PUEBLO, Colo. – The third edition of PBR Cowboys for a Cause will be headed to a new venue this weekend when 40 riders from the eight inaugural PBR Team Series teams descend upon King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas.
All eight teams have sent three riders to compete in the charity bull riding event. They will represent various sponsors who are teaming up with the PBR to raise money and awareness for conservation and sustainability efforts across Texas. This will include a gift to the TSCRA (Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association). The donation to TSCRA will be distributed to multiple local and rural fire departments that helped landowners fight wildfires across Texas earlier this year.
Let’s take a look at the event draw for each of the teams slated to compete.
Team Boot Barn (Carolina Cowboys):
Boudreaux Campbell vs. Dow “The Banker”
Leonardo Lima vs. Moab
Ramon de Lima vs. Smooth Over
Zip Recruiter Top Recruit Rider to Watch: Leonardo Lima could be a candidate the Carolina Cowboys will have to move to its practice squad next week when 2016 World Champion Cooper Davis is activated from injured reserve. Therefore, a strong performance at Cowboys for a Cause could give Lima a good audition for another team willing to consider poaching him from Carolina. That is, of course, if Carolina sends him down its practice squad. Carolina could also consider moving Cannon Cravens, who is surprisingly yet to ride for Carolina since being the team’s fifth-round selection at the May 23 PBR Team Series Draft, presented by ZipRecruiter, to the practice squad.
Team Kubota (Texas Rattlers)
Brady Fielder vs. Equinsu Ocha
Braidy Randolph vs. Game Day
Daniel Keeping vs. Moon Walk
Zip Recruiter Top Recruit Rider to Watch: Daniel Keeping made quite the first impression on Texas Rattlers fans last weekend at Gambler Days. Keeping stepped in mid-game for the Rattlers against Nashville when coach Cody Lambert subbed him in for a re-ride opportunity against Dr. X. Keeping did not disappoint, riding Dr. X for 85.75 points and helping the Rattlers end the weekend with a win. Keeping could be a nice addition for the Rattlers after not being selected by a team in the PBR Supplemental Draft and a few days later breaking his leg at a rodeo in Bowie, Texas.
Team Lucas Oil (Oklahoma Freedom)
Dawson Branton vs. Shmorgishboard
Deklan Garland vs. Most Wanted
Kyle McDaniel vs. One Cord Song
Zip Recruiter Top Recruit Rider to Watch: The Oklahoma Freedom will be searching for a left-handed rider to fill the hole two-time World Champion Jess Lockwood left with his unfortunate torn PCL in the practice pen last week. Dawson Branton is a lefty and has only appeared in three games, going 0-for-3, but he could make a good impression on the Freedom brass at Cowboys for a Cause.
Team South Point Hotel Casino and Spa (Austin Gamblers)
Griffin Smeltzer vs. Stimulus Check
Conner Halverson vs. Joe Kidd
Elijah Mora vs. Buck Dynasty
Zip Recruiter Top Recruit Rider to Watch: Conner Halverson had quite the performance last year at Cowboys for a Cause on a sweltering day aboard the USS Lexington. The two-time Nebraska High School Rodeo Association bull riding champion showed extreme mental toughness during the event when he had to get on three bulls during the first round of competition in 100-degree temperatures. Halverson cashed in on his third bull when he rode Tested & Bruised for 87.5 points. The performance would be a key factor in helping him qualify for his first PBR World Finals two months later.
Team Stillhouse Vodka (Nashville Stampede):
Lucas Fideles Souza vs. Double R Hat House Pepper Shaker
Dustin Ortiz vs. Pain Killer
Joao Henrique Lucas vs. I’m Your Daddy
Zip Recruiter Top Recruit Rider to Watch: Dustin Ortiz holds the UFC record for fastest knockout (15 seconds) in UFC Flyweight history, but can the 33-year-old make a successful transition to professional bull riding? Two-time World Champion Justin McBride, coach of the Nashville Stampede, believes the answer could be yes. Ortiz has moved to Texas and is now training full-time with the Stampede in hopes of one day having a successful bull riding career. McBride has preached patience to Ortiz about not rushing into an event, but he has now given him the OK to give it a shot this weekend at Cowboys for a Cause.
Team Union Home Mortgage (Arizona Ridge Riders)
Alisson De Souza vs. Amish Burnout
Eduardo Aparecido vs. On Da Juice
Luciano De Castro vs. Bitterweed
Zip Recruiter Top Recruit Rider to Watch: Eduardo Aparecido has been red-hot for the Arizona Ridge Riders. Aparecido is 4-for-7 in six games and one Bonus Round this season, and he could be a key cog in Arizona’s pursuit of the inaugural PBR Team Series Championship.
Team Wrangler (Kansas City Outlaws)
Koltin Hevalow vs. Ah Hell
Clancy Hart vs. White Face
Sam Woodall vs. Pete’s Dejaju
Zip Recruiter Top Recruit Rider to Watch: Aussie Sam Woodall could end up being an impact free-agent signing by the Kansas City Outlaws. Woodall, though, hadn’t competed for Kansas City until this past weekend because of a visa issue and then a concussion/AC joint injury he sustained at the Cowtown Coliseum on July 10.
Team ZipRecruiter (Missouri Thunder)
Callum Miller vs. Turbo
Leandro Machado vs. Armed & Dangerous
Marcelo Procopio Pereira vs. Bad Actor
Zip Recruiter Top Recruit Rider to Watch: Marcelo Procopio Pereira is returning to competition for the first time since undergoing reconstructive right elbow surgery this spring. Pereira was Missouri Thunder co-coach Ross Coleman’s first free agent signing in the moments following the PBR Teams Draft. Coleman even drove immediately to Villa Brazil Steakhouse in Arlington to meet with Pereira in person on draft night to recruit him to the Thunder.
Article Courtesy of PBR
Photo By: Andy Watson/ Bull Stock Media
