SAN ANTONIO, TEX. – The George Strait Team Roping Classic (GSTRC) is the largest open team roping event in America and, now in its 33rd year, the two-day event has awarded over $4 million in prize money to date. This year’s event was no exception drawing 685 teams of the greatest Team Ropers alive with over $740,000 awarded in cash prizes. After over 18 hours of competition, Clay Tryan of Lipan, Texas and Travis Graves of Morgan Mill, Texas roped 3-head in 13.95 seconds and were crowned winners and split $272,640 in prize money (full breakdown of placings below). In addition, the pair also won 2015 Chevrolet Silverado Dually pickups from Cavender Chevrolet in Boerne, Texas and Bruton Strait Xtreme Trailers.
Friday’s festivities drew 1,370 ropers from all over the country, but eventually dwindled competitors down to the Top 50 teams leading into Saturday’s competition.
Saturday began with the Top 50 team finalists on horseback inside the arena alongside their host, George Strait who addressed the arena attendees and participants and welcomed them back to the San Antonio Rose Palace. Before exiting and the festivities beginning, roper J.D. Yates rode in on a 4 year old American Quarter Horse, from owner Dean Tuftin, named DT Elenor Shine Whiz and, much to Strait’s surprise, was presented to Strait himself in recognition of his passion for the event over the years.
“It’s been 33 years of fun, and I had no idea we’d given away so much,” an always reverent Strait responded upon hearing the tally of the prizes bestowed to teams over the years. “Time flies when you’re having fun. This means so much to me, thank you!”
In between the first and second go-rounds, Lieutenant General Leroy Sisco, U.S. Army (Retired), joined Strait in the Arena for a very special moment and the two continued their tradition of presenting a home as part of the Military Warriors Support Foundation (MWSF) “Homes 4 Wounded Heroes” (H4WH). Corporal Leland Arledge, a purple heart recipient, and his wife Jennifer were recognized as the 52nd recipients from Strait, receiving a mortgage-free home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The presentation marked the MWSF’s 640th home bestowal with over $150 million in homes presented to date through the non-profit.
Following the third steer, the scores were tallied and Tryan and Graves were determined champions. Strait was on hand for the event, and congratulated the winners and presented their awards.
Results are as follows; payoffs are per team:
1st go: 1. Dustin Bird and Kollin VonAhn, 4.42. 2nd go: 1. Cale Markham and Buddy Hawkins, 4.68. 3rd go: 1. Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira, 3.89; $3,000 per go.
Average: 1. Clay Tryan and Travis Graves, 13.95, $272,640. 2 Cord Crowell and Camish Jennings, 14.38, $109,060. 3. Dustin Bird and Paul Eaves, 15.16, $74,980. 4. Chad Masters and Travis Graves, 15.35, $68,160. 5. Arky Rogers and Kyle Lawrence, 15.52, $54,520. 6. Clayton Hass and Jory Levy, 16.12, $40,900. 7. Adam Rose and Byron Wilkerson, 16.25, $34,080. 8. Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler, 16.33, $27,260.
Red Wrap Steer: 1st go. Dustin Bird and Kollin VonAhn, 4.42, $10,000. 3rd. go. Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira, 3.89, $10,000.
Final round qualifiers:
Levi Simpson and Jeremy Buhler, 9.78. Chad Masters and Travis Graves, 10.09. .Nathan Singletary and Jared Hixon, 10.2. Frank Graves and Ashley Swedenburg, 10.22. Derrick Begay and Cory Petska, 10.28. Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira, 10.4. Andrew Ward and Austin Rogers, 10,41. Rhen Richard and Cody Doescher, 10.42. Dustin Bird and Kollin VonAhn, 10.45. Coleman Proctor and Ryan Motes, 10.51. Aaron Macy and Ty Arnold, 10.53. Clay Smith and Jim Ross Cooper, 10.67. Garrett Tonozzi and Dugan Kelly, 10.76. Cale Markham and Buddy Hawkins, 10.78. Cord Crowell and Camish Jennings, 10,81. Colby Lovell and Brock Hanson, 10.83. Clay Tryan and Travis Graves, 10.85. Chase Massengill and Tyler Getzwiller, 10.97. Kaleb Driggers and Kollin VonAhn, 10.97. Trevor Brazile and Patrick Smith, 10.97. Brandon Beers and Cory Petska, 10.98. Nick Sartain and Rich Skelton, 10.99. Nelson Wyatt and Clark Adcock, 11.02. Drew Horner and Wesley Johnson, 11.03. Andrew Ward and Jace Crabb, 11.06. Dustin Bird and Paul Eaves, 11.08. Derrick Begay and Clay Cooper, 11.09. Bo Litton and Kolby Kennedy, 11.19. Speed Williams and Clay Cooper, 11.25. Dylan Gordon and Gage Williams, 11.26. Charly Crawford and Will Woodfin, 11.27. Clayton Hass and Jory Levy, 11.3. Brady Tryan and Justin Davis, 11.32. Justin Lovell and John Philipp, 11.35. Garrett Tonozzi and Nick Sarchett, 11.38. Jake Cooper and Garrett Jess, 11.42. Cory Smothers and Trey Carter, 11.54. Paul David Tierney and Jace Crabb, 11.57. Blake Hughes and John Philipp, 11.58. Adam Rose and Byron Wilkerson, 11.62. Derrick Begay and Clint Harry, 11.68. Kelsey Parchman and Kinney Dale Harrell, 11.73. Billy Bob Brown and Logan Medlin, 11.74. Rance Gantt and Nick Rowland, 11.77. Brandon Beers and Jim Ross Cooper, 11.92. David Key and Rich Skelton, 12.12. Thompson Berryhill and Tyler Worley, 12.16. Max Kutler and Ike Folsom, 13.23. Todd Arthur and Truman Magnus, 15.93. Arky Rogers and Kyle Lawrence, 16.64.
George Strait congratulates reserve champions Camish Jennings (l) and Cord Crowell (r). Dally Times Photo
