ProRodeo Sports News - October 30, 2020

HEART 0’ TEXAS RODEO WACO, TEXAS

Wade and Saebens open 2021 season with victory Two for the Road BY JOLEE JORDAN, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T here isn’t much that takes the sting out of narrowly missing the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, but quickly climbing atop the next year’s standings by claiming an early season win does help. Team ropers Tyler Wade and Billie Jack Saebens finished 18th and 19th in their respective events in the 2020 PRCA | RAMWorld Standings – just outside the Top 15. But the veterans with a combined five NFR berths shook off that disappointment to win the Heart O’ Texas Fair & Rodeo inWaco, Oct. 17 in a blistering 3.7 seconds. “We didn’t win quite as much as we wanted last year, so it was nice to get a good start,” Saebens said of the win worth $4,644 apiece. “It’s great, especially after the way the last season ended,” Wade agreed. “There’s not a person alive who’s not ready for the new year and hoping 2021 is better.” It was definitely better inWaco, whereWade and Saebens drew the same steerWade had roped, or tried to, the week before inHempstead, Texas. “He was a good steer, it was just a bad throw on my part,” Wade said. “So, I got a little redemption inWaco. We knew he was good, he stayed straight enough and Billie Jack heeled him really well.” ThoughWade is known for being fast in short setups like Waco, he said you can’t practice for or try to be three seconds in team roping.

ProRodeo Sports News 10/30/2020

ProRodeo.com

28