ProRodeo Sports News | 2020 Year-End Edition | Dec.18, 2020

TEAM ROPING AVERAGE WINNERS

Team ropers Erich Rogers and Paden Bray won the 2020 Wrangler NFR average as the only pair to catch in all 10 rounds. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Alaina Stangle

Catching ’Em All

Rogers, Bray go 10-for-10

BY MATT NABER O n his 10th trip to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, 2017World Champion Team Roping Header Erich Rogers won his first NFR average. On the other end of the line, the 2020Wrangler NFR was heeler Paden Bray’s first Finals. Together, they won the first go-round en route to claiming the average as the only team ropers to catch all 10 head. “I don’t know how many guys told me it took them 60 rounds to win one, so to do it and right out of the gates, that was just crazy,” Bray said. “And to get the average at my first NFR means the world to me since the average speaks about your longevity on catching two feet, and that’s what I pride myself on, being a consistent heeler.” The duo’s network of support came full circle. Rogers competed on a horse called Sandy that’s owned by Bray’s dad. Meanwhile, Bray changed horses more often than most cowboys changed boots. In Rounds 1 and 5-10 he rode Slider (12 years old), Round 2 was Hot Rod (7) and Rounds 3 and 4 were aboard Hugh Heffner (17). Despite the horse swaps, the outcome remained the same, as they finished with 80.2 seconds on 10 head. “When we first started, I told my partner I wanted to win the average and I don’t know what the setup will be like but it’s a bit further out there, so we’ll go catch and try to be 4.5 (seconds) or 4.8, and if we can do that and catch 10 we will have an average buckle,” Rogers said.

Their plan kept them in the money for five of the 10

rounds.

“There were a lot of scenarios and everyone was breaking it down, but my big goal was to catch 10 in a row to give ourselves an average buckle and a chance for a go-

round win,” Rogers said. With so much money on the line for winning a go-round and even more paid out in the average, Round 10 was the deciding factor for who would strike gold. “I was pretty nervous for the last one, that last steer was like a $73,000 steer,” Bray said. “I don’t know how you can not be nervous about it.” Round 10 had more money on the line than Bray’s entire 2019 season earnings, when he finished 17th in the world with $67,014. “Winning the NFR in Texas is unique in its own way, and I hope it comes back there next year,” Rogers said. “It opens the doors for 40,000 fans, and that would be awesome.” Rogers won his first world title in 2017 and said winning the NFR average feels just as good. “We weren’t but $12,000 away from winning a world champion buckle, too,” Rogers said. “It was cool, to be honest, and darn sure a big win, and a buckle everyone wants is a gold buckle and average buckle.” The duo will carry momentum into the 2021 season. “I’m not going to sleep on this or hold it on a pedestal,” Bray said. “The nice thing about rodeo and the not-so-nice thing is the next day nobody cares what you did. You have to prove yourself to be the best every day.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/18/2020

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