Here are the new ProRodeo team roping pairings for the 2022 summer run, based on how these teams entered the Reno (Nevada) Rodeo.
New Pro Rodeo Team Roping Pairings
Clay Smith and Jake Long*
Two-time World Champion Smith and former BFI and George Strait Champ Long roped together at the start of in 2019, together winning the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, the Texas Circuit Finals and the Wildfire before splitting before the summer run began. Long, who won RodeoHouston with Clay Tryan earlier this year, is second in the PRCA world standings with $65,967.56, while Smith, who’s roped with Jade Corkill since 2019, is fifth in the standings with $37,261.04 as of May 26, 2022.
Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill*
The World Championship team in 2013 and 2014, they also won the ERA title in 2016. Their list of wins together is massive, including Cheyenne in 2013 and the NFR average in 2014. They’ve stayed roping as second partners for the majority of their time off as main partners since they quit roping together at the rodeos in early 2018. After his Houston win, Tryan—who should cross the $3 million mark in ProRodeo earnings—enters the summer run second in the PRCA world standings with $65,967.56 in 2022. Corkill is fifth in the world with $37,261.04 won as of May 26.
Tyler Waters and Matt Sherwood
Waters is an all-around hand originally from Ohio who competes in the Cinch Timed Event Championship in all five events, and two-time heading World Champion Matt Sherwood is hungry for a shot at a switch-ender NFR qualification on the heel side. Waters is currently 30th in the PRCA heading standings with $18,703.61, while Sherwood is outside the top 50.
Kolton Schmidt and Cole Davison*
Canadian Champ Kolton Schmidt won the Reno Open with Wyatt Cox in 2021 but fell short of an NFR qualification after making it in 2020 with Hunter Koch. Davison was just outside the top 15 at 19th with Tate Kirchenschlager in 2021. Schmidt has $17,856.01 won so far in 2022, while Davison is outside the top 50 despite a go-round win at Guymon and checks at San Antonio.
Chad Masters and Paul Eaves
Masters and Eaves each have two gold buckles, but they’ve never roped together in ProRodeo competition. They’ve been third partners the last five years, but that means they haven’t gotten much in-arena action together. Masters is No. 9 in the standings right now with $31,772.08 after roping with Cory Petska for much of the winter. Eaves is 17th with $25,570.31, coming off shoulder surgery that had him out until RodeoHouston.
Manny Egusquiza and Walt Woodard
Egusquiza is riding the wave of last year’s BFI win, with hopes of his first NFR qualification. If successful, he could also get Woodard to the Finals. It’s Woodard’s stated goal to get another shot at the Thomas & Mack, which would mark his sixth consecutive decade roping at the big show. Woodard has $12,726.86 won so far on the year, while Egusquiza is outside the top 50.
