#13 Shoot Out
2014 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team
Roping
Monday October 27, 2014
By Melinda Clements
If Dylan Cosper and Paden Bray felt
pressure or struggled with nerves it wasn’t evident to the casual
observer. Everyone else might have been
on the edge of their seats but Cosper and Bray seemed, as the saying goes,
“cucumber cool.”
Cosper and Bray were the eighth high
team back going into the short go round of the #13 Shoot Out at the 2014 Cinch
USTRC National Finals of Team Roping.
Bray was also the high team back with partner, Jackie Crawford.
Bray, it seemed, had an axe to
grind. In his words he was seeking
redemption. He had lost his rope to win
the #15 Shoot Out with partner Cory Smothers earlier during the weekend.
Cosper and Bray roped their short go
round steer in 7.31 seconds to take the lead in the average of the #13 Shoot
Out. Thus began a waiting game through
seven more teams including Bray.
“I was nervous just sitting there
waiting,” Cosper said. “My phone had broken earlier so I was just sitting there
waiting. It was a little nerve wrecking.”
“Once I got the first steer out of the
way with Dylan I was okay,” Bray commented. “I wanted to win really bad. I had lost my rope to win the #15 Shoot Out
and I guess I was seeking redemption. I have a lot of faith in my partners. I
always have some really good partners and I have a lot of faith in what this
roping is. I’ve been coming here a long time.”
Bray, no doubt, has grown up in the
USTRC. He grew up doing Junior Looper
and just seemed to slide into the ranks as a regular roper. Cosper and Bray have been roping together
going on two years or so.
“We don’t get to practice,” Cosper
said. “We just rope the ropings. It sure worked well today. I cannot even grasp what just happened. It has not sunk in that we just won the #13
Shoot Out at the US Finals.”
Cosper and Bray had roped together
earlier in the year at Waco and it was a compatible pairing.
“Dylan is great to rope with,” Bray
complimented. “He never misses and I have all the faith in the world in him.”
“In team roping you need good
partner,” Cosper returned the compliment. “Paden is a good one.”
Amid tears from family members, hugs
of congratulations and cell phones buzzing the pair was a bit overwhelmed with
all the attention. It means a lot to
Bray that he has so much support from family.
“My grandmother from Montana is here
and I get little messages on my phone from other family members,” Bray said. “I
was able to ride my cousin’s mare to win this roping. I appreciate Presli
loaning her to me.” He smiled and continued, “Guess I’ll have to figure out some
way to pay her back. Presli and my Uncle Kirk have been really supportive and I
appreciate them letting me use her.”
Cosper figures the pair will continue
to rope together.
“It still hasn’t sunk in what just
happened here today,” Cosper repeated. “It is a bit unreal. Just realizing you have a shot and do
something like this; well, it still has not sunk in.”
Cosper and Bray walked out of the
prize area looking at $93,600, Martin Championship Trophy Saddles, Gist
Championship Gold Buckles, Tony Lama Ostrich Boots and Western Horseman
Collector Prints. Cosper plans to look
for another heading horse so he can keep roping and continue the trend.
“For me the horse is everything,”
Cosper explained. “I need to find another one.”
Both young men seemed a little bit
numb. Bray immediately replaced his old
buckle with his new one. Amid
congratulations and well-wishers the pair seemed a bit in awe and perhaps a
little shocked. It would sink at some
point and both ropers would embrace what really happened.
They say team roping changes us. Cosper and Bray will testify it happens
really, really fast and it is an experience like no other.
