ProRodeo Sports News - 2021 Year End Edition

STEER WRESTLING WORLD CHAMPION

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

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Rod Connor

On Top of the World

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,” Waguespack said. “I’m glad I won the foot race nine out of the 10 times and came out of there as a winner.” After hitting the barrier in Round 2, Waguespack went on to place in the next eight rounds. That included splitting the win in Round 9 and winning Round 7 outright with a 3.3-second run, which was the fastest time of this year’s Wrangler NFR. “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.” He said anytime you face off against the Top 15 guys in the world on a

nightly basis it’ll bring out the best in you. It was a field that was as tough as he can remember during his seven trips to the NFR. “The camaraderie with all the guys here is incredible,” Waguespack. “When we first started off the week it was anybody’s game to win the gold buckle. “It’s a great week of great guys making great runs. I’d love to have the same guys come right on back next year. It would be fun to do it all over again.” It’s an honor the now three-time world champion will never take for granted because he knows how easily they can slip away. “These mean so much to me,” Waguespack said. “I had one of them slip out of my fingers just two years in the same building. In Round 9, I missed one of them stopping in front of me. Nothing makes you hungrier than being that close and having the rug pulled out from under you. So, I’m happy I was able to get that accomplished this year.”

Tyler Waguespack claims third PRCA World Title

BY TANNER BARTH T yler Waguespack has made plenty of high pressure runs throughout his 12-year ProRodeo career and never blinked. He added to his already impressive resume on Dec. 11 at the 2021Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge. He climbed back on top of the PRCA championship throne with a

4.2-second run in Round 10 to secure his third world title (2016, 2018, 2021). The Gonzales, La., cowboy wrapped up his 2021 campaign earning $289,791,

edging out NFR average winner Will Lummus by $41,029. “I felt like I had to work harder for this one (world championship) than any other one throughout my career,” saidWaguespack, 31. “My good buddy

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

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