2019 PRCA Media Guide - 2018 World Champions

Team Roping

Paul Eaves (heeler) battle in team roping Eaves said the steer was a big factor in the victory.

do. There’s no difference between here and when we go to Odessa (Texas). It’s just the same routine.” By Round 10, Smith and Eaves put together a team roping championship run. They stopped the clock in 4.4 seconds to clinch third in the average – 34.5 seconds on eight head. They each cashed in for $174,577 at the Finals. “It’s everything we’ve worked for,” Smith said. “We just stayed aggressive and tried to win some- thing on every one of them (the steers). We were catching them, getting good checks and that’s a big advantage.” The duo remained strong in the average and weathered the storm at the 2018 Wrangler NFR. – Amber Baillie

“The steer was really good, one of the better steers we’ve drawn,” said Eaves, 28. “Tonight, he was pretty straight, and it makes a difference to be fast. Everything came together.” During Round 6, they added $15,654 to their bank accounts, placing third in the round and building nearly $30,000 leads on their closest competitors. Despite the big payoffs at the Wrangler NFR, the duo tried not to treat the Finals different than other rodeos. “The same as we would at a regular rodeo,” Smith said. “We make sure the horses are warmed up and that’s really it, we just focus on what we need to

2018 WORLD CHAMPIONS

Smith and Eaves won their first team roping world titles after placing third in the average at the 2018 Wrangler NFR and finishing with a single- season record of $289,921.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by James Phifer

2019 PRCA MEDIA GUIDE

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