2023 PRCA Media Guide - All Chapters

STEER WRESTLING Tyler Waguespack Snares Fourth World Crown in Dramatic Round 10

Part of the charm of rodeo is that it is unpredict able. No guarantee of Scooby-Doo or Hallmark endings exists. So even when you are one of the sport’s best, the ride to victory is paved in stops and bumps. Tyler Waguespack lived the seat-belt required experience at the NFR over 10 nights, escaping with his second straight PRCA Steer Wrestling World Championship. “I feel undeserving of this world title. That was the craziest round of steer wrestling I have ever seen,”said Waguespack.“Will should be sitting here instead of me. I was the lucky one who came out on top at the end.” Waguespack knows the numbers, and they were working against him entering the final round. First, he had to do his part. He posted a 4.0 second run. Will Lummus followed, and hit the barrier. Stetson Jorgensen missed his steer. Suddenly, unthinkably, Waguespack had his fourth gold buckle, joining titles in 2016, 2018 and 2021. It left him grateful and reflective. “This is so awesome. I grew up watching all my heroes and dreaming about having one gold buckle, you know. Ote Berry is one of my biggest role models, biggest supporters and helped me

out so much,” the 32-year-old said. “I can’t wait to see him here in a little while because I have got the same amount he does.” Waguespack’s fourth steer wrestling world title ties him with Berry, Everett Bowman and Jim Bynum, trailing only Luke Branquinho (5) and Homer Pettigrew (6). Waguespack finished the year with $268,881in earnings – he won the crown by less than $3,000 – including $145,008 at the NFR. For Waguespack, rodeo is family. His wife, Sarah Rose McDonald, competes on the circuit and his father Michael was a steer wrestler in the 1990s. This is his life, one he loves. What played out in Las Vegas was a reminder to take nothing for granted. “I had a really great steer drawn tonight and made a good run to place in the round to get a nice check. Then when all that stuff fell apart (for other competitors), it all fell into place, ”Waguespack said. “I hate it for them, but I am blessed to come out on top. In this sport there are no guarantees. Nobody would have thought that round of steer wrestling would go like that. That’s why we call it rodeo. If not, we’d just call it ‘I win’ every time.” – Brady Renck

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Hailey Rae

Tyler Waguespack made a frantic comeback to win his fourth world championship.

26

2023 WORLD CHAMPIONS