# 15 Shoot Out Sat Oct 26 2013

# 15 Shoot Out

2013 Cinch USTRC National Final of Team Roping

Saturday Oct 26, 2013
By Melinda Clements

          Most of the time life is a tedious adventure of decisions.  It may involve a move, which job to take, what relationships to invest in but regardless we are all faced with making decisions we have to live with.  They are decisions that, in some form or fashion, alter the directions of our lives.

          Cole Wheeler had a decision to make.  His decision would not only affect the outcome of his life but the outcome of his partner, Douglas Rich.  The pair had noticed each other in years past and they both knew the other could rope.  They were miles apart, one being a student in Texas and one being a student in Oklahoma.  Rich hailed from Illinois and Wheeler was a Texas team roper.

          Wheeler knew he had a good shot at winning the team roping at his weekend college rodeo in Alpine, Texas.  He had done well at the college rodeo the weekend before at Texas Tech.  He had invested a lot of time, miles, and commitment in this fall’s college rodeos.

          Yet, he just could not walk away and not think about the # 15 Shoot Out at the 2013 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. 

          “I had to make a decision whether to stay in Oklahoma City or head back to Alpine for the short go round,” Wheeler explained. “My college roping partner and I discussed it and we decided to stay.”

          “We roped in the Preliminary to get a Shoot Out spot,” Rich elaborated. “I didn’t have enough flex earnings to even enter the Shoot Out but we roped well in the Preliminary and qualified for a position.”

          Thirty teams were coming back in the short go round of the #15 Shoot Out and Wheeler and Rich was the high team coming back in the short go round. The pair placed fourth in the #15 Preliminary and they were hoping they could continue the trend.

          “I was hoping for tenth or something. At least with tenth we could get a little bit of money, but this is awesome,” Wheeler said. “We just wanted to keep knocking them down. We were on the same page and it was working for us. It was looking like not going back to Alpine was turning out to be a good decision.”

          A second and a half separated the top ten teams.  The short go round would be fierce and fast paced.  When the fourth high team of Brody Bellett and Tyler Sieber roped their steer in 7.40 to take the lead the pressure hit another level and it took its toll on the second and third high teams back.  Wheeler

and Rich stayed focused and upped the ante.  “Keep knocking em down!” kept running through their minds.

          When the pair rode into the box they were conscious of one thing.  They were the high team back. They needed a flawless run.  They had been roping that way all day long.  It was certainly doable.  They needed a 7.85 to take the win. With intense focus and concentration Wheeler nodded and Rich followed suit.  The flagger signaled the time and it was close.  A 7.51 was exactly what they needed.  Everyone let out a sigh of relief.  There was a big difference in splitting a short go round at the 2013 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Rodeo and a college rodeo. College rodeo was good but this was a life altering experience.  It had certainly been a decision worth the sacrifice.

          “I just wanted to focus on catching and getting out of the barrier,” Wheeler said with a shy grin. “I knew my heeler would be there and I wasn’t worried.”

          “Luckily we were able to get together and rope,” Rich said. “We didn’t change our game plan.  We just wanted to rope well.  I was a little nervous and I guess some butterflies are normal. I just wanted to be sure to catch.”

          This USTRC Finals saddle is a first for Rich.  “I think I’m just going to look at it awhile,” he said. “It’s a big paycheck and the prizes are unbelievable.  I’m just going to savor it for awhile.”

          The pair will not only take home $88,600 but Martin Championship Saddles, Gist Championship Buckles, Tony Lama Boots and Western Horseman Collectors Prints.  It is certainly an awesome prize line. 

          We all go through life facing certain choices.  We all come to forks in the road where a decision makes a big difference.  Cole Wheeler made a decision over the weekend and it was a good one.  It made a big difference in the things that transpired for him and partner, Douglas Rich.  Some decisions you cannot argue with. The one Cole Wheeler made will be one he and Douglas Rich will share for a long time to come.