2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping

By Melinda Clements
Special To Ropers Sports News

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. – The moment the coliseum began to fill with people you could feel the electricity. Fans had come from all over to watch and be a part of the action. There is just something about the pros of any professional sport that draws an intense and devoted crowd. This roping was the best doing what we love most of all and that is roping.

As the building filled there was a hum and intense conversation and speculation as to who would be the Priefert U.S. Open Champions at the 2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. The U.S. Roping is always a big deal at the Finals. One of at least four of the biggest ropings of the year for Open Ropers, it is an attention getter. With $252,000 in total payout, the event was a draw for the best in the team roping business.

Every team would have a shot at four steers and the top 20 would qualify for a fifth. Ideally, winning the average was the goal but each go round wasn’t something to scoff at. First place in the average would pay $81,840 plus Martin Championship Trophy Saddles, Gist Championship Gold Buckles, Tony Lama ostrich skin boots and Western Horseman collector’s prints.

You don’t get a lot of chances to be a champion but the Priefert Open certainly provides an excellent opportunity for champions to be champions. Twenty teams came back in the short go round of the Open Roping. It was certainly a group of contenders. Some 73 teams had spent a delightful Sunday afternoon vying for an attempt to be the best at the Cinch USTRC NFTR.

The roping has had a lot of labels. It had been called a jumping off point for the National Finals Rodeo held in December. It had also been labeled a “reunion” roping because so many of the contenders have grown up participating and reaping the rewards in years’ past. Regardless, how or what you labeled it the 2014 Priefert US Open was an attention getter and the conglomeration building in the coliseum was the perfect indicator.

As the short go kicked off it first seemed like nerves were an issue. Several teams went out when they failed to make qualified runs. A restlessness settled over the coliseum as spectators wondered if something was vexed. What was brewing that no one could put a finger on.

When the fifth call back team of Trevor Brazile and Travis Graves posted a time of 5.87 on their short go round steer all attention was on the arena floor with four teams left to go. It was tight packed and competitive. It was still almost anyone’s game.

“This roping is a great showcase for all of us, the USTRC included,” Clay Tryan commented. “It is just a good roping to put on your calendar.”

Tryan and partner, Jade Corkill were the high team back in the short go round. They were focused and disciplined in what they needed to do. Jade is the best heeler and our nerves were good. The steers were good and when you’ve come this far you don’t take a chance and change things at the end. You keep aggressive and rope the same.”

As Tryan and Corkill rode into the box it was business at hand, another day at the office, so to speak. The pair needed a 6.25 to win the average. When the dirt cleared 5.65 lit up the clock. The crowd was ecstatic. The roping had held up its part of the bargain and given fans and spectators a good show.

“This is always a good roping,” Corkill commented. “These were big strong steers and I wanted us to be far enough down the arena and I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. I didn’t want to rope stupid on the last steer. There was no point in taking chances. We had done well and I didn’t want to blow it on one last steer.”

“It is amazing the time and hours you spend with your team roping partner,” Tryan said. “We rope together a lot. We rope the same whether it is a jackpot or a rodeo. Jade and I have spent a lot of time growing up in the USTRC and it means a lot to win this on the 25th Anniversary of the event. That makes it special.”

The Priefert US Open Championships is in the history books. It is always a special kind of high when you can see and be a part of the elite group labeled “Pro” or “Open” ropers. They more or less set the stage for how we gauge and define ourselves as ropers. Somewhere in the midst we all realize at some point we share the victories, struggle with the same defeats and work toward the same goals. The Open Roping is always a good motivator, an eye opener and a teacher of sorts. We find we rope for all the same reasons; for the glory, for the notoriety, for the challenge and with same goals and objectives.

Whether you are an open roper or a beginner team roping gives us all the same feeling. It is what we love and work for. It is what we hope to be successful at and it is what keeps us coming back.

As always, the Priefert U.S. Open was a great success at the 2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. No doubt we don’t always get a lot of chances to be champions but the Open Roping is the promise we all have a shot at being successful and that we all rope for the same reasons.

The USTRC Cinch National Finals were held Oct. 25-Nov. 2 in Oklahoma City. Results are as follows (payoffs are per team):

OPEN PRELIMINARY

Average: 1. Trevor Brazile and Travis Graves, 32.75, $20,100. 2. Clay Tryan and Jake Long, 32.97, $13,400. 3. Manny Cunde Egusquiza and Jonathan Torres, 33.64, $10,400. 4. Chad Master and Travis Graves, 33.83, $7,300. 5. Kaleb Driggers and Kollin VonAhn, 34.18, $5,500. 6. Bubba Buckaloo and Jett Hillman, 36.14, $4,200.

Incentive Average: 1. Brody Braden and Justin Johnson, 26.86, $1,800. 2. Stratton Lopez and Ben Gambrell, 31.56, $1,200. 3. Pace Freed and Jordan Olson, 32.72, $900.

PRIEFERT US OPEN

Average: 1. Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill, 32.39, $81,840. 2. Kaleb Driggers and Patrick Smith, 33.0, $54,560. 3. Trevor Brazile and Travis Graves, 33.37, $42,160. 4. Paul Tierney and Levi Tyan, 33.6, $29,760. 5. Clay Smith and Jake Smith, 34.76, $22,320. 6. Luke Brown and Kollin VonAhn, 35.11, $17,360.

#15 preliminary

Average: 1. Cody Wheeler and Clay Smith, 29.36, $17,800. 2. Jeremy Mascorro and Nano Garza, 29.62, $11,200. 3. Reno Stoebner and John Philipp, 29.74, $7,700. 4. Steve Orth and Garrison Nippert, 29.9, $6,500. 5. Adam Rose and Jace Harris, 30.67, $5,300. 6. Chance Savage and Brady Norman, 30.68, $4,700. 7. Brad Lund and J.D. Holland, 31.38, $3,600. 8. Tyson Campidilli and Sawyer Narham, 31.42, $2,500. 9. Brad Foster and Brye Crites, 31.66, $1,200. 10. Cory Clark and Wesley Johnson, 33.92, $1,200.

Incentive Average: 1. Tyler Wojciechowski and Colton Lee, 22.98, $2,400. 2. Derrick Jantzen and Andrew Hill, 23.01, $1,800. 3. Kyle Letzelter and Ryan Cook, 24.21, $1,200. 4. Chase Chambers and Coleby Payne, 24.63, $900. 5. Brett Stuart and Ross Ashford, 26.18, $600.

#15 shoot-out

Average: 1. Cory Clark and Clay Sieber, 36.34, $83,700. 2. Frank Graves and Chase Graves, 37.32, $46,00. 3. Monty Wood and Randal Eggemeyer, 37.44, $36,900. 4. Derrick Jantzen and Tripp Johnson, 37.6, $27,700. 5. Chase Chambers and Lane Siggins, 38.33, $24,600. 6. Ryan VonAhn and Kraig VonAhn, 38.83, $21,500. 7. Bobby Mote and Reno Eddy, 39.26, $18,400. 8. Cole Sherwood and Matt Sherwood, 39.56, $18,400. 9. Bobby Joe Hill and Andrew Hill, 39.64, $12,300. 10. Pace Freed and Jordan Olson, 40.07, $12,300.

#15 preliminary

Average: 1. Jorge Jauregui Marrufo and Romeo Moreno, 29.55, $21,600. 2. Garett Chick and Colton Lee, 31.67, $13,700. 3. Donny Crisler and Kyle Stamps, 31.95, $9,400. 4. Cole Surls and Clay Sieber, 32.16, $7,900. 5. Jared Newman and Chance Manning, 32.64, $6,500. 6. Kody Tredway and Kaleb Tredway, 32.92, $5,800. 7. Colby Bunch and Dane Reed, 33.59, $4,300. 8. Peyton Holliday and Colton Melby, 36.11, $2,900. 9. Kyle Elwood and Marcus Theriot, 38.53, $1,200. 10. James Winders and Ryan Cook, 38.58, $1,200.

Incentive Average: 1. Jorge Jauregui Marrufo and Romeo Moreno, 21.83, $2,400. 2. Kody Tredway and Kaleb Tredway, 25.48, $1,800. 3. Kort Albertson and Andrew Hill, 26.02, $1,200. 4. Tyler McGuffee and Kirby Blankenship, 28.93, $900. 5. Joel Nunneley and Roy Cox, 29.21, $600.

#13 Shoot-out

Average: 1. Dylan Cosper and Paden Bray, 40.11, $93,600. 2. Marty Linder and Colton Lee, 40.28, $52,200. 3. Briar Teague and Nick Rowland, 41.05, $41,800. 4. Jayme Marcrum and Colt Baldwin, 41.83, $31,300. 5. Ashley Ann Hargrove and Spencer Mitchell, 42.01, $27,800. 6. Garett Chick and Derrick Elliott, 42.36, $24,400. 7. Mandy King and Dustin Hodge, 43.06, $20,900. 8. Lane Roberts and James Tettenhorst, 43.09, $17,400. 9. Courtney Small and Blair Small, 43.6, $13,900. 10. Wyatt Inderman and McCoy Profili, 43.66, $13,900.

#12 preliminary

Average: 1. Taylor Lagasse and Chase Graves, 31.37, $20,600. 2. Evan Archino and Weston Podzemny, 31.74, $12,900. 3. Chance Thiessen and Bradley Johnson, 31.85, $10,300. 4. Tyler Thompson and Joe Rion, 32.47, $8,600. 5. Bryce Winterton and Mason Allen, 32.54, $7,700. 6. Ryan Haynie and Blayne Klenk, 32.86, $6,900. 7. Travis Hogner and Blair Small, 32.88, $6,000. 8. Riley Smith and Randy Knight, 32.91, $5,100. 9. Cuyler Winters and McCray Profili, 32.98, $4,200. 10. Jacob Hickman and Bradley Johnson, 33.06, $3,400.

#12 shoot-out

Average: 1. Travis Hogner and Blair Small, 29.77, $105,000. 2. Ryan Pollard and Derrick Elliott, 30.45, $59,400. 3. Garett Chick and Tanner Tomlinsin, 31.26, $47,500. 4. Richard Chaves and Jase Holder, 32.16, $35,600. 5. Kurtis Lee and Todd Delano, 32.38, $31,700. 6. Whit Kitchens and Colton Lee, 32.4, $27,700. 7. Philip Schuman and Jared Hollaway, 32.74, $23,800. 8. Clay Corzine and Pake Younger, 32.87, $19,800. 9. Steve Tomlinson and Kaine Warnken, 33.46, $15,800. 10. Connor Hill and Coleby Payne, 33.55, $15,800.

#12 gold plus shoot-out

Average: 1. Barrie Smith and George McQuain, 31.57, $57,800. 2. Donnie Leflett and Corey Sparks, 31.86, $36,100. 3. Chuck Garcia and Jaime Macias, 32.53, $28,900. 4. J.J. Hatcher and Larry Harris, 33.08, $24,100. 5. Ty Thompson and Justin Smith, 33.21, $21,700. 6. David Rowley and Ben Scott, 33.42, $19,300. 7. Justin Pender and Herbert Theriot, 33.44, $16,900. 8. Kenny Drake and Butch Whitten, 33.47, $13,250. 9. Greg Cline and J.T. Schalla, 33.47, $13,250. 10. Andy Mahard and Seth Jordan, 33.5, $9,600.

CRUEL GIRL CHAMPION ROPING

Average: 1. JaLynn Harmon and Amanda Jones, 35.13, $18,500. 2. Ashley Goforth and Summer Elrod, 35.38, $11,700. 3. Kayelen Helton and Whitney DeSalvo, 37.81, $8,000. 4. Barrie Smith and Jackie Crawford, 37.9, $6,800. 5. Nikkie Gosney and Paulette OHotto, 40.15, $5,500. 6. Kelsie Chace and Jackie Crawford, 40.18, $5,000. 7. Jody York and Jimmi Jo Montera, 44.05, $3,700. 8. Kaitlin Gustave and Annette Stahl, 45.11, $2,500.

Incentive Average: 1. Ja-Lynn Harmon and Amanda Jones, 25.47, $1,800. 2. Ashley Goforth and Summer Elrod, 26.38, $1,500. 3. Nikkie Gosney and Paulette OHotto, 32.09, $1,200.

#12 US Invitational

Average: 1. Steve Taylor and James Tettenhorst, 35.04, $71,200. 2. Bobby Felkins and Paul Freed, 35.22, $45,100. 3. Sabrina Kreutzer and Pake Younger, 35.75, $30,900. 4. E.J. Williams and Micah Lynch, 35.77, $26,100. 5. Jody York and TeeCee Willis, 36.6, $21,400. 6. Ty Thompson and Justin Smith, 37.15, $19,000. 7. Sam Stephens and Rene Carrasco, 38.64, $14,200. 8. Andrew Sharp and Jared Standridge, 39.01, $9,500.

#10 Gold Plus shoot-out

Average: 1. Jared Graves and Jessie Favors, 37.73, $67,300. 2. Ben Clements and Bill Cornia, 38.14, $42,100. 3. Roy Gene Evans and Lloyd South, 39.06, $33,700. 4. Dave Wingo and Bobby Payne, 39.38, $28,000. 5. Rick Hammerston and Brian Koedam, 40.3, $25,200. 6. Robert Higgins and Josh Jay, 40.72, $22,400. 7. Teri Stamper and Jody Stamper, 41.74, $19,600. 8. Robert Ward and Robbie Sharp, 42.18, $16,800. 9. Chuck Thompson and Lonnie Wright, 42.53, $14,000. 10. Dave Wingo and Lorie Patterson, 42.56, $11,200.

Century

Average: 1. Todd Watkins and Micah Lynch, 34.14, $27,900. 2. Keith Mahanay and Joe Matile, 34.72, $17,500. 3. Jim Nunneley and David Vaught, 35.16, $14,000. 4. Joe Gallegos and Wayne Baize, 35.78, $11,600. 5. Scott Guillory and Jerry Broussard, 35.89, $10,500. 6. Sanford King and Ed Allen, 35.95, $9,300. 7. Harlan Mott and Gene Bray, 36.35, $9,300. 8. Ab Hendley and Butch Whitten, 36.65, $7,000. 9. Darrell Cripps and Glenn Davis, 37.72, $5,800. 10. Boots Cowin and Jerry Skaggs, 38.78, $4,700.

Average Incentive: 1. Eddie Joe Pearson and Randy Koehn, 27.78, $1,800. 2. Kevin Blackwell, 29.01, $1,500. 3. Harold Dishman and Jahew Thorp, 29.86, $1,200.

#10 US Invitational

Average: 1. Lori Thone and Andrew Kelley, 31.84, $53,100. 2. Randy Gaydos and Chuck Garcia, 34.08, $33,600. 3. Jack Foster and Chris Pomeroy, 35.77, $23,000. 4. Coby Littlesoldier and Jeff Martinez, 39.51, $19,500. 5. Deb Raulerson and Scott Seiler, 46.72, $15,900. 6. Barbara Franzen and Justin McBride, 48.64, $14,200. 7. Kyle Dailey and Philip Charltob, 10,600. 8. Mary Bunker and Clay Keller, 53.28, $7,100.

#11 preliminary

Average: 1. Pake Cox and James Tettenhorst, 30.56, $22,500. 2. Bobbie Walker and Thomas Sinclair, 30.69, $14,100. 3. Matt Friedel and Kaine Warnken, 30.94, $11,300. 4. Shawn Barnett and Trey Alcorn, 31.22, $9,400. 5. Cody McCartney and Clint Cooper, 31.41, $8,400. 6. Connor Hill and Brendan Hopkins, 31.72, $7,500. 7. Quinton Johnston and Johanthan Hamby, 32.42, $6,500. 8. Shawn Luman and Kolton White, 32.55, $5,600. 9. Ashley Ann Hargrove and Oran Miller, 33.83, $4,700. 10. Danielle Wray and Mark Wray, 34.24, $3,800.

Incentive Average: 1. Robbie Walker and Thomas Sinclair, 22.96, $2,400. 2. John English and Sterlin English, 23.65, $1,800. 3. Cassie Christensen and Jake Edwards, 25.43, $1,200. 4. Logan Lucy and Dalton Carver, 25.82, $900. 5. Charles Quinn and Matt Fowler, 27.31, $600.

#11 shoot-out

Average: 1. Cesar Melendez and Cody Falcon, 28.29, $113,600. 2. Colton Blair Tate and Jessie Tate, 30.59, $64,800. 3. Bryce Winterton and Coy Brittain, 30.86, $51,800. 4. J.R. Wood and Loui Molina, 31.37, $38,800. 5/6. Cord Kohleffel and Tanner Tomilson, 32.4, $32,350. Emilio Vega and Gerald Watson, 32.4, $32,500. 7. Beau Hebert and Mason Pitts, 32.43, $25,900. 8. Britt Smith and Darin Kirkes, 32.74, $21,600. 9/10. Larry Phillips and Burton James, 32.92, $17,300. Chance Oftedahl and Lucas Falconer, 32.95, $17,300.

#10 preliminary

Average: 1. Cody NesSmith and Mason Pitts, 30.06, $26,300. 2. Pake Cox and Blake Wheeler, 30.25, $16,400. 3. Britt Smith and Dylan Jay Payne, 32.57, $13,100. 4. Slade Townsend and Blake Bentley, 33.59, $11,000. 5. Jimmy Huffaker and Kelby Huffaker, 33.63, $9,900. 6. Gordon Coble and Jeremy McIntyre, 34.39, $8,800. 7. Tyler Ray and Brodie Williams, 34.71, $7,700. 8. R.D. Carter and Duncan Nash, 34.91, $6,500. 9. Wyatt Dalton Bray and Blake Wheeler, 35.7, $5,500. 10. Wyatt Muggli and Rance Doyal, 36.18, $4,400.

Incentive Average: 1. Jimmy Huffaker and Kelby Huffaker, 25.04, $2,400. 2. Cody Coulter and Matt Smith, 26.18, $1,800. 3. Braden Harris and Truman Magnus, 27.67, $1,200. 4. Carter Robinson and Cooper Hatley, 28.2, $900. 5. Luis Guzman and Manuel Marquez, 28.39, $600.

#10 shoot-out

Average: 1. Jase Staudt and Jhett Trenary, 30.55, $117,00. 2. Luis Guzman and Alberto Alvarado, 32.89, $66,900. 3. Riley Drury and Jud Jackson, 34.04, $53,500. 4. Jaxson Tucker and Clay Futrell, 34.16, $40,100. 5. Jerry Hughes and John Antu, 34.37, $35,700. 6. Cassie Christsensen and Jade Edwards, 34.59, $31,200. 7. James Tettenhorst and Kaden Profili, 35.32, $26,700. 8. Mary Buckner and Clay Keller, 36.12, $22,300. 9. David Hammit and McCray Profili, 36.59, $17,800. 10. Jake Cooper Clay and Tanner Nall, 37.2, $17,800.

#9 preliminary

Average: 1. Donnie Leflett and Bobby Leflett, 29.88, $26,000. 2. Clark Holder and Shawn Luman, 32.63, $16,300. 3. Bryce Briggs and John-ryon Foster, 34.58, $13,000. 4. Chance Thiessen and Jessen James, 34.9, $10,800. 5. Pake Cox and Kaden Profili, 36.68, $9,800. 6. David Rowley and C.J. Schicke, 37.11, $8,700. 7. Jacob Crawford and Issac Jones, 37.63, $7,600. 8. Jami Kosse and Curtis Hill, 38.51, $6,500. 9. Jase Holder and Jessen James, 40.24, $5,400. 10. Logan Stapleton and Tyler McGuffee, 40.33, $4,300.

Incentive Average: 1. Kask Koch and Hunter Koch, 28.7, $2,400. 2. Zane Leftwich and Rio Esquibel, 28.94, $1,800. 3. Pake Cox and Kaden Profili, 30.01, $1,200. 4. Cody Stubbs and Colton Allen, 33.32, $900. 5. Marcus Orefice Sr. and Erin Darnall, 34.38, $600.

#9 shoot-out

Average: 1. Logan Stapleton and Tyler McGuffee, 31.69, $130,000. 2. Sage Good and Ty Harris, 32.77, $75,00. 3. Guilherme Marchi and Murilo Rocha Sanches Siqueira, 34.71, $60,000. 4. Carter Robertson and Johnny Guess, 35.9, $45,000. 5. Paul Davis and Woody Moseley, 37.95, $40,000. 6. Cutter Barnes and Dusty Taylor, 38.07, $35,000. 7. Luis Guzman and Manuel Marquez, 38.38, $30,000. 8. Brandon Johnson and Rio Whited, 38.68, $25,000. 9. John Phillips and Pablo Delgado, 40.35, $20,000. 10. Amy Casper and Wyatt Casper, 40.55, $20,000.

#8 shoot-out

Average: 1. Cecil Keith and Misa Hernandez, 43.11, $38,300. 2. Julie Asch and Brendon Asch, 43.57, $23,900. 3. Becky Miller and Marty Miller, 44.7, $19,100. 4. Omar Ruiz and Erick Alvarado, 45.47, $14,300. 5. Braxton Culpepper and John Schnebly, 46.38, $12,800. 6. Daryan Gonzalez and Luke Phillips, 47.71, $11,200. 7. Brice Sager and Jessey Osborn, 48.71, $9,500. 8. Jon Holiday and Allen Dean Abel, 49.16, $8,000. 9. Jose Olivas and Ricardo Ruiz, 49.45, $6,400. 10. Kay Stevens and Tracy Goodson, 51.07, $6,400.

2014 USTRC NATIONAL FINALS PHOTOS BY: ALLEN’S RODEO PHOTOS

#15 Shoot-Out winners Cory Clark and Clay Sieber

Priefert US open winners Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill.