ProRodeo Sports News - July 8, 2022

No spring run, no problem for Wade/Yates Rested & Ready WEST OF THE PECOS RODEO PECOS, TEXAS

BY PATRICK EVERSON, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he ProRodeo season is long and arduous, to say the least, especially for those who make it all the way to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Sure, it’s good fortune to do so – and potentially good money, too – but it can make for a pretty short offseason. Team ropers Tyler Wade and Trey Yates reached the 2021Wrangler NFR and did all right, netting about $67,500 apiece in the 10-day rodeo. Wade finished ninth in the header world standings, while Yates was 10th in the heeler world standings, both clearing $156,515. But bothWade and Yates needed a respite. As such, they’ve eased their way into the 2022 season. “We skipped the whole spring run,” Yates said. “Tyler and I were satisfied to take a little time off and go home. It was kind of nice to get a little breath of fresh air. Then we talked about it and decided to put our names down for a few rodeos during these couple of weeks around July 4.” The timing seemed to be just right. Competing in the June 22-25West of The Pecos Rodeo in Pecos, Texas, Wade and Yates teamed up for a couple of modest money-winning runs. The twosome took fifth in the first go at 6.7 seconds to win $597 apiece, then clocked 7.8 seconds for fourth in the second go, netting $929 each. But the combined time of 14.5 seconds rose to the top of the average, giving each roper another $2,886. Add it all up, and the duo earned about $4,400 apiece. “Pecos is kind of a unique setup,” Yates said. “The barrier is long; the boxes are long and it’s a big arena. You’ve got to draw good. We thought we’d win fourth or fifth in the average, but we had a little luck, and it worked out well.” AddedWade: “We were fortunate to draw two medium steers and capitalize.” That outcome was part of about a $10,000 week for Wade and Yates, who also earned a first-place check at Alamosa (Colo.), among other winnings. Not a bad way to kick the season back into gear. “We’ve only been to about 18 rodeos. We’re about 15 behind everybody else,” Wade said, noting that’s a good thing heading into these next couple of months, as he and Yates have a lot more rodeos they can run before hitting the limit of 75. “That’s gonna help make up ground, for sure.” Both are just outside the Top 15 in the world standings, withWade 16th among headers at $33,510 and Yates 17th among heelers at $32,092. That’s on the brink of NFR qualifying, despite the two running a limited schedule. Now they’re getting after it again, during the key stretch of good-money events surrounding July 4. “This is a crucial time to have a good time, being on top of things when there’s an opportunity to win a lot of money,” Wade said. “Hopefully we can capitalize on it.” But enjoying the process is part of the mindset, too. Yates said if he and his roping partner get too caught up in the pressure, then performance will suffer. “We want to win, and we’re serious about it. But this year, I’mmore about having a good time and enjoying it. It’s a business, but I’m gonna enjoy it,” Yates said. “Tyler and I have always roped good together. I think my relaxed state of mind is making it easier on the team. It’s only gonna make the rodeoing easier for us. “We know what we’re capable of. With the steers we draw, we’ve got to compete to the best of our abilities. The rest is out of our control. We got into a rhythm last week, and we just hope to keep the ball rolling.”

TOP SCORES

TOP MONEY WINNER Chet Weitz ($10,134, tie- down roping and team roping) BAREBACK RIDING

Weitz

1. Jess Pope................................ 89 pts. 2. Tilden Hooper............................. 88.5 3. Two tied at ..................................... 87 STEER WRESTLING 1. Bryton Edmundson......... 9.1 sec. on 2 2. Talon Roseland............................ 10.0 3. Two tied at .................................. 10.7 TEAM ROPING 1. T. Wade/T. Yates............ 14.5 sec. on 2 2. C. Smothers/B. Gonzales............. 14.7 3. A. Livingston/S. Smithson .......... 15.7 SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Tanner Butner....................... 87.5 pts. 2. Ryder Wright.............................. 86.5 3. Tegan Smith................................... 86 TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Chet Weitz. ................... 17.5 sec. on 2 2. Trevor Hale. ................................. 19.0 3. Shad Mayfield ............................ 19.4. STEER ROPING 1. Clay Long. ................... 47.9 sec. on 3 2. Vin Fisher Jr................................ 48.0 3. John E. Bland. ............................ 51.6 BULL RIDING 1. Jeff Askey............................. 90.5 pts. (Tie) Francisco Garcia................... 90.5 (Tie)Braden Richardson................ 90.5

Complete results/Page 67

Robby Freeman photo

After resting up in the spring, Wrangler National Finals Rodeo team ropers Tyler Wade/Trey Yates won the West of The Pecos (Texas) Rodeo and they each earned $4,400.

ProRodeo Sports News 7/8/2022

ProRodeo Sports News 7/8/2022

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