The Williamson County Expo Center in Taylor recently played host to professional bull riding’s version of American Idol. The Next Gambler competition was held Saturday, June 8, with 20 riders from around the world competing to earn a provisional spot on the Austin Gamblers star studded Professional Bull Riders roster.
At the end of a festive program featuring pyrotechnics, rodeo clowns and mutton bustin’, the Next Gambler was crowned. Tristen Hutchings, of Stephenville, by way of Blackfoot, Idaho, emerged as the top overall scorer allowing him to join a loaded Gambler roster which includes Jose Vitor Leme, Dalton Kasel, Lucas Divino and Rockdale’s own Ezekiel Mitchell.
“Everybody here at the Gamblers association greets you with a smile and a hug and a pick you up whenever you are down,” Hutchings said. “So, it means a lot to me not only that I get a chance to go into the PBR, but that I get to go in with a dominant team and a team with good financial backing, a Hall of Fame coach and a great GM.”
Needing a successful ride on his third trip of the evening, Hutchings drew a familiar mount. Hutchings came up with a hard-fought qualified ride atop Black Sheep, earning 87.5 points, good enough to take the lead and hold on for the victory.
“The third ride was on Black Sheep, who I’d ridden before, and he bucked me off in Mercedes so I was actually very excited to get on him this time and excited to win this round and not let that bull beat me again,” Hutchings said.
The Austin Gamblers in cooperation with the Taylor Rodeo Association came up with the idea for the event to beef up the talent pool in PBR team series, which is expanding into New York and Oklahoma this season.
“What has happened over the last 10 years is that the bulls have outpaced the riders,” said Gambler CEO JJ Gottsch. “They are faster. They are stronger. So, what we are trying to do is to recruit and bring more, new riders to the sport. Not just folks who have grown up on a ranch or around horses, but maybe bring in folks who were good in other sports too. Maybe a shortstop in baseball or a point guard in basketball or a quarterback in football could be athletic enough to learn to ride bulls. From that standpoint, having events like this one where we are attracting and recruiting new potential riders to give this a look.”
Malachai Anderson, of Belton, is one of those riders who saw an opportunity to pursue a dream in Taylor.
“I’m friends with one of the contractors on Facebook,” said Anderson. “He posted... that they were looking for some more guys to ride and the next thing you know, I get a call from...Michael Gaffney. That would mean everything. It is everything I’ve been working for plus more. It would mean a lot.”
Unfortunately, Anderson got bucked off on three separate rides, failing to qualify for the eight-man individual round playoff.
For Hutchings the opportunity to join the Austin Gamblers professional bull riding team represents a welcome change in fortunes.
“Last year, I lost my mom to a car accident in October and I had surgery on my arm two weeks later. I thought I was going to go into the finals and just kick butt. Everyone wanted me to win so dang bad,” he said. “It has taken me even to now to just be able to hold onto the rope after the injury. It has been a battle both mentally and physically. That and trying to recover from a broken heart after losing my mom has been tough.”
