EVERETT, Wash. – On Wednesday, as the two-night event at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, Washington, got underway, 19-year-old rookie Tate Pollmeier (Ft Scott, Kansas) captured his fifth round win of the 2023 Unleash The Beast (UTB) season, winning Round 1 of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) GreatNorthwest Invitational with a standout 87-point ride.
The rare mid-week UTB event marks the 21st event of the season, with only two regular-season events remaining until the 2023 PBR World Finals at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 12-21.
Pollmeier, a rookie from Kansas who made his league debut during the inaugural PBR Team Series season in late 2022 as part of the Oklahoma Freedom, began the weekend at No. 14 in the standings and is among many making the charge to close in on the Top 5 as the regular season comes to a close.
Originally paired with Magic Harbor (D&H Cattle Co), Pollmeier was awarded a re-ride by judges.
As Pollmeier launched from the chutes later in the night aboard Skeeter Peter (Dakota Rodeo/ Mark Baker/ Clay Struve/ Chad Berger), the arena erupted as the seconds counted down and he clung to the muscular animal unwavering in his determination.
Pollmeier’s efforts earned 28 UTB points as he heads into Round 2. His Round 1 win moved him to No. 13 as he heads into day two in Everett.
Pollmeier’s winning ride, courtesy PBR
In a shocking twist of events as the 2023 PBR World Finals quickly approach, No. 1 Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil) came down hard at a mere 2.92 seconds after Sellout (Blake Sharp/ Koe Wetzel/Cody O’Neil) tossed the 2018 PBR World Champion to the ground. Despite the upset, Pacheco still holds a 118.5-point lead over Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil), who remains out due to a groin injury, in his hunt for a second world title.
Everett’s opening night – the second time the world’s premier bull riding organization has visited the city – saw veteran Brazilian rider Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil) and 10-time World Finals qualifier capture second place with an 86.25-point score.
Paired with Montana Moon (Wentz Bucking Bulls/King Rodeo), the runner-up position earned the 2022 Texas Rattlers athlete 18 UTB points to hold tight to the No. 12 spot in the standings.
Vieira’s fellow 2022 Texas Rattlers teammate Braidy Randolph (Jonestown, Pennsylvania) confidently collected third place in the round alongside 17 UTB points.
Moving from the No. 37 spot in the world standings to No. 31, Randolph was paired with Dr. Campbell (Nancy Haverty/ Clay Struve/ Dakota Rodeo/ Chad Berger). Launching from the chutes halfway through the night, the 22-year-old received an 85.5-point score.
Putting it all on the line to punch his ticket into the Top 5 in the standings before leaving Washington this week, 2022 Carolina Cowboy Boudreaux Campbell (Crockett, Texas) cliched fourth place in Round 1.
Starting the night in the No. 7 spot in the standings, Campbell’s 83.5-point ride aboard WSM’s Sun Country (WSM Auctioneers/ Clay Struve/ Dakota Rodeo/ Chad Berger) earned 16 UTB points, which was just enough to push him into the No. 6 position in the standings.
Brazilian Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil) and Lane Lasley (Marshall, Arkansas) rounded out the Top 5 in Round 1 with matching 80.5-point scores.
Up first in the dynamic duo, Lasley set the tone, confidently besting Uncle Kranky (Vold Rodeo) early in the night.
Just a few short weeks after winning the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour event in Casper, Wyoming, and punching his ticket to Everett, Lasley began the night at No. 74 in the standings. After collecting 14.5 UTB points on Wednesday night, the 28-year-old moves to No. 66.
Just a few rides later, Barbosa, who was paired with Star Light (D&H Cattle Company) kept the momentum going as he rocketed from the chutes.
The 2022 Nashville Stampede athlete, who was celebrating his 29th birthday on Wednesday, held tight to the No. 11 spot in the standings after collecting 6.5 points for his efforts.
The top riders in the world will have the opportunity to gain ground in Round 2 followed by the Championship Round as thePBR Great Northwest Invitational in Everett, Washington,continues on Thursday, April 20 at 7:45 p.m. PT.
PBR RidePass on Pluto TV will offer re-airs and on-demand replays of every PBR UTB event. PBR RidePass is available on desktops, laptops and mobile devices via www.pluto.tv.
PBR Unleash The Beast – PBR Great Northwest Invitational
