WSTR News

Ariat WSTR American Rodeo Contender Tourn. Semi-Finals & Wild Card Round

Ariat World Series of Team Roping American Rodeo Contender Tournament

Semi-Finals and Wild Card Round Qualified Ropers will advance to Regional Finals Dates and Locations Announced

Oct 11,2022

Albuquerque, NM- The Ariat World Series of Team Roping and the American Rodeo partnered in 2022 to bring open ropers a brand-new path to the multi-million dollar payout at the 2023 American Rodeo. WSTR open team ropers have had the opportunity to compete at four venues thus far with three more chances to qualify for the newly formed Contender Tournament Regional Finals.

A total of six co-sanctioned semi-final open ropings, each with $10,000 added in the American Qualifier divisions have been strategically placed throughout the United States in order to give open ropers in multiple regions of the country an opportunity to qualify and potentially advance to the 2023 American Rodeo. The six ropings were placed in three regions: west, central, and east. From each of these six "semi-finals regional qualifiers," the top two placing teams advance on to those territories' "Regional Finals."

As of today, there have been four semi-final qualifiers: Cheyenne, WY (West), Tunica, MS (East), Cleveland, TN (East), and Abilene, TX (Central), visit WSTRoping.com for complete results. The final two qualifiers are in San Antonio, TX (Central) and Buckeye, AZ (West). The top two teams from each of these ropings will advance to their corresponding American Rodeo Contender Tournament Regional Finals, each of which boasts $40,000 added in the team roping.

This year's Ariat WSTR Finale in Las Vegas will also be a qualifying opportunity for ropers during the American Rodeo Open Finale "Wild Card Roping" which has $50,000 added. From this event, an additional nine teams will qualify for the American Rodeo Regional Finals. Based on how the teams place at the Finale, the top nine teams will choose their Regional Finals (three teams for each region).

American Rodeo Contender Tournament Regional Finals Dates/Locations:

-       West Contender Tournament Semi-Finals & Finals

-       Heber City, Utah

-       Wasatch Events Center

-       February 16-18 (Thursday-Saturday)

-       Central Contender Tournament Semi-Finals & Finals

-       Tulsa, Oklahoma

-       Tulsa Fairgrounds

-       February 3-5 (Friday-Sunday)

-       East Contender Tournament Semi-Finals & Finals

-       Lexington, KY

-       Lexington Horse Park All Tech Arena

-       February 8-10 (Wednesday-Friday)

 Each Regional Finals team roping competition will consist of the following mix of competitors:

-       4 teams from WSTR Semifinals qualifiers

-       3 teams from the Ariat WSTR American Open "Wild Card" Finale in Las Vegas

-       5 teams from the PRCA 2022 World Standing (6th-20th)

From each of the American Rodeo Regional Finals, four teams will advance to the Contender Finals held March 8th. This event will have an additional $80,000 added to the team roping and from this rodeo, the top five contender teams will advance to the 2023 American. The American will consist of the top five teams in the world from the 2022 PRCA season plus the five contender teams. For more information visit AmericanRodeo.com.