ProRodeo Sports News - July 24, 2020

participants breaking into two groups. “We had young kids who were just getting started in one group, and we would have a small (event) for them at the end of it with a lot of prizes from sponsors,” Waguespack said. “For the more advanced guys who were there we put them in another group and had an (event) for them, as well, where they could win prizes. We gave out awards for the clinic, as well.” Irwin was thrilled to pass on his knowledge to fellow steer wrestlers. “It was very satisfying to see the younger generation care and try as much as they did, that means a lot,” he said. “We’re going to pass this deal down to the next guys coming up. It was encouraging to see that kind of try and want to from these younger guys, especially for our event.” Waguespack learned the fundamentals of steer wrestling from his father, Mike, and attended TomCarney’s Steer Wrestling School in Bernice, La., as did Pearson. Irwin developed his passion for steer wrestling by attending a school in Foley, Ala., put on by his cousin Bo Campbell. “Tyler, Kyle and I talked about it beforehand and thought it would be a good deal to put on some schools and help out the younger guys and guys who were wanting to get better,” Waguespack said. “After the first one, we fell in love with it. We had a blast and started getting more stuff planned out for the next ones. Once rodeo slows down here after the summer, we are planning on getting a couple more of the schools done in some different locations. “We sure enjoyed helping everybody out, and every aspect of the school helped Tyler, Kyle and me. Going back to the fundamentals, I find we learn

from them just as much as they learn from us. Seeing things they do and having to help them with things we think will make them do better, then we overemphasize, so it helps us out a ton.” Pearson, Waguespack and Irwin would like to do more camps. “It just sharpens your fundamentals up so much when you put on these camps,” Irwin said. “We’re muscle memory. So, when you hear yourself saying to these kids the basics repeatedly, it helps me tremendously. Steer wrestling is the only event in rodeo that you can’t go slow other than on the dummies. (Tie-down) roping, team roping you can rope slow steers and you can bulldog slower steers, but you never, ever, ever want your horse to go slow.” Irwin believes he, Waguespack and Pearson all have different skill sets which allow campers to get a more well-rounded understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level. “If you can help just one kid who gives you his all and bites on it and you see progress, it makes it all worth it,” Irwin said. “I have a simple deal I tell each student, left horn, right horn, watch your feet. I tell them all, the watch your feet part I picked up from Luke Branquinho and Bill Pace. My cousin Bo taught me that left horn is the most crucial part of the run, catching that left horn. And Stockton Graves taught me about the right horn and the power you can have with your right arm. “I would simplify it for those kids. I had them slow things down when they were working on the dummy. Then when it was going fast, they know left horn, right horn, feet. You put it all in together.”

ProRodeo Sports News 7/24/2020

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