Dylan Rice covered Universal Pro Rodeo’s Huckleberry with an 89.5-point ride to claim the championship title with the highest-marked ride of the night and walked away with a high-paying payday. Photo courtesy PRCA
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Dylan Rice delivered the ride of the night at Rodeo Austin (Texas) Xtreme Bulls, part of the Rank 45 Xtreme Bulls Series.

The Newcastle, Wyo., cowboy covered Universal Pro Rodeo’s Huckleberry with an 89.5-point ride to claim the championship title with the highest-marked ride of the night and walked away with a high-paying payday.

The winning ride was the result of a straightforward but disciplined approach inside the chute: get into position, start strong and finish the job.

“The main thing I focus on is getting up on my rope and getting into position, so when you leave, you get a good start,” Rice said. “Then from there, I just ride through the whistle and finish the bull ride. I make sure to start strong and finish strong.”

That approach paid off as Rice handled Huckleberry from start to finish. The bull delivered the power expected, but Rice stayed in rhythm through every move, posting one of six qualified rides of the night and finishing ahead of Luke “Colorado Kid” Mackey, who placed second with an 87.5-point ride on Universal Pro Rodeo’s Pale Face.

Rice knew the kind of power Huckleberry could bring after studying previous rides on the bull and noting the high scores that had come from those matchups.

“I had looked him up and saw video of him,” Rice said. “There were high 80s on him a couple of times. He definitely had his day-to-day, and he was a step ahead of what I had seen on video. He bucked a little harder.”

A BIG WIN

The win not only earned Rice the Rodeo Austin Xtreme Bulls championship, but also reinforced his ability to ride some of the rankest bulls in the sport. Additionally, it showed he can compete amongst the toughest athletes in the sport, including 2025 Resistol Rookie Bull Rider of the Year Bryce Jensen and three-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier Wacey Schalla.

For a bull rider chasing a full season on the road, moments like this carry extra weight.

“It shows that I’m capable of riding the rank bulls — the best bulls out there,” Rice said. “And being around those guys that ride at the top level is where I want to be. They push me to ride better.”

Competing in Austin wasn’t new territory for Rice, though success had previously eluded him at the Texas Swing stop. This time around, the event itself carried a different energy, as the Xtreme Bulls format brought together a deeper field of competitors than a typical rodeo performance.

“It’s just bull riding,” Rice said with a laugh. “You get 40 guys versus eight, so everybody’s here.”

Rice’s commitment to preparation continues to drive his progress as the season unfolds, with an eye on climbing the PRCA | Bill Fick Ford World Standings. Rather than scrambling to get ready when the next rodeo approaches, he remains focused on staying sharp year-round.

“I like the preparation even before, working out and staying fit and getting on a lot of practice bulls,” he said. “I don’t like to have to get prepared. I like to stay prepared.”

Dylan Rice covered Universal Pro Rodeo’s Huckleberry with an 89.5-point ride to claim the championship title with the highest-marked ride of the night and walked away with a high-paying payday. Photo courtesy PRCAScreen_Shot_2026-03-19_at_4.52.01_PM
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