Columbia Falls bull rider Matt Triplett is once again set to represent his country as the United States hosts this year’s Professional Bull Riders Global Cup event in Arlington, Texas, next month.

Triplett, who rode for Team USA at the 2018 edition of the PBR Global Cup in Sydney, Australia, is coming off a 2019 season in which he finished a career-best second at the PBR World Finals to end the season ranked seventh in the world and says he is looking forward to representing his home country for the second time.

“It’s a great feeling. I’m finally able to start a year out healthy and to get that call asking me to represent my country was amazing. There really is no other feeling in the world quite like it,” Triplett said. “I think we have one of the strongest teams we have had coming into the Global Cup. We have a solid team put together and we are looking forward to having the chance to get a win here in the States.”

Triplett was picked to represent the U.S. in last year’s event, but had to decline the invitation due to a wrist injury.

“I had the opportunity to ride, but it didn’t feel right to put the country on my back and try to perform while I was not 100 percent,” he said. “I had a strong finish to last season and I am healthy and looking to keep that momentum heading into this year’s event.”

Triplett is among the 14 U.S. riders picked to compete on two teams in the 2019 challenge. Joining Triplett on the U.S. Eagles team are head coach Justin McBride (Whitesboro, Texas), assistant coach J.W. Hart (Overbrook, Oklahoma), (Muleshoe, Texas) six-time PRCA World Champion Sage Kimzey (Strong City, Oklahoma) and Cody Teel (Kountze, Texas).

The U.S. Native American Wolves team includes head coach Ted Nuce (Stephenville, Texas) assistant Mike “Bo” Vocu (Oglala Lakota – Kyle, South Dakota), Cody Jesus (Navajo – Window Rock, Arizona), Colten Jesse (Potawatomi - Konawa, Oklahoma), Cannon Cravens (Cherokee – Porum, Oklahoma), and alternate Wyatt Rogers (Cherokee – Coweta, Oklahoma), Ryan Dirteater (Cherokee – Hulbert, Oklahoma), Stetson Lawrence (Chippewa and Sioux – Williston, North Dakota) and Keyshawn Whitehorse (Navajo – McCracken Springs, Utah) and alternate Wyatt Rogers (Cherokee – Coweta, Oklahoma).

Triplett is among the 14 U.S. riders picked to compete in the 2019 challenge.

A 2010 graduate of Columbia Falls High School, Triplett was ranked in the top five in the world rankings in 2015 before a pair of shoulder injuries set him back. After two shoulder surgeries, Triplett returned to competition in 2018 and finished 13th in the PBR world standings.

Triplett was scheduled to ride at the inaugural Global Cup event in Edmonton, Canada in 2017, but his shoulder injury kept him sidelined. Triplett did ride in the 2018 event in Sydney, Australia, finishing ninth overall and second among U.S. competitors. The U.S. won the Canadian event, but came in fourth in Australia, behind Brazil, Australia and Canada.

Each year, the host country is allowed 14 riders while visiting countries field teams of seven. The host team attempts to defend its piece of the Global Cup trophy and a vial of its home soil.

So far, the United States and Brazil are tied, each holding three pieces of the trophy. The United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia and Mexico each have teams competing for the cup.