LETTER FROM BOB
This issue of Ropers Sports News is all about women in our sport of rodeo and the western industry. There are so many great ladies that come to mind that I would need thousands of pages to mention them all. The Art of The Cowgirl, which recently wrapped up its 2026 edition in Wickenburg, Arizona, does such a great job showcasing many of these standout and influential women. I am so glad that Tami Pate had the vision to create this wonderful event. Dee Yates, RSN Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, was on site to capture this year’s event firsthand and will feature some of the highlights in this issue.
I have always loved springtime in our industry because of the special events that take place. One of my favorites has always been the Timed Event Championship (TEC) held at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla. I have had the privilege of announcing this event for many, many years. I started out alongside the “original voice” of the Lazy E, Clem McSpadden. Clem had a very special compassion for the TEC because he loved all timed events and was especially well-versed on steer roping. After Clem’s passing, I worked with Charlie Throckmorton, Justin McKee and Anthony Lucia doing the live show. In the past couple of years I have had the pleasure of working with Dru Stewart at the Priefert Sports Desk Driven by Holiday Auto Group. At the EQN Sports Desk, we get the fun job of doing pre-show interviews as well as talking with many of the current and past contestants of the Cinch TEC. It has been and continues to be one of my favorite contests throughout the year.
The TEC is a very special event where 25 cowboys compete over a three-day span — five rounds with each contestant competing on five head of livestock. They start out by heading a team roping steer, then rope a calf, heel a steer, steer wrestle a steer and finish with a single steer roping run. After the first two rounds, the contestants with the longest cumulative time on 10 head of competition are dropped, and so on. By the time the fifth round rolls around, only 15 contestants remain. Noteworthy is that in most other competitions, a failure to qualify on your livestock draw results in a no-time — but at the TEC, you receive a time of 60 seconds.
This year there were 10 first-year rookies, and they all quickly found out how grueling this event can be and what a true test it is of horsemanship and cowboy ability. Last year, two rookies finished first and second. This year, three first-year rookies again placed in the top eight of the money payoff — an amazing showing that speaks to the great talent rising through the timed events. Coleman Proctor was one of those first-time competitors and made an impressive showing by finishing third in the overall average. Coleman had attended this event in prior years as a helper but had never competed as a full-fledged contestant. Clayton Hass was another first-year entrant who had also been to the event as a helper; this year he was one of the 25, finishing 6th. Zane Kilgus placed 8th in his rookie year. Zane was an alternate who was called just two days before the competition, filling a spot left open when veteran K.C. Jones dropped out due to a knee injury suffered while practicing for the TEC.
Taylor Santos won the event by a slim 2.8 seconds over last year’s superstar champion, Ketch Kelton. Taylor’s total on 25 head was 351.7 to Ketch’s 354.5. Taylor came into the final head of competition well ahead of the field but began losing his margin when he missed his first loop in the heading and then missed his first loop on his steer roping run. Ketch answered with an impressive steer roping run, tying his steer in 13.4 seconds to put the pressure on Santos, who held only an 11.9-second lead going into the final run of the 25-head competition. It was an outstanding final round and great theater from start to finish.
This was an emotional return to the TEC for Taylor Santos, who had taken a three-year absence from competition following surgeries on both hips and a knee. It was the greatest comeback story and a second victory of this prestigious event for Santos. Congratulations to all the winners — and if this event is on your bucket list, get your tickets for next year now. Be sure to enjoy the full coverage in this issue of RSN.
Lastly, a huge congratulations to Stephanie Anderson, former Editor of Ropers Sports News, and her latest win at the PCQHA Arizona Sun Circuit Championship. Retirement sure looks good on her and I couldn’t be prouder for her.
