SAN ANGELO, Texas – Laramie Mosley was in pain.

He’d suffered a broken neck at a bull riding in Lewiston, Idaho, last September that required surgery to fuse his C5-C7 vertebrae, and the surgical scar on his throat and pain from the injury were just part of it.

The worst agony for Mosley was knowing his 2021 rodeo season had just run its course, and he wouldn’t have a chance to compete at the National Finals Rodeo. The sport’s grand finale hosts only the top 15 from the regular season, and the Palestine, Texas, cowboy was ninth in the standings when the injury happened.

“It emotionally wrecked me for a long time,” said Mosley, who finished the year 18^th in the world standings while on injured reserve. “I didn’t know if I was going to be able to overcome that. After three months into it, I figured I could sit back and sulk and quit, or I could do what I’ve done the rest of my life and get out of the mud and come back firing.”

Consider his guns loaded. He rode Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Road Warrior for 90 points to take the bull riding lead during Sunday’s fourth performance of the San Angelo Stock show and Rodeo.

“This was super big,” said Mosley, who returned to action just a month ago. “It’s been rough since I got back, but I love San Angelo, and there’s always a good vibe here. I had a good (bull) drawn. I knew if I could keep my hand shut, it would be good.”

It was. He scrambled from his position atop Road Warrior and adjusted to every move the bull threw at him. It looked very similar to the big rides he posted last season that allowed him the opportunity to battle for the world title until the injury took it all away.

“He’s a bucker for sure,” he said of the bull. “It was amazing. I loved every second of it, every jump.

“I’ve been getting on the (practice) barrel every day that I’m home, but I’m not home that much now, so I’m working on the mental side of things.”

The reality is his muscle memory should take over at this stage of his career, but bull riding is the toughest event in which to secure a score. The bulls win most of the time. In the opening weekend of San Angelo’s rodeo, only eight cowboys have qualified rides out of the 46 cowboys that have wrapped their hands in the bull rope.

Mosley has overcome a considerable amount since the wreck that happened seven months ago. Surgeons decided to fuse his three vertebrae to help stabilize the spine and allow for better healing. Doctors had told him that his C6 vertebrae was crushed. Now, he’s back to doing what he loves and competing at a rodeo he appreciates.

“I really like San Angelo,” Mosley said, who will return to town next Sunday for the Xtreme Bulls competition, then come back for the championship round Friday, April 15. “When they open the rodeo, they have fireworks and have fire in the arena with loud and big booms. It makes you feel like you’re somebody when you’re there. Fans are loud and constantly cheering. It makes for a great experience.”

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo
April 1-15
Bareback riding leaders: 1. 2. Keenan Reed Hayes, 86 points on Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Rising Tide; 2. Seth Hardwick, 84; 3. (tie) Chad Rutherford and Gavin French, 82; 5. Mike Solberg, 80.5; 6. Orin Larsen, 80; 7. Jacob Lees, 78; 8. Bill Tutor, 77; 9. Kelby Schneiter, 76.5; 10. Dean Thompson, 76; 11. (tie) Rickey Williams and Lane McGehee, 75.

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Cade Goodman, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Talon Roseland, Bryn Roy and Trell Etbauer, 3.8; 5. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Justin Shaffer, 3.9; 7. (tie) Tory Jonson and Clayton Hass, 4.0. Second round leaders: 1. Stetson Jorgensen, 3.5 seconds; 2. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Dirk Tavenner, 3.7; 4. (tie) Cameron Morman, Payden McIntyre and Clayton Hass, 3.9; 7. Landris White, 4.0; 8. (tie) Caden Camp and Ringo Robinson, 4.1. Average leaders: 1. (tie) Dakota Eldridge and Stetson Jorgensen, 7.6 seconds on two runs; 3. Clayton Hass, 7.9; 4. Payden McIntyre, 8.1; 5. Dirk Tavenner, 8.2; 6. Tory Johnson, 8.3; 7. Landris White, 8.4; 8. Cade Goodman, 8.9; 9. Blake Mindemann, 9.0; 10. Tucker Allen, 9.1; 11. Jason Thomas, 9.3; 12. (tie) Eli Lord and Bridger Anderson, 9.4.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo and Lightning Aguilera/Coleby Payne, 3.9 seconds; 3. Caleb Smidt/Sergio Gonzales, 4.1; 4. Dawson Graham/Dillon Graham, 4.2; 5. Casey Tew/Brushton Minton, 4.5; 6. (tie) Wyatt Bray/Will Woodfin, Derrick Begay/Colter Todd and Andrew Livingston/Seth Smithson, 4.6. Second round leaders: 1. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 3.5 seconds; 2. Cory Kidd/Lane Mitchell and Chace Thompson/Tyson Thompson, 3.8; 4. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 3.9; 5. Chet Weitz/Jace Davis, 4.1; 6. (tie) Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, Tucker Menz/D.J. Dugger and Tanner James/Phoenix Everano, 4.3. Average leaders: 1. Derrick Begay/Colter Todd, 8.9 seconds on two runs; 2. Lightning Aguilera/Coleby Payne, 9.2; 3. Kolton Schmidt/Wyatt Cox, 9.4; 4. Tanner James/Phoenix Everano, 9.5; 5. Wyatt Imus/Caleb Anderson, 9.6; 6. Andrew Livingston/Seth Smithson, 9.8; 7. Payden Emmett/Lucas Falconer, 10.2; 8. (tie) Kolby Krieger/Boogie Ray and Cinch Moody/Rich Skelton, 10.4; 10. Nelson Wyatt/Tyler Worley, 12.5; 11. J.C. Yeahquo/L.J. Yeahquo, 12.6; 12. Clay Smith/Jade Corkill, 13.5.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Spencer Wright, 88 points on Macza Pro Rodeo’s Get Smart; 2. Rusty Wright. 85.5; 3. Allen Boore, 85; 4. Statler Wright, 84; 5. (tie) Riggin Smith, Samuel Kelts and Creighton Curley, 83; 8. CoBurn Bradshaw, 82; 9. Zeke Thurston, 81.5; 10. Jake Watson, 80.5; 11. Cauy Pennington, 80; 12. Isaac Diaz, 78.5.

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. (tie) Tyler Milligan and Travis Rogers, 7.6 seconds; 3. Dakota Felton, 7.8; 4. Riley Wakefield, 8.0; 5. Cody McCartney, 8.1; 6. (tie) Weldon Watson and Matt Shiozawa, 8.2; 8. (tie) Cash Hooper, Blake Ash and Luke Potter, 8.3. Second round leaders: 1. Riley Webb, 7.3 seconds; 2. Zack Jongbloed, 7.4; 3. Marcos Costa, 7.5; 4. (tie) King Pickett and Trenton Smith. 7.7; 6. (tie) Cory Solomon and Ryle Smith, 7.9; 7. Trevor Hale, 8.0. Average leaders: 1. Tyler Milligan, 15.7 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Zack Jongbloed and J.D. McCuistion, 16.7; 4. Dakota Felton, 16.8; 5. (tie) Luke Potter and Cody McCartney, 16.9; 7. (tie) Marcos Costa and Travis Rogers, 17.5; 9. Brushton Minton, 17.9; 10. Thomas Conway, 18.0; 11. Blake Deckard, 18.1; 12. Kater Tate, 18.3.

Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Michelle Alley, 14.16 seconds; 2. Kailee Murdock, 14.21; 3. Josey Owens, 14.39; 4. Destri Davenport, 14.46; 5. Martha Smith, 14.47; 6. Brandee Hawkins, 14.51; 7. Cassidy Champlin, 14.54; 8. Taylor Johnson, 15.57; 9. Mandy Cupp, 14.59; 10. (tie) Steely Steiner and Jamie Olsen, 14.60. Average leaders: 1. Michelle Alley, 29.99; 2. Cassidy Champlin, 30.14; 3. Destri Davenport. 30.19; 4. Kailee Murdock, 30.22; 5. Jamie Olsen, 30.39; 6. Steeley Steiner, 30.54; 7. Josey Owens, 30.58; 8. Martha Smith, 30.61; 9. Abby Phillips, 30.65; 10. Taylor Johnson, 30.68; 11. Carly Taylor, 30.69; 12. Kaitlin Schnuck, 30.70.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Laramie Mosley, 90 points on Hampton Pro Rodeo’s Road Warrior; 2. Stetson Wright, 88; 3. Tristen Hutchings, 84.5; 4. (tie) Jaron Sheehan and Jordan Wacey Spears, 84; 6. Garrett Wall, 82; 7. Seth Green, 77; 8. Dawson Gleaves, 75; no other qualified rides.