ProRodeo Sports News - Feb. 7, 2020

QUALIFYING The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo will have rodeo- qualifying events, which will be held at the Expo Hall and will take place Feb. 12 for steer wrestlers, Feb. 13 for tie-down ropers and Feb. 16 for team ropers. The top 10 from these events will head to the Rodeo Wildcard on Feb. 21 with an opportunity to make it to the PRCA Rodeo Finals in San Antonio.

“San Antonio is one of those rodeos you put on your bucket list,” Hanchey said. “It’s right there with Houston, Cheyenne and Pendleton. It is such a prestigious rodeo. You know when someone is wearing a San Antonio buckle because you can spot it from a mile away. I’m anxious to go defend my title, and every year it seems like it gets bigger and bigger.” Steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack, who also won San Antonio last year, agreed with Hanchey. “San Antonio is probably my favorite rodeo out of all of them to go to because you get multiple opportunities to win money and the committee and hospitality take care of you tremendously,” Waguespack said. “It is one of the

open it up to even more people. Anything that gives guys opportunities to compete I’m for.” Lauren N. Sides, communications and public relations manager for the San Antonio rodeo, believes adding the wild-card performance is a plus. “The new wild card provides a fan-friendly format for patrons and allows us an opportunity to outreach to local rodeo athletes, who previously may not have had the opportunity to compete at our rodeo under our current bracket system,” Sides said. The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo has become one of the largest and most prestigious single events in the city, with more than 1.9 million visitors entering the grounds each year. “Patrons attending the San

rodeos throughout the year that I try and get my parents and family to come and watch because of the great performance they put on there.” The rodeo qualifiers, which will be held at the Expo Hall, will take place Feb. 12 for steer wrestling, Feb. 13 for tie-down roping and Feb. 16 for team roping. The top 10 from those qualifiers will head to the RodeoWildcard, Feb. 21 with an opportunity to make it to the San Antonio finals. “I’m a fan that they are introducing a qualifier at a rodeo as big as San Antonio is,” Hanchey said. Waguespack likes the idea of more contestants in San Antonio. “I wish they would open it up to even more people,” Waguespack said. “I know San Antonio is a prestige deal and they have certain qualifications to get you in, but I think it is such a great rodeo that it would be outstanding if they could

Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo this year can expect big changes,” Sides said. “We have an entire new layout for the fairgrounds, great, high-energy shows and attractions. In addition, we have new elements inside the AT&T Center for the rodeo like bands performing on a new stage and a variety of specialty performances.” The success of the organization is attributed to more than 6,000 volunteers who give countless hours to the organization. With community, donor and volunteer support, the organization has donated more than $210 million to the youth of Texas through scholarships, grants, endowments, auctions, a calf scramble program and show premiums. For more information, visit sarodeo.com.

Greg Westfall photo Bull rider Sage Kimzey, the reigning six-time PRCA world champion, smiles while making a victory lap in San Antonio in 2019. Kimzey has won the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo three times – 2014-16.

ProRodeo Sports News 2/7/2020

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