#9 Shoot Out
2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team
Roping
Sunday October 30 2016
Korie Smith and Robby Schrader
By Melinda Clements
The
wind shifted to the north and it was cooler in a strange sort of way. There was a new kind of excitement in
the air at the 2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. This day was a bit different than the
previous days. It had been nine
days of absolutely awesome team roping.
Perhaps
the difference was that this was the last day and everyone was a bit anxious. More so, it was the sixth sense that
said more was going on than met the eyes.
It was a heart thing, almost spiritual. It almost made you shiver because there was something,
literally heavenly, about the #9 Shoot Out. You had to be an integral part to understand and yet when
you realized the intense emotional connections you couldn’t help but discover
that we all have kindred spirits and angels that watch out and direct us. We
all have ties to bigger and greater things.
Such
was the case with the winners of the #9 Shoot Out at this year’s NFTR. At first you couldn’t put your finger
on it but the excitement was contagious and it suddenly touched all involved.
Team
Roping can be an emotional sport.
A lot of hard work and discipline and money go into the event. More than that, however, is the
commitment and love that family and close friends add to the event. It isn’t one person; it is a legion of
supporters, mentors, and helpers, guides, teachers and counselors.
“Robby
called me and said ‘Let’s rope’ and we did,” said Texas header, Korie
Smith. “We have roped together
some but we live too far apart to practice. I agreed to rope. This roping was different. Today was God’s plan. This one is for my dad.” She fought
hard to suppress the emotion and tears.
“I lost my dad a little over a year ago. He was my hero, my mentor. He
meant everything to me. All I do
and all I am I owe to him. This
one is for him.”
Ironically,
heeler Robby Schrader, was feeling the same way. Not only was Schrader good friends with Korie’s dad but
Schrader had a mentor as well. Gary Sutton with Sutton Ropes had always been a
mentor and advisor to Schrader.
“Gary
could always tell me, even on the phone, what I was doing wrong,” Schrader said
about his friend. “My arm was
hurting and I couldn’t rope. I was
to the point of quitting and he said, ‘I’ve got the rope for you’. I miss
him. He always knew and told me
what I needed to do.”
Smith
and Schrader were the second high team back coming into the short go round of
the #9 Shoot Out held the last day of the 2016 Cinch USTRC National Finals of
Team Roping. It was an awesome
roping. Thirty teams were coming
back in the short go round with a paycheck to the top fifteen.
The
prize line was awesome. Not only
would first place in the average pay a whopping $100,000 but also the winners
would take home Martin Championship Trophy Saddles, Gist Championship Buckles,
Tony Lama Boots and Western Horseman Collector’s Prints.
Smith
and Schrader had to be a 9.48 to take the lead away from the third high team
Octavio Espinoza and Arnoldo Luevano.
Espinoza and Luevano were leading the roping with a time of 36.04 on
four head of steers. Luevano was also coming back with Baltazar Gonzalez as the
high team.
“Team
Roping is a mental game,” Smith explained. “I just try to rope one steer at a
time. This roping was for my
dad. I’m riding a horse that
belongs to my sister. I just wanted to make a clean run. This one was for my
dad. This one is for family.”
When
Smith nodded and Schrader made the heeling shot everything came together and
they wrapped up the run with a time of 8.60 to take the lead from Espinoza and
Luevano with one team left to rope.
The high team posted a time of 9.87, however, it wasn’t enough to move
Smith and Schrader and they took the win with a time of 35.15 on four head.
The
awards room was a bedlam of people, cameras, and excited well-wishers. Smith and Schrader seemed a little
shell-shocked.
“This
is my first time ever to be in the room,” Schrader said emotionally. “I have to
give God the glory and am so thankful for Gary Sutton and Sutton Ropes. Gary was always such a good mentor for
me.”
As
pictures snapped, videos rolled and cell phones rang it seemed Smith and
Schrader might have been trying to soak it all in. It was, perhaps, at this moment that I felt they were
hearing other voices and acknowledging those that had given their all to put
the pair in this place at this point in time.
Perhaps,
those kindred spirits that had laid a foundation and counseled for greatness
was rejoicing as Smith and Schrader secretly gave them credit.
Korie’s
mom, Sharon, commented, “About five years ago Korie’s dad talked her into
roping steers. He passed away last year and this is such an emotional time.
They meant everything to each other.
There are no words to explain what winning this roping means.”
This
was the first USTRC National Finals saddle for both Smith and Schrader. It will be a day neither of them will
ever forget.
There
is a celebration about the last day of the NFTR. Lives were changed this week. Lives were changed today. Team roping is not only for those here today but there are
ties to those we’ve loved and lost that have made a difference in all it
involves because team roping mattered. Team roping changes lives and it is an
integral part of every roper’s life that rode into the roping box at this
year’s NFTR. As the winds shifted
new voices are heard. There is a
reason it is called “America’s Cowboy Sport!”
