The second and third pen of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo team roping steers will average 480 pounds each, a full 90 pounds less than the average steer from 2018.
“This is such an even pen,” Bobby Joe Hill, owner of Hill Rodeo Cattle, said. “There’s no way to pick a winner tonight because they’ve all got a chance. “
The one comment from the majority of the ropers Thursday night was that the trick was in whether or not their steer started, and Hill said that will be the case the next two rounds as well.
“I don’t want to sound too much like a barrel racer,” Hill said. “But they get under these bright lights with all the noise, and it makes a difference. At home, they started and ran. So these first three rounds, they’ve got to figure that out.”
Here’s how the draw shakes out for Round 2 of the 2019 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
Tate Kirchenschlager and Tyler Worley: 39
“This is one of the two medium plus steers in the pen, but he’s still good.”
Matt Sherwood and Hunter Koch: 42
“Medium.”
Brenten Hall and Chase Tryan: 50
“Medium.”
Luke Brown and Paul Eaves: 30
“Medium plus.”
Cody Snow and Wesley Thorp: 47
“Medium.”
Riley Minor and Brady Minor: 5
“Medium.”
Chad Masters and Joseph Harrison: 28
“Medium.”
Erich Rogers and Kyle Lockett: 34
“Medium.”
Ty Blasingame and Travis Graves: 38
“Medium.”
Clay Tryan and Jake Long: 32
“Medium.”
Coleman Proctor and Ryan Motes: 33
“Medium.”
Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira: 24
“Medium.”
Clay Smith and Jade Corkill: 26
“Medium.”
Jake Cooper and Caleb Anderson: 49
“Medium.”
Tyler Wade and Cole Davison: 22
“Medium, but level headed.”