2024 NLD BUFFALO BILL RODEO SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2024 PAGE 9 2023 RODEO CHAMPIONS
THE NORTH PLATTE TELEGRAPH
© Don Christner photo
Tyler Waguespack, 2023 Steer Wrestling Champ.
When he was a toddler, he was already turfing his stuffed animals, emulating his dad, Mike Waguespack, a steer wrestler. He’s won five world championship titles (2016, 2018, 2021-2023) and has competed at the Wrangler NFR nine times. Affectionately known as “Wag,” Tyler is married to Sarah Rose, a barrel racer.
He won the first round (7.6 seconds) and tied for first in the second round (7.8 seconds) to take the buckle and a check for $5867. The Clovis, N.M. cowboy was aboard a new horse, a thirteen-year-old bay named Lollipop he had just purchased two months prior. Lollipop was the 2020 AQHA-PRCA Tie-Down Horse of the Year. “When I first got her, we weren’t really clicking a whole lot,” he said. “As we kept going, we started to click.” He and Lollipop combined to qualify for his fifth Wrangler NFR qualification (2019-2023), where he finished third in the world standings.
© Don Christner photo
Tanner Aus, 2023 Bareback Riding Champ.
RUTH NICOLAUS For The North Platte Telegraph
chutes, they have that nice big wide catwalk there, and it’s elevated and out of the dirt, in the shade. You don’t see that many places. I really like that.” First buckle he won: in 2000 at age 9, at a Minnesota Little Britches Rodeo event, in the bareback steer riding. The buckle “is at the top of the case. I have a nice glass top coffee table shadow box and it’s at the top, so everybody can see it.” Favorite snack: Spicy pork rinds. “It’s basically just dried football leather.” Rodeo accomplishments: 8x Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier; finished tenth in the world for the 2023 season. Family: wife Lonissa; daughters Bristol and Ember; son Rowan. Reigning world champion steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack bested the field of 62 steer wrestlers in North Platte to win the gold buckle and $3256. The Gonzales, La. cowboy had a time of 9.0 seconds on two head to win the title. After failing to place in the first round, he tied for second in the second round (4.4 seconds), splitting with Gage Hesse. Steer wrestling champ: Tyler Waguespack
Bareback riding champ: Tanner Aus North Platte contributed to a good year for Tanner Aus. The Granite Falls, Minn. cowboy rode the Beutler and Son horse Pebbles for 81 points to win his event and a check for $2405. He was excited to have drawn the horse, having ridden him several years ago. “He has a reputation of a horse that gets a guy to the pay window,” Aus said. “It usually takes a few more points to win that rodeo, because it’s always tough. But 81 was good enough, and it was the first time I’d won North Platte in eight or nine trips of going there.” Aus had had a slow winter; his win at the Buffalo Bill Rodeo helped turn things around. “Really, June and July made me the most money last year,” he said. “I had a good June, and had an outstanding July, the second best Fourth of July run I’ve had in my thirteen seasons.” He enjoys the setup at the Wild West Arena. “Every place you get to set your bag down is unique. Behind the bucking
Tie-down roping champ: Shad Mayfield
For the second year in a row, Shad Mayfield won the Buffalo Bill Rodeo. The 2022 world champion finished with a time of 15.4 seconds on two head.
© Don Christner photo
Shad Mayfield, 2023 Tie-down Roping Champ.
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