PUEBLO, Colo. – The Oklahoma Wildcatters exited 2024 PBR Camping World Team Series season-opener (which happened to double as the franchise’s first homestand showcase inside Paycom Center) with a flashy 2-1 record as J.B. Mauney coached his guys to greatness.
It wasn’t a PBR Teams Championship-capturing performance just yet, as fans and riders alike will need to wait until Oct. 18-20 for the dramatic showdown inside T-Mobile Arena.
But after waiting nearly a year to see what his expansion unit would drum up amidst the brightest lights in the business, it had to have felt pretty close for the brown and blue group.
“There will not be any more pressure put on them all year. First Teams event. Home team. Just right off the bat and they showed out. I’m pretty proud of them,” Mauney shared with Matt West on the Merit Street broadcast.
“I’m just as proud as when I was riding. I get the same rush as when I stepped off a bull when they stay on one. It’s pretty awesome.”
Allotted some additional time to rest up from their action-packed Week 1 slate, the Wildcatters watched Friday night’s opening games as they prepared for their Saturday night showdown.
Showing up in a big way once night two rolled around, they put any “beginner’s luck” rumors to bed.
Eventually coming just 3.57 seconds away from what would’ve been the squad’s first perfect game, they settled for an encouraging 4-for-5 performance en route to racking up a huge 334.75-176 victory over the Missouri Thunder.
If Mauney is preaching one thing this season, it’s for riders to give their all and not to let go.
So, while the team would’ve loved to see Hagen Braswell find the 8 to complete the feat, they’ll give him credit for putting his best effort on display.
And between the overall victory and the four-ride effort marking the first time the youngsters met the 80% mark, there were plenty of reasons to celebrate.
“Man, I never knew how much fun it was going to be until Oklahoma City,” Mauney shared.
“This is the most fun I’ve had and can still walk straight when it’s over.”
While he said it with a laugh as he walked off the dirt, the reality is just that.
It's a little more cozy atop the chutes than loading into them.
Seeing Eduardo Matos provide some opening-frame momentum for the league’s newcomers, his 84.75-point dance with Bayou Bad Boy wasn’t a home run. But sometimes a lead-off single is exactly what the lineup needs.
The early conversion undoubtedly fueled the rest of the lineup, as the Brazilian returned to the chutes for some high-fives, hugs and exclamations. He earned his score and the celebrations.
“He did not give up for Oklahoma. A ride on the board right off the bat is so important,” Cord McCoy shared on the Merit Street broadcast.
“It just creates the momentum and the confidence, especially when you’ve got a bunch of young guys like Oklahoma has.”
Bringing a perfect 3-for-3 record into the game, Cort McFadden wasn’t lacking confidence. But watching on as Matos fire off a qualified ride surely only helped the fellow youngster get juiced for his own out. And with the Thunder’s Grayson Cole taking the lead with an 86.25-pointer, the stage was set.
Going the distance on his way to improving to a flawless 4-for-4 start to his season, McFadden covered Centerfold for an imperfect 78.75 points. However, that’s 78.75 points more than Missouri’s Andrew Alvidrez drummed up during the very next out.
It wasn’t a perfect ride. It wasn’t a flashy performance from the bull, either.
Hanging off the side of his bovine opponent for most of the last two seconds or so, he did exactly what Mauney’s been asking.
Don’t. Let. Go.
Just one of two riders able to convert in each of their opening four outs this season, joining the ever-talented John Crimber at 4-for-4, McFadden has outpaced Pacheco by three ride scores so far (with Austin Richardson, also sent to the Wildcatters in exchange for the 2018 World Champion, yet to return to action) after being acquired by Oklahoma.
Call it revenge. Call it a hot streak. Call it whatever you want.
Mauney and company are calling it one hell of a start, and they aren’t looking back.
Occupying the No. 3 spot in the PBR Teams MVP race heading into Sunday’s slate, McFadden trailed only Crimber and Cassio Dias in combined aggregate score this season.
Exiting Gas South Arena when the weekend's contests concluded, he was sitting at the No. 5 spot as one of just five riders to assembled four qualified rides through the first two events.
As previously mentioned, it was Braswell, at the No. 3 spot, who wasn’t able to keep the perfect game alive.
But Oklahoma’s momentum was renewed a few moments later when Josh Frost completed his 2024 debut in thrilling fashion.
Selected No. 4 overall (via the squad’s second overall pick) during the 2024 PBR Teams Expansion Draft from the Carolina Cowboys, Frost was 6-for-15 in 2023 for the checkered-flag unit. But the 4-0 Cowboys don’t seem to be missing Frost just yet.
RELATED: Undefeated Carolina Cowboys beat Austin Gamblers at PBR Teams: Duluth to remain No. 1 in the league
However, he’s 100% been welcomed with open arms as the veteran to Mauney’s youthful squad.
“At 29 years old, he’s the oldest guy on our team. Josh has been on a hot streak rodeoing here lately and we’re glad to have him in the locker room," Mauney said.
"He’ll keep it rolling and we’re ready to win.”
Dancing with Bangarang to the whistle for 86.25 points, he recaptured the lead for his unit after seeing Paulo Eduardo Rossetto turn in a quality 89.75 points during the out prior …
… and couldn’t have come up with a more clutch way of announcing his time with the Wildcatters has begun.
We’re not saying the Wildcatters won the 2024 PBR Teams Expansion Draft because of Frost.
But a quick glance at the New York Mavericks, who began the season with an 0-4 slump as they deal with various rider injuries, shows that Mauney and company certainly have the leg up in season one of the 10-team tournament.
Another big reason Oklahoma has enjoyed a more entertaining opening two weeks comes in the form of 18-year-old Clay Guiton. Selected No. 2 overall during the 2024 PBR Teams New Rider Draft, he might not look like the swaggiest of cowboys at first glance. But he sure has been riding like one.
Of course, Guiton, who’s drawn plenty of comparisons to the Dragon Slayer, himself, as each of the gentlemen call North Carolina home, he knows he has big shoes to fill for Oklahoma. But, perhaps, it was the gritty sentiment McCoy shared on the Merit Street broadcast that captured his try and willingness to succeed best.
“I see the red flag, so he’s got a re-ride option, but it’s great to see those guys enjoying it and having fun. He kind of pulled a J.B. Mauney: ‘I’m going to take my wrap back here and nod on the way up there no matter how the bull is standing. That is confidence,” McCoy said.
“When you have confidence, it is a swagger in itself.”
It’s safe to say he’s living up to expectations so far. And a huge reason why the Wildcatters averaged 227.5 points per game leading into Sunday’s PBR Teams: Duluth finale.
Knowing the Austin Gamblers have been limited to zero and one-ride scores resulting in a trio of unideal losses throughout their first four games makes the fact that Oklahoma has recorded at least two conversions in each of their first contests really puts things into perspective.
Hell, only the No. 1 Cowboys, as of Sunday morning, are the only team currently averaging a higher score per game, at 260.87.
There may not be many riders who are as familiar with what dirtside success feels like than Mauney.
But judging by how animated, enthusiastic and almost nervous the skip looks in his new “cheering from the sidelines” gig, we can 100% confirm he’s having fun. And is fully invested.
The same can be said for each of his cowboys, now 3-1 as they prepare to return to Gas South Arena for a day three showdown with the Mavericks. Marking the first matchup between the league’s two expansion squads, fans should be excited to watch New York and Oklahoma square off as the new kids on the block kick off Sunday’s finale on Merit Street and the Merit+ App, starting at 3 p.m. EST!
Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
