# 9 Shoot
Out
2015 Cinch
USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Sunday
November 1 2015
Dean Lopez
and Wesley Salmon
Dean
Lopez and Wesley Salmon have some history. They are more than partners. They are more than friends or
family. They are team ropers with
a matching passion that cannot be defined or explained.
The
pair have been a team roping duo since the summer of their eighth grade year in
school. Six years to be
exact. These young men have roped
through the junior high ranks, through high school and now they rodeo and
represent Texas Tech in college rodeo.
Team
roping is their passion. Team
roping is every day in the practice pen.
Team roping is slowing everything down in order to visualize and avoid
overthinking. Team roping is your
very first USTRC saddle and team roping is $120,400 in your pocket. Yes, it’s true team roping is your
passion and knowing all things are possible.
Lopez
and Salmon was the fourth high team back going into the short go round of the
#9 Shoot Out at the 2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. The prize line for first place in the
average was unbelievable. Not only
would the winners pocket $120,400, but each would take home Martin Championship
Trophy Saddles, Gist Championship Gold Buckles, Tony Lama Full Quill Ostrich
Boots, and Western Horseman Collector’s Prints.
“I
don’t know that I was that nervous,” Lopez said. “It was more that I wanted to
visualize it and see it happen. I
didn’t want to question myself. I
just wanted to go rope and make another run. I wanted a run like we do in practice.”
The
pair needed a time of 10.13 to take the lead away from Brody Rankin and Hayden
Cape who was leading the average with a time of 36.27 on four head of steers.
“I
wanted to stay aggressive,” Salmon said. “Sometimes I second guess myself.”
“We’ve
been together six years or more,” Lopez said. “We know each other really
well. We practice every single day
together. I knew we would be okay.
It was another practice pen run.”
Neither
roper gave a lot of thought to a payout. To dwell on winning first place was
just added pressure. It was one
run. They rode into the box with a
common goal. Go make a good solid
practice run. When the clock
stopped they had done exactly that.
With a time of 9.85 the pair took the lead in the average with a time of
35.98. As they rode out of the
arena there was still four teams left to rope. It was anybody’s game and Lopez and Salmon were key
players. They were prepared to
wait it out.
Pressure
toys with the thought process and the last three teams had some issues. Two teams failed to make qualified runs
and one team legged their short round steer. It took Lopez and Salmon a minute to come into the arena for
their victory lap. It was way too
much to grasp.
“We
take care of each other,” Salmon said. “Dean takes care of my stuff. He lives at our barn and we go to
school at Texas Tech.”
Both
Lopez and Salmon are Ag Majors at Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas. They also college rodeoed for the Red
Raider Rodeo Team. It is the first USTRC Saddle for both young men.
“My
saddle is going to set in my RV for a while,” Lopez said. “That’s where I
live. I owe so much to Wesley.”
Lopez continued, “I’m going to buy a horse. I was actually heading on a horse
that Wesley owns. I’ll also use
some of the money to keep roping. I owe so much to Wesley and his family.”
Salmon
had strict orders from his mom that his saddle would go in the living room for
a while. It
is Salmon’s first USTRC saddle as well.
“Dean
and I help each other,” Salmon said. “He helps take care of my stuff.” The pair
are headed back to Lubbock today.
“We
have school tomorrow,” Lopez stated. “We’ve got to get back.”
There
is no doubt there will be some discussion, some reflection, some definite
replay as Lopez and Salmon rehash today’s events.
The
pair have worked hard, practiced hard, and hauled hard for a lot of years to
get to this point. It is a reward
they haven’t quiet grasped yet.
They haven’t quite wrapped their minds around all that has transpired at
the 2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping. In a few days it will all sink in. The young men are humble, appreciate and focused. They are well mannered, polite and
exemplify what is important in young men today. They are on track to great things. Great things like family, friends, school, team roping and
the western way of life. Those are
the things that matter.
Congratulations to two fantastic young men!
