2022 PRCA Media Guide

Steer Wrestling

Waguespack Earns Third Title in Seventh Straight Appearance

When the lights shine bright in the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas, steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack performs his best. In his seventh straight Wrangler Nationals Final Rodeo appear ance, Waguespack reached the pinnacle of rodeo once again in December, claiming his third PRCA World Championship. It was no easy task for the Gonzales, La., native. “I felt like I had to work harder for this one (world championship) more than any other one throughout my career,” said Waguespack. “My good buddy Will Lummus kept the pressure on me the entire week. When it comes down to it, it’s a marathon that you have to sprint 10 times in a row. I’mglad I won the foot race nine out of the 10 times and came out of there as a winner.” Waguespack started fast in Round 1 with a 4.2-second run, earning third place. The following night the steer wrestler hit the barrier, setting him back with a time of 13.1 seconds. Waguespack refused to flinch. The cowboy finished his 2021 NFR reaching the pay window each of the final eight nights, including two go-round victories. His most notable go-round victory came in Round 7 with a 3.3-second run, the fastest time of the 2021 Finals. “I felt like I came out of nowhere after having that broken barrier (in Round 2 with a 13.1-second run),”Waguespack said. “I just had to keep my foot

on the gas and had to keep winning every single round. At no point in the 10 rounds did I safety up. It was full steam ahead all the way.” The intense competition on a nightly basis created a unique bond among the top cowboys. For Waguespack, it brought out the best in all of them. “The camaraderie with all the guys here is incredible,”Waguespack said. “Whenwe first started off the week it was anybody’s game to win the gold buckle. It was a great week of great guys making great runs.” Waguespack finished the NFRwith 48.1 seconds on 10 head, enough for a second-place finish in the average. Over the 10 nights, Waguespack took home $213,348, breaking the record for most earn ings by a steer wrestler at the NFR. He edged out his previous mark set in 2016, where the 31-year-old earned $213,218. The Louisiana native finished atop the 2021 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $289,791. Even as a three-time world champion,Waguespack never takes earning a gold buckle for granted. “Thesemean somuch tome,”Waguespack said. “I had one of them slip out of my fingers just two years ago in the same building. …Nothingmakes you hungrier than being that close and having the rug pulled out fromunder you. So, I’mhappy I was able to get that accomplished this year.” – Dagin Renck After breaking the barrier in Round 2, Tyler

Waguespack went onto to place in the next eight rounds, which included wins in Rounds 7 and 9.

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Phillip Kitts

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2021 WORLD CHAMPIONS