2019 PRCA Media Guide - 2018 World Champions

Steer Wrestling Tyler Waguespack Waguespack clinches second world title

Tyler Waguespack is once again the king of PRCA’s steer wrestlers. The Gonzales, La., cowboy won his second world championship in the last three years with a memorable run Dec. 15 at the 2018 Wrangler National Finals. Waguespack won the gold buckle by earning $260,013 ($180,429 of that at the Wrangler NFR), the most of any steer wrestler. Waguespack won the average and world championship, just like he did in 2016. “This feels just like the first one, and this one feels incredible,”he said.“We worked hard all year long and it paid off in the end.” Waguespack arrived in Las Vegas ranked 10th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $79,584, but he rocketed to the top by placing in six rounds and winning Rounds 1 and 8. “This takes hours and hours of practice, great horsepower and great traveling partners,”he said. Heading into Round 10, Waguespack was leading the world standings by $4,389 over regular-season leader Curtis Cassidy. The X-factor for Waguespack was that he was leading the

average, while Cassidy was tied for 11th and out of the average money. By Round 10, all Waguespack needed to do to secure the world title was catch his steer. That way, he would finish at least third in the average and earn at minimum $43,154. “I knew after the ninth round if I could go in and win the average, the world title would take care of itself,”he said.“I was just making sure to go out there, make a good solid run in the last round and get the job done.” And that’s what he did. Waguespack’s 5.1-second run didn’t place in Round 10, but it clinched the average crown and powered him to the world championship by $43,251. Waguespack said he has come a longway since joining the PRCA in 2012, making his Wrangler NFR debut in 2015 and finishing 11th in the world standings. “I’ve grown a ton since I was first here at the Thomas & Mack Center,” said the 6-foot-1, 190-pound world champion. “I just have more confidence in this building, and that helped me out a bunch.Your nerves are still going everywhere but experience gives you the upper hand.” Waguespack was also

quick to credit the horse he competed on named Scooter, the two-time PRCA | AQHA Horse of theYear for steer wrestling. The horse is owned by his traveling partners Tyler Pearson (the 2017 PRCA Steer Wrestling World Champion) and Kyle Irwin, a four-time Wrangler NFR qualifier. Waguespack also travels withTy Erickson, who is a five-time consecutive NFR qualifier. “Horsepower is a blessing in this event,” Waguespack said. “The better horse, the better you can perform. My traveling partners also helpme a ton. We feed off one another.” – Tracy Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

Waguespack entered the Finals ranked 10th in the world standings, but rocketed to the top by placing in six rounds and winning two.

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2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS