FORT WORTH, Texas – During the 2023 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series Draft, the Oklahoma Freedom completed their protected roster, inking youngster Brady Turgeon (New River, Arizona) with the sixth overall selection.

“Wow, did we have one heck of a Draft day,” said Head Coach Cord McCoy. “We only had one spot open on our protected roster and to add Brady Turgeon was quite an honor. What a great up and coming guy. I saw him ride for the first time in person in Nampa, Idaho, and am watching him go through the World Finals, he’s a pretty salty guy. I think he’s on an upswing.”

Turgeon is guaranteed a place on the Freedom’s protected roster for the first two events in the 2023 PBR Team Series season in Cheyenne, Wyoming, July 24-25 and Kansas City, Missouri, Aug. 3-5. 

In all, 147 new riders declared for the Draft this year. The 115 who did not get selected automatically become unrestricted free agents.  

The team also filled its practice squad as the only contingent to make a selection in all five rounds of the accompanying Practice Squad Draft. There picks included: Elizmar Souza Jeremias (Anapu, BrazIl) in the first round, Jacob O’Mara (Denham Springs, Louisiana) in the second round, Roscoe Jarboe (New Plymouth, Idaho) in the third round, Alex Cerqueira (Iguatemi, Brazil) in the fourth round and Coy Pollmeier (Fort Scott, Kansas) in the fifth round.

“We added some pretty stout guys on the rest of our roster,” added McCoy. “We’re excited about the 2023 season. We’re excited to have a lot of depth this year.”

Pollmeier is the younger brother to Tate Pollmeier (Fort Scott, Kansas) who is a member of the Freedom’s protected roster.

The Oklahoma Freedom’s complete roster now includes:

    Eli Vastbinder (Statesville, North Carolina) – Protected Roster     Chase Outlaw (Hamburg, Arkansas) – Protected Roster     Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington) – Protected Roster     Briggs Madsen (Tremonton, Utah) – Protected Roster     Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana) – Protected Roster     Casey Roberts (Munford, Alabama) – Pre-Season Injured Reserve     Tate Pollmeier – Protected Roster     Brady Turgeon – Protected Roster     Alex Cerqueira – Practice Squad     Elizmar Jeremias – Practice Squad     Roscoe Jarboe – Practice Squad     Jacob O’Mara – Practice Squad     Coy Pollmeier – Practice Squad

The Oklahoma Freedom will host their second annual homestand, Freedom Fest, on Sept. 8-10 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at Paycom Center. The action begins at 7:45 p.m. CT on Friday, September 8, 6:45 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 9, and 1:45 p.m. CT on Sunday, September 10.

Tickets for the event are on sale now, and start at $20, taxes and fees not included. They can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com and PBR.com, at the Paycom Center Box Office, or by calling PBR customer service at 1-800-732-1727.

Three-day ticket packages are available, offering fans a 15% discount on select price levels.

For more information about Oklahoma Freedom, visit https://pbr.com/teams/freedom/, Oklahoma Freedom on Facebook, @OK_Freedom_ on Instagram, or @OKfreedom_ on Twitter.

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media