WORLD CHAMPIONTEAM ROPING HEELER
TREMENDOUS TRUST Annette Stahl secures her fourth world title by trusting God and trusting the process. By Josie Mac Fladager A nnette Stahl was a force to be reckoned with at the WPRA World Finals in Waco, Texas, November 9-11. Heeling for Jackie Crawford and heading for Kennlee Tate in the team roping, Stahl was crowned 2023 world champion heeler,
finals average champion header, finals average reserve champion heeler, reserve finals all around cowgirl, and reserve world champion all around cowgirl. “I just trusted the process and said I was going to try to do my best every single run and see what God had in store for us. It’s always better if you just trust him and go forward,” Stahl said. The Salt Flat, Texas cowgirl went into the WPRA World Finals sitting second behind reigning world champion heeler Lorraine Moreno by over $2,000. Stahl knew it was mathematically possible, but she wasn’t going to underestimate her fellow competitors. She had roped with Crawford all year, but this was the first time they were going to rope together at the finals. She chose to place her focus above and let her preparation take care of the rest. “When you go into that situation, you just trust God and whatever the outcome is going to be because you can’t control the outcome,” Stahl said. “All you can control is you and what you do every run.” When the dust settled in Extraco Events Center, Stahl had topped the world standings by $27. She had placed fourth or better in every round from both roping boxes. She finished No. 1 in the average heading and No. 2 in the average heeling with just one-tenth of a second separating the two teams and finishing over five seconds ahead of the third-place team. Consistency has been Stahl’s method of operation for years and 2023 was no different. But Stahl knew there was only so much she could control and was ready to rope no matter the outcome. “When you go into any event you always hope for that scenario and
it never seems to work out the way you had in your head,” Stahl said with a laugh. “But that week was just a blessed week, and you could just feel the presence of God in it. You just knew to get on and go do your job and it was going to turn out good. For her fourth heeling world title, Stahl was aboard Decidedlys Oak (High Oak x Decidedlys Lil Lena by Smart Little Lena), her faithful heel horse she has owned for six years now. “Annie,” the 10-year-old sorrel mare with a beautiful blaze, is as reliable as her color. “She’s really solid, never takes anything away from you, lets you complete your job every time,” Stahl noted. “I try to do the same process every run, no matter what.” For Stahl, the community in women’s team roping is more like family than anything else. While roping is fun, it is the friendships and memories that make the traveling and hard work worth the effort. “The team roping world is a big family and that’s what I love about it the most. We go to the team ropings to see the people more than anything,” Stahl said. “Winning is always great, don’t get me wrong, but to get to go see all your friends and people you consider family is a great thing.” While Stahl was a force to be reckoned with at the World Finals, it is her attitude, beliefs, and her team around her that sets her up for success. She is grateful to her family and sponsors for always rallying behind her. She is also confident that God has a plan. And for that reason, she will continue to swing her rope with the support of the people on her team in 2024. “Once all your faith is in Him it’s so much easier. And then if it’s not that outcome you planned for, then that’s not why you were there. It’s not always about roping.” Annette Stahl picked up her fourth world title as a heeler this time roping behind the legendary Jackie Crawford. Crawford and Stahl finished second in the average given Stahl enough money to edge reigning world champion Lorraine Moreno for the title. Stahl finished with $14,250, while Moreno had $14,223. WPRA photo by Rodeobum.com (James Phifer)
Annette Stahl (left) also teamed with Kennlee Tate (right) during the 2023 WPRA World Finals as a header. The duo won the average in a time of 20.7 seconds on three head, just edging Jackie Crawford and Stahl who finished with a 20.8. WPRA photo by Rodeobum.com (James Phifer)
34 WPRA NEWS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online