What to Watch For: No. 9 Cort McFadden heating up, refusing sophomore slump
Can the young Oklahoma Wildcatters’ star stay the course in year two?
By James Youness
FORT WORTH, Texas – In sports circles around the world, rookies have been known to come in and steal the show. Typically because they’re young, fresh and extremely eager to prove they belong.
And while the “glow” or “aura” of one’s first season on the circuit doesn’t exactly fade when year two rolls around, several things have likely changed.
For the tour. For the sport. For the other guys lacing ‘em up.
Knowing 2024’s rookie-ridden year welcomed the likes of Cassio Dias, John Crimber and nearly a dozen Top 40-ranking rookies means more than a few of said talents have returned to action and cooled off a bit since originally stirring things up.
To a certain extent, a sophomore slump can be expected.
But if you’ve got the guts and grit to find out if the man upstairs has true glory included in your story, year two is no time to mail it in. It’s the time to remind fans and riders alike that you were born for this.
No. 1 John Crimber continues to steal the show just a year after blitzing into the premier series and racking up a whole lotta runner-up efforts. He may have a pair of rideless events on his record this year, but that’s far from a sophomore slump if you ask us. Especially when you consider he's won two of the season's six event titles.
The other youngster from last year’s breakout campaign of rookies who’s decided he isn’t slowing down for anyone’s narrative is No. 9 Cort McFadden.
Fresh off a second-place finish from last weekend’s PBR Albany as UTB continues to invade the country’s northeastern sector, the 20-year-old cowboy seems to be settling in just fine to his second season of top-tier competition.
Coming up just 8.25 points short in the Week 6 aggregate, McFadden accepted a 78.5-point go aboard Wingman during Friday’s opening round, forced into the re-ride showdown after accepting another chance following an unideal performance from Goin’ Solo initially.
Declining a second re-ride and third bull on the night, he settled for the mark knowing he’d be giving himself a chance via a flawless Saturday. And as it turns out, had he been able to solidify a quality ride in Round 1, he very well could’ve found himself in the winner’s circle for the first time, as he went on to best each of his remaining two opponents.
Recording a solid 86.75 points for his 8 seconds of work atop Gene’s Best in the second round, he opted into a short round opportunity dancing with Electric Kitty. Where he again excelled, scored 88.5 points, thus skyrocketing into the event’s podium.
Eventually settling for a second-place finish, the highest of his flourishing career, he collected a welcome $23,580 and 80 UTB points as he cracked the Top 10 for the first time this season.
Officially 8-for-14 (57.14%) on the year, he’s now managed to record at least one qualified ride in each of the tour’s first six events. Which says a lot about the kid’s consistency and ability to keep the bottom line moving even when the spicy thrills and Top 10 finishes aren’t always in the cards.
However, he’s been the dealer more times than not lately, having placed in the Top 15 in each of the circuit’s last three showcases, including a No. 14 effort in Wichita, Kansas, and a tenth-place effort in Manchester, New Hampshire, alongside his most recent No. 2 finish in Albany.
There may not have been anything flashy about his 25th, 26th and 22nd-place finishes during his first three appearances this season. But it’s clear the stretch served as a runway for the Oklahoma Wildcatters’ star to spread his wings once more in year two.
Perhaps a season learning from the legendary J.B. Mauney during the third session of PBR Camping World Team Series action propelled him into his favorable standing.
But knowing he’s got an established bloodline of competitors means he’s up to the task each and every time he enters the building.
Well, at least 91.3% of the time …
Of the 23 UTB events the youngster has attended, which includes both the 2024 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast – Eliminations and Championship events, the Novice, Texas, native has made the 8 in 21 of said 23 showdowns.
We’ll say that again … a different way, to make sure his impact is felt.
McFadden has only logged two events over the course of his 23-event career without besting at least one of his bovine athletes. In direct comparison, as mentioned above, Crimber has already endured two contests THIS SEASON with a zero-point aggregate.
Of course, it’s hard comparing apples to oranges. But if Crimber has been the electric factory of a 90-point-producing machine the past 13 months or so, McFadden has been the steady thunder, roaring in the background, albeit still a vicious element of the storm.
The best part of McFadden’s outbreak? He surged onto the tour a mere 11 months ago, earning a spot on the premier series after his victorious run during last year’s Pendleton Whiskey Velocity Tour (PWVT) showcase at the National Western Stock Show in January of 2024.
Grinding his way for a chance to prove HE belongs.
Whereas Crimber has been waiting for this his entire life, knowing he was being marketed as the sport's "next big thing" for quite some time.
McFadden has likely dreamed about stepping foot into a legendary venue like Madison Square Garden. But the reality lies in this weekend’s trip to the old barn will represent his first time suiting up inside the storied building.
Naturally, just a week after bragging about the tour’s established veterans staying true to the grind, we find ourselves with a whole bunch of youth atop the Week 6 event leaderboard, who showed up and showed out inside MVP Arena.
Of course, McFadden (second place) and Crimber (fifth place) were amongst the youthful Top 5.
Throw in the likes of Julio Cesar Marques (who picked up his first premier series win) and Hudson Bolton (who managed his second Top 10 finish throughout his first three UTB appearances via a productive 3-for-3 slate in Albany) and it’s apparent the kids are going to be alright this time around.
Sophomore slumps may impact some of the tour’s other recent bloomers – but we have a feeling McFadden is going to be able to hold his own on his way to what would be a second-consecutive berth to the PBR World Finals this May.
Primed to dance with The Maverick during Friday night’s opening round, can McFadden extend his event ride streak to seven-straight while improving on his No. 9 rank?
Can No. 1 John Crimber lead his Florida Freedom to a victory over the New York Mavericks during the inaugural iteration of the Monster Energy Team Challenge?
Tune in to find out and get ready for some action … because it’s BULL TIME in the BIG CITY!
Fans can catch all of this weekend’s action inside Madison Square Garden beginning on Friday, Jan. 3 and Saturday, Jan. 4 at 7:45 p.m. ET before concluding on Championship Sunday, Jan. 5 at 2:45 p.m. ET.
All four rounds of action in New York City, New York, will be available LIVE and FREE on RidePass on Pluto TV, PBR’s YouTube channel, PBR’s mobile app, PBR’s app on connected TVs, including Apple TV, Fire TV, Roku, and Google TV, as well as on your favorite web browser at watch.pbr.com. The stream for PBR Monster Energy Buck Off at the Garden presented by Ariat begins on Friday, January 3, at 8 p.m. ET. Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media
