#15
Preliminary
2014
Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Saturday
October 25, 2014
By
Melinda Clements
“I
have a good coach,” Cody Wheeler said with a shy smile. To think he might be a little overwhelmed was
a gross understatement. Winning $17,800
had just lifted the financial burden involved and now the pair could go rope
and actually have a good time without money being an issue.
“We
sent a lot of money in,” Clay Smith explained.
“It was one tough roping.”
When the short go round of the #15 Preliminary kicked off less than three seconds separated the first team in the short go round from the eighteenth team in the short go round. These guys were very serious about the job at hand.
When the short go round of the #15 Preliminary kicked off less than three seconds separated the first team in the short go round from the eighteenth team in the short go round. These guys were very serious about the job at hand.
Wheeler
and Smith were the fourteenth call back team going into the short go round of
the #15 Preliminary at the 2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team
Roping. The pair posted a time of 5.67
on their final steer to take the lead in the average. In reality, they probably never actually
expected their lead to hold with thirteen teams to go. It was a tough group of competitors and everyone
had a card to deal. Wheeler and Smith
knew they were a little far down the list to actually win the roping. They were just glad to have a shot at the
short go round.
Roping
together for going on two years Wheeler and Smith spend a lot of time
together. Wheeler lives with Smith and
the pair focus on being a compatible pair anywhere they go.
“I
was definitely nervous,” Wheeler commented. “Clay told me to go for it because
someone always comes from the back or bottom to make a difference.
“This
time it was us,” Smith laughingly said.
The
pair nervously watched the next thirteen teams.
As the short go unfolded it quickly became evident that some teams were
having issues. Several no times and some
teams legging made a difference in what happened with Wheeler and Smith.
“I
changed my game plan after I broke the barrier earlier in the day,” Wheeler
said. “I wanted to rope so there wasn’t so much pressure on Clay.” It was a change that seemed to work for the
pair.
“I
guess it was meant to be,” Smith said. “Cody got out really well and we came
from the bottom all the way to the top.
I knew he would catch. I guess it
was just meant to happen with us winning this roping.”
Wheeler
moving into Smith’s house appears to have been a positive move for the roping
duo.
“This
was a tough roping but it worked for us,” Smith elaborated. “You do not usually
move into first from the bottom like we did. Cody moved to my house and it has
made a big difference in us roping together.”
Wheeler
and Smith were able to add a little over seventeen thousand dollars to their
bank accounts in addition to taking home Martin Championship Trophy
Saddles. It was something to be proud of
and the way it had happened seemed proof enough to the pair that it was one of
those things that was meant to happen.
Wheeler
and Smith were both humble and excited about their win. They are planning on roping for several more
days at the 2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. They seemed to be taking a bit of solace in
their victory. It had padded their back accounts so now they could relax a
little and have some fun.
As
adrenaline flowed the excitement and pressure of a roping like the #15
Preliminary seems to have set the stage for some additional exciting action to
follow at the 2014 Cinch USTRC Finals.
“When
you have only about three seconds separating the top fifteen teams in a roping
you know the competition is fierce,” Smith said. “That says something for the
intensity of the roping.”
The
competitive nature of the roping coupled with the intensity of the teams
wanting to take home a part of the action seems to be a pretty good indicator
of just how the week and the USTRC NFTR is shaping up. The action and intensity involved makes it a
good event for ropers and spectators alike. The win for Wheeler and Smith is
certainly one they will not forget for awhile.
