Photos by Jennings Photography

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – When Denny and Connie Gentry introduced the Ariat World Series of Team Roping (WSTR) at the South Point Arena & Equestrian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in December of 2006, they undoubtedly had a vision, but as the organization propels into another new decade, fourteen years later, it has surpassed even their own wildest dreams.
“It was a fitting finish as we came close to hitting 14 million,” said Gentry, who plans to step down as President of the WSTR this coming year. “The stands were full of spectators at every short round. We had over 160,000 people attending the trade show and watching during the week. Our crew, all 150 of them, handled thousands of ropers, trucks, trailers, horses and cattle like the professionals they are.”
The 14th annual event culminated over 10 days, December 6-15, 2019, paying out another record-breaking grand total of $13.8 million over 10 divisions, including the newest Gold Buckle Beer Open to the World presented by the Team Roping Journal and continuing with the popular outdoor Super Qualifiers. From the Open down to the #8.5, Finale Champions were crowned and went home around the world with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes.
“We kicked off the inaugural Open this year and it is going to be a great success here,” Gentry added. “This was the largest event of my career, but that didn’t keep it from being one of our best. Looking back 30 years to our first team roping event in 1990 to what we witnessed here, all I can say is, ‘WOW!’”
It’s stories like that of the Massey Ferguson #8.5 Finale winners that make this one of the greatest amateur sports in the world. When the #8.5 champion heeler Radar Shepherd backed in the Priefert box at Finale XIV with long-time friend Blake Beck to win $233,000, Shepherd was still sporting the Reserve Champion Junior Livestock Hog buckle that he won 10 years ago.
“I won this in 1999 and I’ve worn it ever since,” explained Shepherd, 36, who used to show and still farms pigs. “I’ve won some team roping buckles and stuff, and everyone kept asking why I don’t wear one. In my mind I kept thinking I won’t change it until I win a World Series Finale buckle.”
To Shepherd, though, this new buckle means a whole lot more than a shiny new trinket and big payout. One week prior to the entry deadline for the 2019 Finale, Shepherd’s mom Cindy gave him the money he needed to enter. But not long after, Cindy was diagnosed with cancer. Just one week later, on December 6, 2019, she passed away peacefully. Beck, who had known Cindy all his life, had called the WSTR office to see about drawing out their team, but Shepherd said no.
“We only knew she was sick for about a week,” Shepherd said. “One of the last things she said to me was go out there and bring home big money. I definitely felt like I had an angel with me.”
The money awarded over the years has been truly life changing. Take the 2019 Yeti #10.5 Champions.
For several decades Heavy Sursa, Bluebell, Utah, has traveled the country competing at jackpots of every level and he finally struck gold when he won the Yeti #10.5 WSTR Finale with heeler Slade Witbeck, Vernal, Utah. Their 8.44-second short round run held from seventh call back to seal the deal and the duo took home $342,000—the second-largest check of the week—after turning in an average time of 34.60 on four.
When Witbeck was a kid he used to watch Sursa at the local jackpots and never imagined they’d be where they are today.
“I used to get the Super Looper and I’d see Heavy in there,” said Witbeck, who actually grew up in a predominately cutting horse family. “I always looked up to him. We got hooked up to rope one day and we’ve been partners ever since.”
The stories, told and untold over 14 years could write a series. In reality they have. This is just the beginning as the world greatest amateur sport continues to build momentum into 2020 and beyond. To read more on these stories and all of the 2019 Ariat World Series of Team Roping Finale XIV results, visit WSTRoping.com.

Gold Buckle Beer Open To The World
Average: 1. Bubba Buckaloo and Billie Jack Saebens, 36.77, $56,600. 2. Max Kuttler and Cole Wilson, 37.12, $40,000. 3. Kade E. Smith and Kirby Blankenship, 38.03, $30,500. 4. Cord Crowell and Josh Patton, 41.66, $22,500. 5. Kolton Schmidt and Jake Cooper Clay, 41.7, $11,000.

#14.5 WSTR Finale
Average: 1. Robert W. Pixley and John Hight, 27.64, $176,000. 2. Glen Crane and Nick Sartain, 29.02, $136,000. 3. Jace Mitchell and Jared Fillmore, 29.92, $96,000. 4. Kayelen Helton and Sloan Hendley, 30.35, $72,000. 5. Trey Begay and Cody Lansing, 30.43, $64,000. 6. Alan Chappell and Tyler Senior, 30.64, $56,000. 7. Eric Owens and Shannon Frascht, 30.96, $48,000. 8. Darrel Norcutt and Bill Finks, 31.18, $40,000. 9. Pedro Egurrola and Clay Elkington, 31.19, $32,000. 10. Kreece Thompson and Todd Thompson, 31.23, $32,000. 11. Luke Tyree and Blake Larmon, 31.58, $24,000. 12. Ricky Rathjen and Shad Chadwick, 31.63, $24,000. 13. Fernando Gonzales and Brandon Baca, 33.28, $10,000. 14. Brett Martin and Jade Willis, 34.53, $10,000. 15. Clay Cherry and Sam Garside, 35.11, $6,000. 16. Gable Martinez and Lucas Marbach, 35.53, $6,000. 17. Twister Smith and Cort Smith, 35.89, $6,000. 18. Casey Cordell and Montrel Glider, 36.05, $6,000. 19. Billy Good and Coy A. Thompson, 36.34, $6,000. 20. Michael Calmelat and Michael Eugenio Calmelat, 36.35, $6,000.

 #13.5 WSTR Finale
Average: 1. Dex Maddock and Rob Webb, 29.65, $228,000. 2. Clint Sorrell and Milton Aguilera, 29.81, $171,000. 3. Darrel Norcutt and Clint Felton, 29.82, $123,000. 4. Vic Morrison and John Gregory, 32.14, $104,000. 5. Tallian Thompson and Justice Thompson, 32.34, $85,000. 6. David Wuertz and Kyle Conway, 32.62, $66,000. 7. Mike Row and Joe Ross Jameson, 32.75, $57,000. 8. James Zeldenthuis and Berdell Greenhalgh, 32.81, $48,000. 9. Brook Bearden and Tee Woolman, 33.10, $38,000. 10. Juan Gonzales and Orlando Jauregui Enriquez, 33.13, $29,000. 11. Ryan Mayfield and Jesse Dozier, 33.42, $20,000. 12. Brian Skinner and Ty Frost, 33.78, $18,000. 13. Jerry Elkins and Wyatt Gibson, 33.87, $16,000. 14. Nick Cummins and Ben Tibbitts, 34.03, $14,000. 15. Steve Smith and Tony Boggs, 34.34, $12,000. 16. Zurick Labrier and Ben Blue, 34.52, $11,800. 17. Joe Gallegos and Bode Baize, 36.45, $11,600. 18. Richard Nolen and Hoot Williams, 37.64, $11,400. 19. Cody A. Price and Shawn Belknap, 39.14, $11,200. 20. Christy Lee and Wesley H. Moss, 40.76, $11,000.

#12.5 WSTR Finale
Average: 1. Chris Westbrooks and Austin Thompson, 30.38, $242,000. 2. Doc Hobbs and TyDaniel Haller, 31.16, $181,000. 3. Robert W. Pixley and Carson Seago, 31.20, $131,000. 4. Jeff Bourquin and Trew Cates, 31.76, $111,000. 5. Tom McClure and Wayne McClure, 31.99, $90,000. 6. Shad Beebe and Rube Woolsey, 32.31, $70,000. 7. John Copeland and Trent Tatom, 32.32, $60,000. 8. Eric Guevara and Omar Alvarado, 32.49, $50,000. 9. Jerry Elkins and Wyatt Gibson, 32.50, $40,000. 10. Michayla Terrill and Levi Molesworth, 33.85, $30,000. 11. Monty P. Foster and Dillon L. Foster, 33.96, $20,000. 12. Mel Smith and Alfonso Gonzalez, 34.10, $18,000. 13. JT Bradley and Casey Ladner, 34.41, $16,000. 14. Trevor Scantling and Riley Curuchet, 34.59, $14,000. 15. Eric Atkinson and Grant Stein, 34.62, $12,000. 16. Chris Pomeroy and Tyler Sowle, 34.97, $11,800. 17. John Robert Anderson and Kenny Stwart, 35.01, $11,600. 18. Mark Weekley and Dell Millward, 35.23, $11,400. 19. Shawn Felton and Cody Ohl, 35.27, $11,200. 20. Cliff Dent and Scott Stone, 35.32, $11,000.

#11.5 WSTR Finale
Average: 1. Cagney Anderson and Blake Hohenberger, 31.95, $300,000. 2. Doug May Jr and Jake Ruby, 33.10, $227,000. 3. Jay Adams and James Terrell, 33.36, $164,000. 4. LaRae Branham and Rick Steed, 33.99, $138,000. 5. Mel Smith and Jonathan Talsma, 34.48, $114,000. 6. Chace Elkington and Clay Elkington, 34.62, $88,000. 7. Ralph Senior and David Miller, 35.34, $76,000. 8. Scott Burleson and Eric Daniels, 35.77, $63,000. 9. Nelson Aaron and Cody R. Malone, 35.78, $50,000. 10. Ben Barnes and Brett Davis, 36.20, $38,000. 11. Bruce Chernoff and Todd Snodgrass, 36.23, $20,000. 12. Cliff Dent and Colby Simmons, 36.24, $18,000. 13. Richard Nolen and  Danny Watson, 36.45, $16,000. 14. Bobby Jean Colyer and Nick Wilkinson, 36.61, $14,000. 15. Clarence T. Sanchez and Miguel Ochoa, 36.86, $12,000. 16. Ernie Cardoza and Luke Cardoza, 36.90, $11,800. 17. Weston Parker and Andy King, 37.26, $11,600. 18. Tish Luke and Jay Holmes, 37.36, $11,400. 19. Bobby Albrtson and Jed Jacobs, 37.39, $11,200. 20. Travis Regensberg and Charles Tenorio Sr., 37.53, $11,000.

#10.5 WSTR finale
Average: 1. Heavy Sursa and Slade Witbeck, 34.60, $342,000. 2. Nora Hunt-Lee and Justin J. Johnson, 34.80, $257. 3. Jayme Marcrum and Zack Cobb, 35.51, $185,000. 4. Andy Lake and Rusty Herrera, 35.66, $158,000. 5. Kenny Kuykendall and Austin Harris, 36.26, $128,000. 6. Terry Shaw and Jimmie Stanzel, 37.33, $100,000. 7. Billy Resor and Shorty Burruel, 37.49, $86,000. 8. Lee Ticknor and George Holder, 37.83, $72,000. 9. Jim Estill and Travis Peek, 37.94, $57,000. 10. Rob Swaim and Brandon Plumlee, 38.12, $43,000. 11/12. Trey Alegria and Arnold Mireles; Katie Green and Carlos Aranda, 38.69, $19,000. 13. Jon Satriana and Julian Lopez, 39.09, $16,000. 14. Deston Dishion and Melvin Joseph, 39.21, $14,000. 15. Tim Mecklenburg and Coulter Croft, 41.29, $12,000. 16. Steve Smith and Les Vogt, 41.39, $11,800. 17. Randy Holcomb and Wesley Holcomb, 42.08, $11,600. 18. Jason Schaffer and Rod Schaffer, 42.39, $11,400. 19. Wayne Carter and Jared Blane Phillips, 42.71, $11,200. 20. Tom Fabrizio and Debbie Fabrizio, 43.43, $11,000.

#9.5 WSTR Finale
Average: 1. AJ Lopez and BJ Lopez, 38.24, $346,000. 2. Larry Wehling and David A. Smith, 38.76, $260,000. 3. Kort Albertson and Braiden Morton, 38.78, $188,000. 4. Mike Harper and Tutt Garnett, 38.82, $159,000. 5. Chick Wilfong and Chan Peters, 38.91, $130,000. 6. Wayne Benefield and Blake Williamson, 39.33, $100,000. 7. Jose Angel Coronado and Emilio Garcia, 39.39, $86,000. 8. Kent Youngblood and Tripp Townsend, 39.90, $72,000. 9. Andreas Sanchez and Lee Knox, 40.26, $57,000. 10. Dave Bates and Jeff M. Palmer, 40.39, $43,000. 11. Kim McCracken and Randy McCracken, 40.51, $20,000. 12. Jordan Sterkel and Cade Yates, 40.77, $18,000. 13. Jordan L. Taton and Twister Smith, 41.22, $16,000. 14. Justin Grimes and Randy Weaver, 41.46, $14,000. 15. Jack Kinsey and Edward Rudasill, 41.52, $12,000. 16. Lacy Hook and Walt Stein, 42.38, $11,800. 17. Daren Lowry and Hunter Lowry, 42.53, $11,600. 18. Luke Williams and Chris Orr, 42.95, $11,400. 19. Lex Urias and Cody Tomlinson, 43.27, $11,200. 20. Steve Mitchell and Earl Robbins, 43.28, $11,000.

#8.5 WSTR Finale
Average: 1. Blake Beck and Radar Shepherd, 35.12, $233,000. 2. Todd Stevens and Steve Anderson, 37.67, $175,000. 3. Chris West and Tony Lampo, 38.89, $126,000. 4. Tom Ericsson and Harlan Bellander, 41.48, $107,000. 5. Jill E. Johnson and Steve Hatcher, 42.68, $87,000. 6. Lewis Perry and John Schnebly, 43.02, $68,000. 7. Donny King and Hal Heiden, 43.34, $58,000. 8. Cervando Nevarez and Rafael Quijada, 44.70, $48,000. 9. Kelsey Pugmire and Dennis Cook, 45.00, $39,500. 10. Butch Smith and Billy Hale, 46.69, $30,700. 11. Bret Steele and Jodi Hill, 47.72, $20,000. 12. Steve Lindley and Jeff Derrick, 47.81, $18,000. 13. Johnna Kile and John Chilson, 48.12, $16,000. 14. Tish Luke and Becky Cannizzaro, 48.45, $14,000. 15. Vince Baker and Ricky Cox, 48.60, $12,000. 16. Gabriel Frausto and Miguel Frausto, 48.79, $11,800. 17. Brody Blissard and Kelcey Pinkert, 49.33, $11,600. 18. Lee A. Morast and Jeff Kling, 49.67, $11,400. 19. EJ Williams and Skip Morton, 50.05, $11,200. 20. Matt Blau and Rick Batson, 50.33, $11,000.
American Cowboy #12.5, Dec. 10
Average: 1. Chad Walker and Joe Hughes, 33.52, $1,600. 2. Beverly Robbins and Darrell Tatum, 39.10, $1,200.
American Cowboy #10.5, Dec. 11
AM Average: 1. Brittany Whiddon and Wil Whiddon, 46.82, $1,600. 2. Casey Lee and Dirk Peterson, 53.25, $1,200.
PM Average: 1. John James Battaglia and Patrick O’Brien, 39.26, $1,600. 2. Brian S. Jeffreys and Ryan Watkins, 39.95, $1,600. 3. Jesus Pinon and Rene Carrasco, 41.03, $1,200. 4. Cesar Melendez and Ricky Carrasco, 41.66, $1,200. 5. Clint Copenhaver and Rickey Hester, 42.17, $1,200.
American Cowboy #10.5, Dec. 12
AM Average: 1. Justin Turner and Seth Schafer, 38.93, $1,600. 2. Casey Lee and Dirk Peterson, 40.06, $1,200.
PM Average: 1. Cesar Melendez and Ricky Carrasco, 37.72, $1,600. 2. Heavy Sursa and Slade Witbeck, 37.98, $1,600. 3. Bill Nikolaus and Alan Hall, 38.25, $1,600. 4. Brandon Nelson and Brian Warner, 41.24, $1,200. 5. cody Kinard and Hayse Worthington, 41.51, $1,200. 6. Chris C. Burns and Dusty Penrod, 43.47, $1,200. 7. Octavio Espinoza and Erick Alvarado, 48.30, $1,200.
American Cowboy #10.5, Dec. 13
AM Average: 1. Gary H. Crispe and Luke Kelley, 39.53, $1,600. 2. Jodi Hill and Larry Pancost, 39.75, $1,200.
American Cowboy #10.5, Dec. 14
AM Average: 1. Bill Nikolaus and Alan Hall, 39.28, $1,600. 2. Casey Lee and Dirk Peterson, 45.37, $1,200.