Following in father’s footsteps on rodeo trail
World champion Waguespack has sport in his blood
Dad got him started. Then Louisiana native Tyler Waguespack pushed his father’s passion for rodeo and steer wrestling to the extreme.
The 28-year-old turned pro in 2012, made his first National Finals Rodeo in 2015, then clinched his first world title last year with a single-season steer wrestling record of $298,676 in earnings.
“It was incredible,” Waguespack said of his breakthrough season. “It’s something I worked for since I was a little kid, and to finally accomplish that feat, there’s nothing else like it.”
Waguespack tied for first in Round 2 of Super Series IV and clinched a spot in the RodeoHouston semifinals with a fourthplace finish in a tight steer wrestling series Saturday at NRG Stadium.
“They say the hardest thing to do whenever you get on top is to stay on top, but we’re working hard at it,” Waguespack said. Rodeo is in his blood. His dad, Michael Waguespack, bulldogged professionally in the 1980s and ’90s, so Tyler grew up on the rodeo trail.
He was ready to sit in dad’s saddle before he was diaper trained.
“Every kid growing up wants to be like dad,” Tyler said. “I don’t know if he thought I would ever take it this far, but he did everything he could to get me where I am today. So I’m really thankful for that.”
Tyler also roped calves through high school, but as soon as he graduated from East Ascension in Gonzales, La., he sold his calfroping horse and turned his attention and energy to bulldogging.
He made his first NFR four years later — then took his event to new heights.
Tyler credits his maturity — how to handle the travel, the wear and tear and split-second decisionmaking required on every run — and his horse, Cadillac, who he started riding at the start of 2016.
Cadillac was the AQHAPRCA Horse of the Year for the second time last year.
The partnership earned Tyler the Top Gun Award at last year’s NFR, propelling him to his first gold buckle.
And Tyler isn’t the only steer wrestler taking advantage of Cadillac’s skills.
Traveling partners Clayton Haas, who placed third in the world last year, and Ty Erickson, who was seventh, also ride Cadillac — and all three are into the semis here — so Tyler rested him Saturday.
Without Cadillac, Tyler was sixth in Round 3 but advanced on money won the first two rounds, only $500 less than Round 3-winner Nick Guy, Todd Suhn and Tyler Pearson, who tied with $4,000.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to stay at the top the last few years and Cadillac’s one of the main reasons why,” Tyler said.
Kassie Mowry ($7,000) won Round 3 and the series in barrel racing.
Four-time Houston champion Sherry Cervi also moved on to the semifinals Wednesday and Thursday at NRG.
Bayle Worden ($5,500) won two rounds and the bull riding series. Cort Scheer ($6,000), the 2011 champ, seized the saddle bronc series with a 91 in Round 3,
Jessy Davis ($4,875) emerged in bareback riding and Bryson Sechrist ($3,750) won the tie-down series.
Erich Rogers and Cory Petska, who shared $9,000, were the top team ropers.