FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sarah Van Ert, Austin® 512.919.3000 phone 512.919.3005 fax [email protected] www.RodeoAustin.com

NEW TEAM RODEO AUSTIN BULLFIGHTER: TRADING TURF FOR DIRT

Austin, Texas, March 16, 2015 – Rodeo Austin is introducing a number of new things this year, among them new members to Team Rodeo Austin. Bullfighter, Weston Rutkowski, brings a humble attitude, quick feet and a big heart to Rodeo Austin.

Born in Haskell, Texas, this West Texas cowboy is no stranger to western heritage and the great sport of rodeo. With uncles who rode broncs and a former Miss Rodeo Texas as a mother, Rutkowski was born into the business.

As a youngster, Rutkowski competed in playdays and also rode bulls as a teenager. Athletic and talented, he played five sports in high school including football.

Rutkowski denied a spot playing football for Blinn College in Brenham, Texas and instead attended Blinn College in Bryan, Texas. After college he went back to riding bulls for the next three years.

Rutkowski says the moment he changed gears to bullfighting was a simple moment where he helped out buddy bullfighting at a local rodeo.

“I was pretty good at it, and ever since then I’ve known I wanted to fight bulls,” Rutkowski said. “My true passion is sticking my cleats in the dirt and getting in the arena.”

In the last few years Rutkowski has come a long way and endured some hardships in the process. One particular incident in Mercedes, Texas left the bullfighter with a dislocated hip, which he came back from in half the suggested recovery time.

“The hardest part about fighting bulls is knowing the dangers of the sport, yet knowing you still have to do your job. You have to be able to block out what can happen and still step in and do what you need to do.”

In 2013, he won multiple titles at various competitions. The one he is most proud of is his title of champion at the 2013 World Championship Freestyle Bullfights competition in Ardmore, Okla.

Rodeo Austin is proud to have such a compassionate and qualified athlete added to the team. For Rutkowski, being a part of a top five ProRodeo is what it’s all about.

“This is pretty much everything- it’s what you work for,” said Rutkowski. “I’ve only been fighting bulls for a few years, and it takes some guys 10 years to get a rodeo like this. Competing in freestyle bullfights might be a unique way to get out there, but it did the job for me. This is a big step-up and I’m glad to be here.”

Rutkowski hopes to continue to get better and gain more experience with Rodeo Austin in hopes of being nominated to be a bullfighter at the Wrangler (NFR).

“That’s why I put on the cleats in the first place, with hopes I get to go to the NFR.”

Rodeo Austin has a long- standing tradition of bringing top athletes to the rodeo each year and there are high hopes for the new members of Team Rodeo Austin. Rutkowsi will be joined by three other new members this year: Nathan Harp, Zach Arthur and Justin Rumford. A new rodeo format, and new additions to Team Rodeo Austin is only the beginning of what is hoped to be the best year at Rodeo Austin to date.

Welcome to the legend Weston!

The results from Qualifying Round 3 are as follows: Bareback Riding 1. Zachariah Phillips 80 2. Tyler Nelson 74 3. Ty Jones 66 4. George R. Gillespie IV No Score

Steer Wrestling 1. Sean Santucci 3.8 2. Wade Sumpter 4.2 3. Matt Cupp 4.4 4. Billy Bugenig 4.9 5. Jacob Talley 5.8 6. Donelle Goodman 19.6 7. Termaine Debose No Time 8. Cody Kroul No Time

Team Roping 1. Riley Minor & Brady Minor 4.2 2. Speed Willliams & Jett Hillman 5 3. Brooks Dahozy & John Robertson 5.1 4. Nick Sartain & Rich Skelton 5.2 5. Cale Markham & Jake Long 5.4 6. JoJo Lemond & Evan Arnold 5.8 7. Brandon Beers & Justin Davis 9.9 8. Joel Bach & Tommy Zuniga No Time

Saddle Bronc Riding 1. Rusty Wright 81 2. Clay Elliott 75 3. Chad Ferley 70 4. Joe Lufkin No Score 5. Jeff Willert No Score 6. Troy Crowser No Score

Tie-Down Roping 1. Cheyenne Stanley 10 2. Will Howell 13.3 3. Joe Keating 13.4 4. Jesse Clark 14.6 5. Paydon Emmett No Time 6. Cimaron Boardman No Time 7. Clay Long No Time

Barrel Racing 1. Liz Herrin 15.17 2. Shelby Herrmann 15.59 3. Ivy Hurst 15.63 4. Lindsay Kruse 15.99 5. Jean Winters 20.6 6. Christine Laughlin 20.63 7. Amanda Davenport 21.27 8. Jackie Ganter 25.11

Bull Riding 1. Aaron Pass 0 2. Elliot Jacoby 0 3. Chandler Bownds 0 4. Lucas Guilbeau 0 5. Remmi Wildeman 0 6. Tyler Smith 0 7. Tag Elliott 0 8. Brock Russell 0

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