US Open Preliminary
Cinch USTRC National Finals of
Team Roping
Saturday October 20, 2012
Oklahoma State Fairgrounds
By Melinda Clements
It
was just a feeling, the quiet before the storm, tempered anticipation, an
eagerness laced in expectant waiting. It was like a live wire dangling in mid
air. You knew if you touched it you would get shocked and yet you wanted to see
if it really was hot.
The
US Open Preliminary would kick off the 2012 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team
Roping in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The stage was set, preparations had been
made, and it was just a matter of calling the names and opening the gates.
Ropers, spectators, staff and personnel were ready to get it on.
When
the first roper nodded for his steer it kicked the week into gear and the whole
coliseum heaved a sigh of relief. The best was yet to come.
“My dad’s
won a lot but this is the best and biggest roping of all,”
Tyler Tryan said with a shy grin.He’s a first grader this year and
seemed more nervous about that than the fact his dad, Clay Tryan, and his
partner, Travis Graves, had just won the US Open Preliminary to kick off the
week of team roping at the Cinch NFTR.
Tryan
and Graves was the high team back coming into the short go round. They had
roped well all morning and both men hoped to continue the trend. It had set the
stage for the rest of the day and for the Priefert US Open Championships to be
held the next day.
The
pair had watched the short go round unfold and held to their game plan of just
roping a good roping. They had done so all day. With a time of 26.54 going into
the short go round the pair needed a time of 7.13 to win the roping. It was
Deju Vu for the pair as they had both been here before and knew exactly what to
expect. It was familiar territory.
When
the pair posted a time of 6.33 it was exactly what they needed to cinch the
win.It was a good way to start the week. Looking at $18,700 in cash for the win
it was a refreshing beginning. Martin Championship Trophy Saddles added to the
prize line.
“It is always good to win against
the best ropers,” Tryan commented as he stood near
his new Martin Championship Trophy Saddle. “I always look forward to the big
ropings. That is why I rope.”
“We have been getting ready for
this roping for a couple of weeks now,” Graves elaborated. “You
don’t do anything really different. We
were going to rope like we have been roping all the time.”
The
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping is always special to Open Ropers.The
prize line, the money and the efficiency with which the roping is run makes the
Finals in Oklahoma City a yearly favorite.
“The set up here is completely
different,” Graves commented. “You
prepare for this one a little differently than the NFR. You follow the same
plan but you cannot really compare because they are different.”
The
pair is looking forward to the Priefert US Open Championships, which takes
place tomorrow, and the pair looks forward to competing.
“You can enter only one time
tomorrow,” Tryan explained.“
This roping today was fast, tough and competitive. I think the roping will be a
little slower with more focus because you can enter only one time. We rope a
lot of ropings and rodeos but we both look forward to a big roping like this
one.”
“I just want to go rope six steers tomorrow,” Graves continued. “We just need to keep doing what we have been doing.”
Tryan
and Graves broke the ice with their win in the US Open Preliminary. The Finals
kicked off with class and finesse and if the Open Preliminary is an indication
the week will be one filled with some exciting and interesting team roping
action. No doubt Tyler Tryan knew exactly what he was talking about when he
explained the Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping is the biggest and
best roping of all.
