#10 Shoot Out
2013 Cinch USTRC National
Finals of Team Roping
Saturday Nov 2 2013
By Melinda Clements
There
is a common thread that unites us all in the finite network of life. Some of us are more in tune to it than
others. It is about loving unconditional,
giving back to others, capitalizing on your potential and being all you were
created to be.
You
may believe it or not, it is real whether you grasp the concept of not. It is your choice on being a champion, it is
your choice on being a winner, and it has nothing to do with money or any
monetary gift or value placed on tangible things.
Sometimes
two become one to make a difference.
Sometimes uniting makes for strength and the promise of great things to
come. Taylor Morgan and Heath Sanders
are best friends. They are so close at
the hip that even their team roping horses are full brothers. They are unique individuals that bring a
promise and a hope to anyone and everyone who has picked up a rope.
“It
doesn’t matter if you have five dollars or five million dollars you give back
because what goes around comes around,” said Arkansas heeler, Heath
Sanders. “Anyone and everyone is welcome
at my house to rope and participate. You
utilize your potential. One thing is for
sure God loves me, my family loves me and it doesn’t get any better than
that. Whether I caught today or missed
today nothing changes because God still loves me and my family loves me.”
Morgan
concurred, “Nothing matters but God and family and doing the best you can. We came here expecting to win knowing that
was what we wanted and then making it work.
It’s about God and family and doing your very best in everything you try
to do.
Morgan
and Sanders was the second high back team coming into the short go round of the
#10 Shoot Out at the 2013 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. Sanders had already tasted the sweetness of
victory as he and partner, Nick Gonzales, won the #11 Preliminary. He had one saddle down and staring another
one. He could hardly keep his emotions
in check.
Sanders
knew he and Morgan could ace the #10 Shoot Out.
He just had a feeling and it was coming together for the pair.
“A
roping like this is just too tough to not believe in yourself,” Sanders said. “You
almost have to will it to happen.”
“It
was a tough decision to come to the Finals,” Morgan said. “I am missing my kid’s
ballgames. But my family loves me and supports me.”
It
was an awesome prize line in the #10 Shoot Out. Ropers were shooting at a
$493,400 payout across the board. First
place would receive $121,000 plus Martin Championship Trophy Saddles, Gist
Championship Buckles, Tony Lama Ostrich Boots and Western Horseman Championship
Prints. As the competition geared up the
short go would be fierce, competitive with some hard core team roping.
As
Morgan and Sanders rode into the box their minds were void of thoughts,
pressure, game plan or any other unnecessary garbage. Only one thing was on their minds; God loved
them, family supported them, they were winners no matter how it turned out. Nothing else mattered, nothing else interfered
or distracted them and you did all you could do to utilize your potential. The pair are winners. There was not one doubt about that any way you
looked at it. If it worked or if it fell
apart all was good.
The
pair needed a time of 11.07 to take the win in the #10 Shoot Out. When the flag dropped the clock read 9.20. It was all they needed to take the lead with
one team left to rope. As Morgan and Sanders
rode out the back gate they had accomplished their goal. They were winners just as they always knew.
When
the high team back made a bobble in their run Sanders and Morgan took a deep
breath. The #10 Shoot Out was theirs and it was victory they both savored.
“This
is a lot more fun than I thought it would be,” Morgan laughed. “It is our
biggest win ever. It our first USTRC
National Finals Saddle and I have an eight year old Buckskin that just makes my
job really easy. I just have to focus on
roping and it is exactly as we hoped it would be.”
“I’ve
won about $73,000 this week,” Sanders said emotionally. “I won this with my
very best friend. You just try to rope
the best you can but sometimes our heads, our egos get in the way and we beat
ourselves. We are so blessed and we
believe in ourselves and the gifts God has given us. We are appreciative and very thankful for this
win.”
When
you love others and give to others and share the gifts you have blessings are
two-fold. Believing in yourself helps
you help and believe in others. Morgan and
Sanders strive to be the best they can be.
They also work to help others be their very best. They are a prime example of how faith, family
and friends define team roping. It is a
sport that incorporates the best in all of us.
