HURON, S.D. — Under a blazing summer sky, the 23rd Annual Red Wilk Construction Bull Bash kicked off in spectacular fashion, but it was Henderson, Texas cowboy Brennan Polito who stole the show on night one of the Bull Bash.
The Oklahoma-born "young gun" didn't just survive the night—he conquered it, riding two bovine athletes to capture the Night One title and punch his ticket to a $14,700 payday. The crown jewel of his night? Conquering the infamous Bounty Bull, #91 Bad News of Burruss Bucking Bulls, to snatch a cool $10,000 bonus check in front of a full grandstands for opening night of the South Dakota State Fair.
When asked how he handles that level of high-stakes pressure, Polito kept it as raw as it gets: “Keep your hand shut until your head hits the ground.”
Brennan Polito, Henderson TX goes 2 for 2 to win night one and the $10,000 Bounty Bull match at the Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Bash in Huron, South Dakota.
Polito, all smiles but pure business, credits his father—a former bull rider—for igniting his passion at a young age in Marietta, Oklahoma. It was there he grew up absorbing wisdom from World Champions and cutting his teeth on elite practice bulls.
The night was an absolute heavyweight fight between man and beast. Louisiana cowboy Ty Laverne posted an 89-point score in section two, but overall the bulls completely dominated the back-half of Round One.Polito stepped up in section 3 riding 74 G-Moves for a one up 90 points on his traveling partner Ty.
Ty Lavergne, Sulphur, LA gave an 89 point ride on Harris’s Husky, and an assist to Harris Bucking Bulls Bull Team Champion of the night.
“Great bull that comes out to the left every time, kicking and spinning,” Polito said of G-Moves. “He was away from my hand, but just a good bull with good timing.”
That score punched his ticket to the Bounty Bull matchup, and never looked back.
Evan Morrison, Whitesboro, TX - 80 points on Burruss Bucking Bulls “Boogie Man”
Evan Morrison kept the competition alive with 90 points in the final section on Scott Burruss’s Boogieman. Polito came out on top of the multiple judge scoring sheets that determine the ties.
Over in the bull team format, stock contractor Jeff Harris of Palestine, Texas, walked away victorious in the Tuff Hedeman Bull Team Challenge. His powerhouse "dream team" posted a winning team score of 280.77, anchored by Ty Lavern’s heavy-lifting 89-point ride.
OFFICIAL NIGHT 1 LEADERBOARD & RESULTS
Individual Bull Riding Standings
Brennan Polito (Henderson, TX) | 90 Points on 74 G-Moves (Rawson Bucking Bulls)
Bounty Bull Match: Polito successfully rode #91 Bad News (Burruss Bucking Bulls) for a $10,000 bonus | Total earnings $14,700.00
2nd place: Evan Morrison (Whitesboro, TX) | 89 pts on Boogieman, (Burrus Bucking Bulls) $2,820.00
3rd Place: Ty Lavergne (Sulpher, LA) | 89 Points on Husky (Jeff Harris) |$1,880.00.
Tuff Hedeman Bull Team Challenge Results
Champion: Jeff Harris (Palestine, TX) | Total Score: 280.77
Featured Bulls: 200 Husky (89-point qualified ride by Ty Lavern), N-5 Baldy, and 212 Black Lassie | Total Earnings: $17,500.00
2nd Place – Mason/Wyloh Bucking Bulls (Mineral Wells, TX) | 274.42 pts | $10,500.00
3rd Place - Rawson Bucking Bulls (Martinsville, TX) | 273.61pts | $7,000.00.
Join us for round two of the Red Wilk Construction Tuff Hedeman Bull Riding a the South Dakota State Fair, as we return in front of the grandstands for Hedeman’s signature tournament style event where you can see your favorite rider 3 times as he progresses to the Shoot Out Round. Tickets are still available atwww.sdstatefair.comand www.tuffhedemanbullriding.com – contact Leigh Ann Schroeder for media credentials or more informati