ProRodeo Sports News - December 16, 2022

STEER WRESTLING WORLD CHAMPION

Steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack clocked a 4.0-second run in Round 10 to split fourth, which set in motion him winning his fourth world championship. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Hailey Rae

PRCA ProRodeo photo by Click Thompson

Improbable Title

Entering Round 10, the Louisiana native’s chances remained slim. Waguespack needed some Las Vegas magic to hit the jackpot. It involved a pair of steer wrestlers in front of Waguespack in the NFR average standings, Stetson Jorgensen andWill Lummus. The four-time world champion went first, notching a 4.0-second run. It was solid, but he still needed some pieces to fall into place. Lummus followed by breaking the barrier, yielding a 14.60-second run. It would force him to slip in the average and create an opening for Jorgensen. Jorgensen, the RAM | World Standings leader entering the week, made a rare mistake and missed his steer. For Waguespack, the improbable became possible. The cowboy couldn’t help but think of mentor Ote Berry. “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 and 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 places him in a tie with Berry, Everett Bowman, and Jim Bynum, trailing only Luke Branquinho (5) and Homer Pettigrew (6). The steer wrestler finished the year earning $268,881, edging out Lummus by less than $3,000. While at the NFR, he collected $145,008. For Waguespack, it’s a blessing and a reminder that nothing is guaranteed. “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.”

Miscues by others lead Waguespack to crown

BY DAGIN RENCK Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he NFR is a roller coaster ride that requires Dramamine. Over 10 nights, the highs become unforgettable while the lows remain unforgiving. Steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack knows all too well, an NFR contestant for the eighth-straight season. But, even he was surprised by the unpredictable nature of ProRodeo. After a dramatic Round 10 finale,

Waguespack slid into the top spot, earning him the PRCA Steer Wrestling World Championship for the second-straight year.

It left him in disbelief. “I feel undeserving of this world title. That was the craziest round of steer wrestling I have ever seen,” saidWaguespack. “…Will should be sitting here instead of me. I was the lucky one who came out on top at the end. That was one of the craziest rounds I have ever watched.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/16/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 12/16/2022

ProRodeo.com

ProRodeo.com

32

33