Ryle
SMITH
Events: Steer Wrestling
Tie-Down Roping
Born: 2/22/1987 Oakdale, CA
Joined PRCA: 2010
PRCA Career Earnings: $503,541.00
World Titles Won: 0
WNFR Qualifications: 2 (2016-17)
Current Residence: Oakdale, CA
2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
ALL-AROUND
Won the RAM California (Lancaster) Circuit Finals
Won the RAM California (Lancaster) Circuit Finals
Won the Santa Maria (CA) Elks Rodeo
Won the Grand National Rodeo (San Francisco, CA)
Won the Jurupa Valley (CA) Pro Rodeo
TIE-DOWN ROPING
Won the San Antonio (Texas) Stock Show & Rodeo
Won the RAM California (Lancaster) Circuit Finals
Won the RAM California (Lancaster) Circuit Finals
Won the Sisters (OR) Rodeo
Won the Santa Maria (CA) Elks Rodeo
Won the Eugene (OR) Pro Rodeo
Co-champion at the Grand National Rodeo (San Francisco, CA)
STEER WRESTLING
Won the Grand National Rodeo (San Francisco, CA)
Won the Jurupa Valley (CA) Pro Rodeo
Ryle Smith always had a connection to the rodeo life. While his
parents were not deeply rooted in the sport as they made their
living in other fields, they went to local rodeos and competed
throughout many stages of their life raising Ryle around the
athletic sport. He entered his first rodeo when he was only five
years old and began competing in calf roping at age thirteen.
Rodeo was paramount in his life and he knew the cowboy path
was the one he would eventually end up on, but there was one
goal he wanted to accomplish before he saddled up and trotted
down the rodeo road unquestionably. Smith put rodeo on the
back burner so that he could focus on college. He went to
Tarleton State University and graduated with a bachelor degree
in Business Management. He waited until after he completed
his degree to buy his PRCA card, and when he did, he went in
full throttle.
He stormed the rodeo scene and has been continuously gaining
momentum since. His first year in the PRCA he won the All-Around
title at the Los Fresnos PRCA Rodeo and finished third in the
rookie standings for Tie-Down Roping. After his first year, he has
placed in the top twenty-five in the World Standings each year.
There is no slack in his ropes in the 2018 season so far. At the
Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Smith placed fourth in the average for
Steer Wrestling with 15.9 seconds and first for the average in
Tie-Down Roping with 18.6 seconds winning him the overall
All-Around Cowboy title adding 3,924 dollars to his earnings. He
was riding the exhilaration of the win all the way to the Sisters
Rodeo in Sisters, OR where he won the title for Tie-Down
Roping scoring 19 seconds flat and collecting 2,432 dollars
for the average score.
Ryle Smith continues to compile title after title for his
participating events. He is going full speed to secure his third
qualification at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR).
He is putting forth all of his efforts to finally fasten a gold
buckle to his belt and tie down a World Champion title
to his name. If he keeps on his winning streak, Smith
will be wrestling and roping for his life again this
year on the biggest rodeo stage and conceivably
riding away with gold.
Photo courtesy of PRCA
Rodeo LIFE 35