Sulphur's Bryer Prince faces down adversity, state champion back in saddle after serious injury
Sulphur cowboy Bryer Prince won scored a 69 point ride in the second-go round of bareback riding at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
Vince Lombardi, former Green Bay Packers head coach and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame once said, 'It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up.'
That would describe Sulphur cowboy Bryer Prince.
The high school junior has been knocked down a few times. But each time, he battled through adversity and became a three-time state champion bareback rider.
In February, he was severely injured at a rough stock riding clinic, including facial fractures. Once he decided to get back to work, Prince said he felt better than ever. Since March, he has won four of six rodeos and finished second in the other two.
'I got my face smashed in and broke three bones in my cheek,' Prince said. 'I was doubting things, but something told me to just keep getting on.
'A couple of weeks went by and everything, I came across a Bible verse, Proverbs 3:5-6. That got me out of a hard place. I was fighting my mind real bad, and I just decided to get on again. I came back, and I was better than before. It really gave me a confidence boost. I started working out pretty every day of the week.'
He first tried bareback riding as a freshman in 2023, and it didn't go so well. He blacked out coming out of the chute. But it wasn't his last ride, and he said with practice it eventually got easier.
'I blacked out,' Prince recalled. 'I hung off the side of him, and my dad and my brothers and sisters called me 'side-saddle.'
'They said I was riding side-saddle because I was hanging off the left side. That is how my first ride went. The more I got on it kind of went away, and the more I could see better out in the arena. You are not getting hit with that adrenaline rush that fast and black out.'
Bareback riding is not for the faint of heart. Prince said the event is quite a bit more complicated than using brute force to tame the 1,000-pound-plus horses used for the event.
'It is definitely more technical,' Prince said. 'There are a lot of things that go into it. You have your free-arm placement, you have to lift on your rigging, and you have to beat the horse to the ground before his front feet hit the ground.
'There is a lot more that goes into it than what people think. It is not just hold on and nod your head.'
He gets a lot of help from cousins Hadley Prince, a state champion bareback rider, and Scooter Prince, who was the 1994 National High School Finals Rodeo saddle bronc riding champion, plus six-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier James Boudreaux.
'They are always there rooting for me,' Prince said. '(Hadley) always pulls my rigging, jacks with me a little bit and slaps me around and gets me going.
'They are there for me anytime I need it, anything I need. James Boudreaux helps me out a lot. I go over there and get on his bucking machine. That is where I get my practice in.'
Prince has already secured his third consecutive state championship with a 48-point lead over Fisher Burnworth, but that is not going to stop him from trying to keep winning this week at Burton Coliseum. He had a 46-point ride in the first-go round on Thursday and won the second-go round with a 69-point ride Friday morning.
'I basically have it (state championship), but you don't have it until you have it,' Prince said. 'I didn't come to the finals just to win state. I want to win every round. It is definitely going good for me. It is better than last year.
'Something about this year is just like a boost. I have excelled so much since last year. I can't explain it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
15 hours ago
- Newsweek
Packers Key Starter Surprisingly Named 'Most Obvious' Trade Chip
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers are looking to take the next step during the 2025 NFL season. Over the last two years, they have been a borderline contender in the NFC, but have come up short in the playoffs. During the offseason, the Packers were not as aggressive as many expected them to be. However, they did add two key pieces in NFL free agency with offensive lineman Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs joining the team. In the 2025 NFL Draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst went heavy on offense, bringing in former Texas standout wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round and TCU standout wide receiver Savion Williams in the third round. Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers looks on in the second half during a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on August 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers looks on in the second half during a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Lambeau Field on August 24, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Photo byOn the outside looking in, the roster is good enough to compete for a Super Bowl. They do play in the extremely difficult NFC North, but they should be a contender. Read more: Packers May Get Final Chapter With Aaron Rodgers After All With that being said, Green Bay may have a logjam at the wide receiver position that needs to be cleared. Outside of the two rookies, the Packers have Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, and Bo Melton on the roster. How might the team clear the wide receiver logjam? There is a good chance that they open up to trade offers regarding one of their wideouts. ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell believes that Doubs is the "most obvious candidate" to be moved ahead of the 2025 season. Since joining the team back in the 2022 season, Doubs has emerged as a key starter for Green Bay. "Doubs seems like the most obvious candidate, given that he was already suspended for one week by the team last season for missing a pair of practices. Owed $3.4 million in the final year of his rookie deal, the Packers might rack up a compensatory pick if he leaves after the season as a free agent, but Gutekunst has been relatively aggressive adding options such as Jacobs, Xavier McKinney and Nate Hobbs over the past couple of offseasons," Barnwell wrote. "Dealing Doubs would lock in draft compensation and avoid a potential headache if he falls down the depth chart during the season." Read more: Packers Dealt Brutal Honesty About QB Jordan Love Last season, Doubs played in 13 games. He racked up 46 receptions for 601 yards and four touchdowns. Doubs has totaled 147 catches for 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns in 43 career games over three years. Expect to hear rumors surrounding the Packers as the 2025 season continues to draw closer. Green Bay may opt to keep their top wide receiver depth, but a trade is certainly not out of the question. For more Green Bay Packers and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
American Press
20 hours ago
- American Press
Battle in the Bluff: Tug of War ‘celebration of strength and competitive spirit'
G.I. Joe's Gym founder and owner Joe Gentry. The Moss Bluff business has been open since January. (Special to the American Press) A strong competitive spirit — when channeled positively — can lead to personal and professional growth, improved performance and enhanced resilience. It can also motivate individuals to strive for excellence, embrace challenges and learn from setbacks. That's the thought behind the inaugural Battle in the Bluff: Tug of War Competition — the brainchild of Joe Gentry, founder and owner of G.I. Joe's Gym in Moss Bluff. 'My intention for Battle in the Bluff has always been to show off the competitive edge of people who love to work out, love to compete and it doesn't contain a ball,' Gentry said. 'Ultimately, people of all ages can do it. It's a way to bring competitive people with like-minded competitive spirits and team building to our area.' Gentry said the event will be set up in such a way that resembles the Roman Colosseum — spectators on bleachers will circle the stage where the participants compete and outside the 'arena' will be food trucks, games, vendors, a DJ and sound stage, and a backdrop of military vehicles. Lake Charles Police Department SWAT officers will also give demonstrations with their new robot dog. 'We have lots of military and law enforcement coming from all over to compete in this and the intent is we want people to get that competitive drive again,' Gentry said. 'We are trying to build that competitive spirit up from young ages to where fitness becomes a part of their lives.' The event is family-friendly with no alcohol allowed. 'This is strictly a fun, engaging event where parents can get their kids out of the house and go get them on the other end of a rope and pull against some other kids and build that competitive spirit,' he said. Gentry said some people tend to be too afraid to try new things for fear of failure. Battle in the Bluff could change that. 'When you fail individually it feels different than failing as a team,' he said. 'Winning as a team and failing as a team is completely different than individual failures. We want kids to be part of a team environment and we want them to win or lose as a team. It's about the people around you, not about yourself.' Derick Franus, a certified personal trainer and nutritionist at G.I. Joe's Gym, said there will be five slots on each team. If individuals come alone they can be assigned to 'plugger teams.' 'Honestly those will probably be the ones who come away with a best friend from this,' Franus said. 'Everyone shows up, everyone goes through the struggle together. Win, lose or draw, you went through something with somebody. That's what we want it to be.' Franus said the day will feature 'physical-based play rather than tablet-based play.' 'We'll have the impossible mile. We'll outline a little track and we'll see who can survive doing lunges all around or burpee broad jumps. The 'coliseum' will be hosting the strength side of things but we want to showcase all of fitness.' Gentry and Franus are both former military members. 'I enlisted in the Army National Guard and was called into active duty for Operation Iraqi Freedom III,' Gentry said. 'I served two years on active duty in Iraq at the beginning of the war. I was an infantry solider right after the invasion.' He was also in Baghdad when Iraq held its first free national election in decades on Jan. 30, 2005. 'I watched them walk out with their blue thumbs after voting,' he said proudly. A staff sergeant, Gentry helped lead teams and troops into combat. 'When you're in a combat zone, the private is more important than a lieutenant sometimes,' he said. 'When a private walks up and says he sees something in the window, you listen. If a lieutenant is telling you to go in but the private is telling you there is a guy with a gun, you re-evaluate your decisions. That's how important camaraderie is and the brotherhood is. You listen to the smallest, youngest, least-ranked person just as much as you listen to the lieutenant giving orders.' Though his service is over, Gentry said he will remain a soldier for life. 'You carry that with you, everyday,' he said. 'Every single day.' Still in touch with his 'brotherhood,' Gentry said there is nothing that can replace the feeling of a buddy having your back in a combat environment. 'There's no words,' he said. 'We're all trying not to die and we do everything we possibly can to watch each others' backs so that doesn't happen.' Franus is a former firefighter and trained combat medic. Both said they hope Battle in the Bluff will help participants build a similar camaraderie with their teammates. 'Failure has a lot to do with people getting better in life,' Gentry said. 'If you don't face failure, then it's going to be a very rough life. The younger that we can start kids in that competitive spirit and learning it's not about them, it's about the team the better off our society will be.' Egos must be pushed aside. 'The right tackle is just as important as the quarterback,' Gentry said. 'If a right tackle thinks he should be the quarterback and not the right tackle, then things are going to go wrong.' Battle in the Bluff is open to middle school-aged children and up. There will divisions for students, businesses, law enforcement and military, and weight class. Participants will compete against like-minded, equally sized people, Franus assured. It's free for all teams to enter and each team has the chance to win $500 for each competition. There will also be an award for best costume. Battle in the Bluff is set for June 14 at the Moss Bluff Soccer Complex at 256 Jones Road behind Rouse's supermarket. Team weigh-ins are at 9 a.m. and the competition will kick off at 11 a.m. Teams can register now at Vendors can set up the night before. There are no fees to be a vendor. 'There's plenty of festivals and fairs that you can go to where it's all about food or it's all about alcohol; it's a good time but it's more or less not building anything up,' Franus said. 'What we're trying to do is a celebration of strength and the competitive spirit.' There will be face painting, bounce houses, a miniature tug of war, water slides and an inflatable ax throw for children attending. There will be an admission fee of $10 per person. A portion of all the proceeds will go to the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Association. 'We just hope this catches on where people are not intimidated to come out and compete,' Gentry said. 'The gym is more than just a mental outlet and a physical outlet. It really is something families can be part of.'
American Press
a day ago
- American Press
Lavergne brothers leave state rodeo as champions
The Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo ended just the way the Lavergne brothers wanted: as state champions. Wyatt Lavergne, a senior, won his fourth consecutive saddle bronc riding state title, while Ty Lavergne, a sophomore, won his first state championship in bull riding. 'Dreams ended up coming true,' Wyatt said. 'I was rooting for my brother more than anybody, more than myself. 'I feel more accomplished for him winning than I do myself.' While the elder Lavergne wrapped up his title on Friday, Ty Lavergne's came down to his final ride Saturday evening in the short-go at Burton Coliseum. He just needed an eight-second ride. He was initially bucked off but was awarded re-ride after the bull made contact with the chute as he came out. Despite having to wait a while for another bull to be brought into the arena, Ty Lavergne scored 68 points on the re-ride. 'I felt relieved, and it kind of put a little bit more pressure on me,' Ty said. 'I had to wait so long for it. I was glad that I got another chance to win it.' Ty Lavergne also won the average title with 219 points over three eight-second rides. He beat defending state champ Brennan Polito (Epic Charter) 126.4 to 102.25. 'It is a big relief, Ty Lavergne said. 'My buddy Brandon Polito was right on my tail the whole season. I just feel relieved to finally win it, especially with my brother.' Wyatt Lavergne's win in the second-go round on Friday was enough to earn him his fourth state title, and he wrapped up his fourth consecutive average title with a 73-point ride on Saturday. In 12 rounds at the state rodeo, he has scored 70 or more points nine times. 'I would say it is a weight off my shoulders,' Wyatt Lavergne said. 'I just came in here like I was losing, like I was last, and I just let it all hang out. I didn't have anything to lose, and so, it's a big accomplishment. Pretty proud of myself.' Barbe's Ella Kay won a second consecutive round Saturday on her way to defending her goat tying state championship. 'It's awesome, you know, I give all the glory to God and just thank him that I'm able to do this,' Kay said. She won the short-go round Saturday with her fastest time of the weekend at 7.12 seconds. She opened the LHSFR on Thursday with a 13.79-second run but bounced back on Friday with a time of 7.42 seconds. 'I was kind of nervous,' Kay said about her first-go round performance. 'I was just trying to go out there and be fast, and I just messed up.' 'I felt great (in the short-go round). My horse worked great, I did great, and I just thank God.' The top four in each event qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 13-19. Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo Short-go round results At Burton Coliseum Bull riding 1, Carter Shaw 85 2, Ty Lavergne 68 2, Luke Simon 68 Saddle bronco riding 1, Wyatt Lavergne 73 2, Austin James 38 Bareback riding 1, Ethan Parrott 64 Steer wrestling 1, Cain Martin 7.71 2, Cale Carpenter 8.89 3, Grady Ellis 10.43 4, Noah Weeks 11.55 5, Turbo Baxter 14.57 6, William Gunter 16.34 7, Luke Savant 17.40 Tie down roping 1, Cruz Melanson 8.46 2, Colten Esthay 9.01 3, Cougar Racca 9.55 4, Braxton Guillot 10.09 5, Gentry Silver 10.62 6, Carter Primeaux 10.69 7, Cooper Gallet 12.33 8, Colton Summers 13.56 9, Jayden Nunez 18.00 10, Trever Trahan 18.40 Team roping 1, Grant Engel/Skinner Wilkinson 5.15 2, Teddie Guynn/Wyatt Sonnier 6.79 3, Bill Odell/Tucker Wright 7.73 4, Shadd Huffman/Wayburn Chandler 9.99 5, Cole Steib/Kayson Lasyone 12.96 6, Hayden Walker/Grant Boudreaux 13.35 7, Cooper Broussard/Hudson Mudd 17.69 8, H.D. Willis/Carter Perry 22.28 9, Kensley Mudge/Wyatt DeMoss 33.75 Breakaway roping 1, Caroline Fontenot 2.10 2, Emma Nunez 2.30 3, Alex Poole 2.48 4, Jillian Fontenot 2.50 5, Keylee Izard 2.74 6, Addison Rains 3.00 7, Kensley Mudge 3.17 8, Saige Martin 3.47 9, Ava Nunez 12.07 Goat tying 1, Ella Kay 7.12 2, Brantlee Colbert 7.70 3, Kynnedy Nunn 8.07 4, Addison Rains 8.16 5, Abbey Anderson 8.96 6, Abbie Savant 9.86 7, Rylee Jo Maryman 10.13 8, Lauren Williams 10.20 9, Makayla Stelly 11.41 10, Katie Abshire 13.81 Pole Bending 1, Kodi Miller 20.280 2, Gemi Robinson 20.521 3, Rylee Jo Maryman 20.594 4, Addison Rains 20.680 5, Stella Aucoin 20.995 6, Ava Nunez 21.021 7, Logan Krieg 21.104 8, Emma Nunez 21.451 9, Abbey Anderson 21.606 10, Jossy Gantt 25.847 Barrel racing 1, Kynnedy Nunn 15.117 2, Gemi Robinson 15.229 3, Rylee Jo Maryman 15.304 4, Ava Nunez 15.323 5, Abbey Anderson 15.332 6, Logan Krieg 15.383 7, Kanley Cooper 15.404 8, Addison Rains 15.495 9, Jasey Gantt 15.535 10, Stella Aucoin 15.943 Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo At Burton Coliseum Standings after short-go round, Saturday, May 31, 2025 All-Around Cowboy Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, Braxton Guillot, La. Virtual Charter 142.0 2, Turbo Baxter, Slaughter Comm. 133.5 3, Cruz Melanson, Vinton 130.2 4, Kayson Lasyone 103.0 5, Jayden Nunez, S. Cameron 98.8 Rookie All-Around Cowboy Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, Cole Steib, Catholic-PC 127.8 2, Cain Martin, Sulphur 64.4 3, Skinner Wilkinson, Home School 60.8 All-Around Cowgirl Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, Abbey Anderson, Shepherd 292.25 2, Rylee Jo Maryman, Univ. View 257.3 3, Addison Rains, Magnolia Bend 238.4 Rookie All-Around Cowgirl Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, Addison Rains, Magnolia Bend 238.4 2, Kinley Walker, Home School 96.6 Bareback riding Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, *#Bryer Prince, Sulphur 113.0 2, Fisher Burnworth, Home School 63.8 3, %Ethan Parrott, Darbonne Woods 49.0 (123/2) Barrell racing Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, *#%Rylee Jo Maryman, Univ. View 116.5 (45.387/3) 2, Abbey Anderson, Shepherd 102.4 4, Gemi Robinson, Magnolia Bend 86.5 3, Ava Nunez, Bell City 82.2 5, Kynnedy Nunn, Welsh 62.5 Saddle bronc riding Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, *#%Wyatt Lavergne, DeQuincy 119.0 (148/2) 2, Austin James, Rosepine 71.7 3, Zach Reeves, Sulphur 64.0 4, Brant Schexnider, Kaplan 26.9 Tie down roping Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, #Braxton Guillot, La. Virtual Ch. 115.0 2, %Cruz Melanson, Vinton 110.2 (26.12/3) 3, Cougar Racca, Bell City 86.0 4, Gentry Silver, Bell City 73.1 5, Carter Primeaux, Erath 72.3 Breakaway roping Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, #Kensley Mudge, Magnolia Bend 56.0 2, Caroline Fontenot, Beau Chene 53.5 3, %Alex Poole, Bell City 51.35 (7.28/3) 4, Emma Nunez, Bell City 50.3 5, Faith Dubois, Home School 49.8 Steer wrestling Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, #Turbo Baxter, Slaughter 119.5 2, William Gunter, Sulphur 86.6 3, Kyler Landry, Ascension Cath. 73.5 4, %Cain Martin, Sulphur 64.4 (19.93/3) 5, Noah Weeks, Magnolia Bend 52.5 Goat tying Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, *#Ella Kay, Barbe 128.4 2, Abbey Anderson, Sheperd 97.8 3, Abbie Savant, Home School 89.1 4, Rylee Jo Maryman, Univ. View 86.6 5, Sage Raymond, Briarfield Acad. 85.8 9, %Kynnedy Nunn, Welsh 63.3 (25.57/3) Team roping Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, *#Kayson Lasyone, Magnolia Bend 175.0 #Cole Steib, Catholic-PC 2, Carter Perry, Cedar Creek 135.2 H.D. Willis, Home School 3, %Teddie Austin Guynn, Home School 132.6 (23.21/3) %Wyatt Sonnier, Welsh 4, Grant Engel, Jeff Davis Home School 121.8 Skinner Wilkinson, Home School 5, Carter Huffman, Jena 116.6 Andrew Paul, Jena Pole bending Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, *#Kodi Miller, Simpson 121.1 2, Gemi Robinson, Magnolia Bend 110.2 3, %Addison Rains, Magnolia Bend 99.4 (61.912/3) 4, Kenzie King, Jeff Davis Home School 62.4 5, Abbey Anderson, Sheperd 59.2 Bull riding Pl., Athlete, School Pts. 1, #%Ty Lavergne, DeQuincy 126.4 (219/3) 2, *Brennan Polito, Epic Charter 102.25 3, Carter Shaw, Magnolia Bend 85.3 4, Luke Simon, Notre Dame 61.55 5, Briggs Cooley, Christ Bridge 52.7 *2024 state champ #2025 state champion %2025 average champion
