Clay Brininger made a long trip from Pennsylvania pay off in a big way, capturing the 19 & Under Steer Wrestling semifinals title at the 2026 Hooey Junior Patriot with an 8.43‑second aggregate on two head.

The 17‑year‑old bulldogger’s consistent runs earned him $930 and secured his spot in the prestigious final round inside Will Rogers Coliseum.

Brininger kicked the semifinals off with a sharp 4.28‑second run, capitalizing on a strong start and solid horsepower. Riding a borrowed bulldogging horse, he relied on instinct and preparation to stay competitive in a deep field.

“I knew coming in it was a pretty good steer, so I just rode my horse and it worked out,” Brininger said.

He backed that performance with an even faster 4.15 in the short round, attacking a larger steer he had limited information on. Trusting what he’d been told about the steer, Brininger committed to his plan and finished the job.

“I was told he was going to throw his head up there, so I just attacked the head and went ahead and did it,” Brininger said.

The win marked Brininger’s first appearance at The Patriot, an opportunity he earned through qualifiers in Pennsylvania and at a multi‑state high school rodeo featuring athletes from New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware.

His path into steer wrestling began by tagging along to barrel races with his sister before entering chute dogging events and eventually attending a clinic that helped him gain confidence jumping his first steer. Since then, he has balanced bulldogging with bronc riding while qualifying for the National High School Finals Rodeo in steer wrestling during both his sophomore and junior years.

With limited time to get comfortable on his borrowed mount, Brininger leaned on faith and focus to prepare.

“I just say a little prayer before I go and take a deep breath,” Brininger said.Now advancing to the finals, the Pennsylvania cowboy has his sights set on continuing the mom.