to do your job. Whether you’re first or fifth out. A lot of people say it’s easier to be done, but I’m just having fun, I love it.”
Fritzlan delivered the devastating blow to the Gamblers after two-time World Champion Jose Vitor Leme gave his team an 86.26-point lead earlier with a ride on Mr. Winston.
Missouri is the only team in PBR Team Series competition (16 games) to win a game so far despite not scoring first.
Coleman loves the fact Fritzlan wants to be the guy to rally his teammates if necessary.
“That’s his mindset about this sport, he’s serious,” Coleman said. “Don’t get me wrong, they all are, but he is over-serious about it. He loves everything about this. He wants to be a legend, and he’s going in the right direction, right now. I love everything about him and that’s what it’s all about. Look what he did yesterday, too, awesome. And then today, doing this? That bull was no joke and we’re trying to set him up with ones that are going to test him every time and he’s stepping up to the test every single time.”
Coleman was referencing Fritzlan’s 87-point ride on Chiseled during the Thunder’s final out against the Oklahoma Freedom.
The ride would have been a game-winner if not for Eli Vastbinder ending that matchup with a game-winning 87.25 points on Marquis Metal Works Red Clark.
“Man, what a great job he’s done, yesterday and tonight,” Coleman concluded. “You got to love it. I love this team deal so much, and it’s so cool to see because we’re learning so much more than you can imagine. These guys getting bucked off the first couple of rides? These things happen for a reason, and I really think we can seriously get better, and I really want to have a game where we ride all five of them.”
The Thunder will look to become the first team to go 5-for-5 in Teams competition Sunday against the Kansas City Outlaws (1-3, Outlaw Days 0-2).
SUNDAY GAME SCHEDULE (1 P.M. ET CBS SPORTS NETWORK)
Oklahoma Freedom (1-3, Outlaw Days 1-1) @ Carolina Cowboys (2-2, Outlaw Days 1-1)
Austin Gamblers (1-3, Outlaw Days 0-2) @ Ariat Texas Rattlers (1-3, Outlaw Days 1-1)
Nashville Stampede (2-2, Outlaw Days 1-1) @ Arizona Ridge Riders (3-1, Outlaw Days 2-0)
Missouri Thunder (3-1, Outlaw Days 1-1) @ Kansas City Outlaws (1-3, Outlaw Days 0-2)
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media