WSTR News
American Rodeo Contender Tournament Finals Globe Life Field. Arlington, TX
American Rodeo Contender Tournament Finals
Globe Life Field. Arlington, TX
March 9th, 2023
Gold Buckles and Brothers: The Contenders are set to rope in the American Rodeo
The Contender Tournament concluded with five-gold buckles, a pair of brothers, and a past American team roping champion advancing into the American Rodeo. The unique arena setup in the Globe Life Field, which happens to resemble home plate from a birds-eye view, had a northside CowTown feel in the team roping.
The setup was short and fast with the Priefert Chute right in the dead center of the pen and the boxes directly in front of and below the huge elevated "A" stage. The Contender field of players ranged from Highschool rodeo champions to past Timed Event winners. The ultimate goal is the Saturday performance of the American, where a possible $1.1 million bucks could be theirs, but the steer right in front of them still held a fifteen thousand dollar paycheck attached to it. This is where the mind comes in. "Do we rope to win or do we rope to advance?" It was very apparent that this exact question was on the minds of the contenders.
"I'm getting around a little better finally." Said World Champion, 2021 American Champion, and 2022 Timed Event Champion Erich Rogers who just got done competing at this year's Ironman at the Lazy E Arena. "I was pretty sore for a few days but Paul (Eaves) and I are ready for tonight."
The teams that made it this far in the tournament were a mix of sixth through twentieth in last year's PRCA standings plus qualifying teams the roped at the Ariat World Series of Team Roping American Rodeo Contender Tournament semi-finals qualifiers throughout the year. Erich and Paul won the Buckeye, AZ WSTR in November then placed 4th at the Western Regional Finals in Heber City, UT with a 4.83 and put together a run of 4.2 which earned them $6,250 and a shot at the American's $1M on Saturday night.
No surprise, Clay Smith and Jake long bested the field with a 3.96, cashing a check for $15,250. NFR All-Around man, Rhen Richard and the bearded World Champion Jeremy Buhler placed second with a 3.98 earning $10,250. Paul and Erich placed third while the Nebraska brothers, Cooper and Tucker White clocked in with a 4.23 for fourth and the last hole was won with a leg by Brenten Hall and past American Champion, Payden Bray with a 9.34.
The roping was riddled with surprises like past BFI Champions Chris Francis and Cade Passig exiting without stopping the clock. Jeff Hilton and Zane Bruce only had to be 9.33 or better to qualify for the million-dollar round and it seemed like a couple of extra swings changed the complexion of their run which ended up being too far down the pen plus a leg.
With this much money on the line, it is a roper's razor's edge to ride: Do we push or do we back off a little and make the layup? The problem is, sometimes the absolute hardest thing to do, even at the open level, is simply catch.
Now the top ten has been set for the American and the Ariat WSTR team ropers have a great chance at taking home the $1M American Contender bonus. The ten teams that will battle it out are sure to make for some great team roping action. You can follow the entire American rodeo on Teton Ridge+ app or by simply logging in to http://www.tetonplus.com
Header: Erich Rogers
