SOUTHEASTERN CIRCUIT: BARRELS Unexpected Victory Wetzel Wins Barrel Racing Title in Southeastern Circuit
By Ted Harbin E rin Wetzel is a two-time Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo participant who has excelled during the championship at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie, Florida. Here’s the thing: She wasn’t supposed to be at either one. A year ago, she missed the circuit finale by just $17. In 2022, she was 13th on the barrel racing money list by $37. In both cases, she snuck into the field because qualifiers were unable to compete, and she’s made the most of it. At this year’s circuit finals, Wetzel and her horse, Catchin Dinero 554, won the second round and finished as runners-up in the other two to win the three-run aggregate by more than a second. It was a magical few days of work for her and her mount, a 10-year-old sorrel gelding
she will be one of two Southeastern Circuit representatives at the national circuit finals rodeo, now dubbed the NFR Open and set for next July in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her three-round run in Davie also moved her to a close second in the year-end standings. She finished the year-end race second by just $177.50 behind the champion, 2022 National Finals Rodeo qualifier Margo Crowther had a dream season in 2022 earning her first qualification to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. She also finished as the year-end circuit champion in the Southeastern Circuit to earn her a spot in the $1M NFR Open in Colorado Springs, Colorado in July. Photo by Mike Rastelli
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she calls Squirrel, sired by Cash N Hooper out of Miss N Catch. “There’s so much emotion running through my mind,” said Wetzel of Plant City, Florida. “It was extremely unexpected. I’m not downplaying my horse. I know it takes and team, and I’m not the most confident rider, so I put a lot of trust on my horse. He really makes up for mistakes I make as a jockey. He just makes it work. I’m just blown away by the whole weekend. “I wasn’t even supposed to be here. I came in the 13th spot, and one of the girls had to doctor her horse out, and I was on the reserve list.” While she missed out on the actual qualification, she more than made up for it in Davie. She and Squirrel rounded the cloverleaf pattern in 44.10 seconds, all the while earning $10,026. By winning the average, Erin Wetzel, a two-time Southeastern Circuit Finals Rodeo qualifier, captured her first circuit title in 2022 winning the average title and punching her ticket to the NFR Open. Wetzel rode Catchin Dinero 554 to the average title in a time of 44.10 seconds on three runs. Photo by Mike Rastelli
Margo Crowther took home the year-end title in the Southeastern circuit after winning $18,227. Erin Wetzel, who won the average title, finished second in the year-end with $18,049. Both ladies will represent their circuit at the NFR Open. Photo by Mike Rastelli
30 WOMEN’S PRO RODEO NEWS DECEMBER 2022
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