PUEBLO, Colo. – Arguably the largest aspect of becoming one of the world’s best bull riders is mastering the art of evolution: the ability to build on and surpass progress to reach new levels of greatness.

With all of the young talent in the PBR these days, matched evenly with the veteran experience and wisdom that comes with the tour’s elder statesman, it will be a bit of a challenge for cowboys to break away from the pack and stand out this year, but that’s not stopping Koltin Hevalow.

“I expect myself to be, knowing what I’ve done in the past as a youth bull rider,” Hevalow shared heading into the PBR Gwinnett Chute Out last weekend. “Growing up and riding some of the higher-end bulls at a young age, I expect myself to ride these ranker bulls, and I expect to do it consistently every weekend.”

While consistency may be key, the same results can also be frustrating when seeking the endgame efforts of winning a gold buckle. Easier said than done on most weekends; riders have to start somewhere, usually by winning an event or two, to stay within the top tier of the Unleash The Beast points standings.

“I’ve been getting points consecutively, but it’s not where I want to be,” Hevalow said. “I told my family and my girlfriend, No. 24, No. 25, that’s not where I want to stop. No. 1 is where I’m headed.”

While the youngster hasn’t placed higher than sixth yet this season, earning points in each of his last six events, plus an amazing work ethic and considerable improvement since spending the summer with the Kansas City Outlaws, hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“I got close with a couple of the guys on the team,” he added. “Marcus Mast is one guy who kind of took me up under his wing a little bit. J.W. Hart, he took me under his wing a lot. I’ve kind of got that goodie attitude like he does, and that helped me a little bit, showed me a little bit how to be more tough.”

One could sense the confidence oozing from the 19-year-old before Saturday’s slate. Quickly taking the stage and demanding the attention of the sold-out crowd, Hevalow went on to best Spotted Demon for 88.25 points.

A successful start to the weekend, Hevalow tied two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood for the Round 1 win.

RELATED: Two-Time PBR World Champion Lockwood, Hevalow tie in opening round of PBR Gwinnett Chute Out

Hevalow returned to Gas South Arena for a Sunday matchup against Shameless but was dispatched in a heartbreaking 6.88 seconds. Later selecting Blue Duck in the short round, he bucked off in 2.14 seconds but managed to collect 29 Unleash The Beast for his seventh-place finish.

Part of the roller coaster that is bull riding is looking back and watching your rides. Another way to improve? Taking in some of the intense outings of the past for motivation. An easy task for one of the industry’s biggest fans before making the circuit himself.

Growing up watching legends, a few stuck out as motivating figures in his journey of championing this sport for a living.

“My favorite for a long time was Justin McBride growing up,” Hevalow said. “Now that I’m here, I kind of look up to Cooper Davis a lot, but I still think I can be better than him. I always think of myself as the best.”

As the race to be crowned 2023 World Champion continues to heat up, let’s take a look at who’s drawing into the lineup for this weekend’s PBR ZipRecruiter Invitational, presented by Ariat, and 15/15 Bucking Battle in Indianapolis:

15/15 BUCKING BATTLE MATCHUPS Brady Oleson vs. Blue Duck* Boudreaux Campbell vs. Red Demon Jesse Petri vs. The Undertaker* Eduardo Aparecido vs. Alakazam* Dalton Kasel vs. Tulsa Time* Silvano Alves vs. Cool Whip* Luciano De Castro vs. Big Bank* Mason Taylor vs. UTZ BesTex Smokestack Thiago Salgado vs. Woopaa Rafael Jose de Brito vs. Manaba Daniel Keeping vs. Sky’s The Limit Bob Mitchell vs. JAG Metals Grand Theft* Kaique Pacheco vs. Ricky Vaughn Jose Vitor Leme vs. Yellowknife Andrew Alvidrez vs. Moonlight Party* * indicates a rematch

WHO’S IN FOR INDIANAPOLIS Andrew Alvidrez Jose Vitor Leme Kaique Pacheco Daniel Keeping Rafael Jose de Brito Thiago Salgado Mason Taylor Luciano De Castro Silvano Alves Dalton Kasel Eduardo Aparecido Jesse Petri Boudreaux Campbell Brady Olseon Bob Mitchell Derek Kolbaba Keyshawn Whitehorse Marcel Procopio Pereira Wingson Henrique da Silva Joao Ricardo Vieira Koltin Hevalow Jess Lockwood Manoelito de Souza Junior Braidy Randolph Sandro Batista Eli Vastbinder Ezekiel Mitchell Rafael Henrique dos Santos Tate Pollmeier Wyatt Rogers Chase Outlaw Casey Roberts Alex Cerqueira Marcus Mast Vitor Losnake Mauricio Moreira Kyler Oliver Austin Richardson Chase Dougherty Dawson Branton Hunter Ball Flavio Zivieri

OUT BECAUSE OF INJURY/OTHER Cooper Davis Colten Fritzlan Dener Barbosa Junior Patrik Souza Briggs Madsen Cody Jesus Cole Melancon Daylon Swearingen Alisson de Souza Clayton Sellars Lucas Divino Josh Frost Ednei Caminhas

WELCOME TO THE BEAST

Making his premier series debut after exiting last weekend’s PBR ZipRecruiter Capital City Classic in Charleston, West Virginia, with his first Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event title, 25-year-old Flavio Zivieri will take on Zorro in an effort to prove he belongs on the premier series tour. Courtesy of his elite efforts thus far, Zivieri currently sits as the No. 2-ranked rider in the Velocity Global standings.

Carsonville, Michigan, native Hunter Ball will also make his 2023 Unleash The Beast debut via a Round 1 matchup with Chanler’s Mule. Earning the bid via the qualifier list, the 23-year-old currently ranks No. 13 in the Velocity Global standings, most recently finishing three spots behind Zivieri at the PBR ZipRecruiter Capital City Classic.

Dawson Branton is set to make his second UTB appearance of the year after going 0-for-2 at the PBR Manchester Invitational. Branton will be riding some momentum after capturing the event title in last weekend’s Reno Rumble via a perfect 3-for-3 showcase.

Austin Richardson and Mauricio Moreira are slated to rejoin the premier series tour after some successful stints riding within the Velocity world the past few events. Cutting his recovery time short, yet having already proved he’s back in riding shape via a first-place finish at the PBR Denver Chute Out earlier this month, Chase Dougherty is set to compete against Magic Carpet in Round 1 Saturday as he makes his 2023 UTB debut.

ALVIDREZ BRINGS 60-POINT LEAD INTO INDY

While Jose Vitor Leme continues to close the gap between himself and No. 1 Andrew Alvidrez, the honors still belong to the Seminole, Texas, native heading into Indianapolis. After bringing an 82.5-point lead into Duluth last weekend, Alvidrez could only go 1-for-3 in the event. Logging an impressive 87-point score atop Outlaw in Round 2, he couldn’t survive a short-round matchup against JAG Metals Grand Theft but still earned 18.5 Unleash The Beast points courtesy of the ninth-place finish. Leme, who was also bested by two of his three opponents in Duluth, recorded a flashy 90.5-point score aboard Homegrown to notch a fifth-place showing, earning an ever-important 46 Unleash The Beast points and reducing Alvidrez’s lead by 22.5 points. Leme will look to start his weekend off on a good note via a rematch pairing against Blazer in Round 1, while Alvidrez will square off with Rockville to start things off Saturday in Indianapolis.

ROUND 1 REMATCHES

Derek Kolbaba vs. Pearly Jam (7.18 seconds at Freedom Days in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Jesse Petri vs. UTZ BesTex Red Clark (3.73 seconds at 2022 PBR Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico & 6.50 seconds at 2022 PBR Wrangler Long Live Cowboys Classic in Sacramento, California) Jose Vitor Leme vs. Blazer (1.54 seconds at Gambler Days in Austin, Texas) Silvano Alves vs. Theodore (2.79 seconds at 2021 PBR Las Vegas Invitational in Las Vegas, Nevada) Eduardo Aparecido vs. Apper’s Mind Freak (2.39 seconds at 2020 PBR Lucas Oil Invitational 15/15 Bucking Battle)

FOLLOW ALONG

Heading into this weekend’s event in Indianapolis, the slate of action begins with Round 1 Saturday, Jan. 28, at 7:45 p.m. ET on RidePass on Pluto TV. The second 15/15 Bucking Battle of the Unleash The Beast season will air on CBS at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 29, with the weekend’s Round 2 and championship go set to conclude later that evening at 8 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.

Fans can stay tuned to PBR.com and PBR social media channels throughout the weekend for the latest scores, wrecks, injury updates and beyond as the world’s best bull riders get set to duke it out at the PBR ZipRecruiter Invitational, presented by Ariat inside Gainbridge Field House.

Photo courtesy of Josh Homer/Bull Stock Media