Team ropers Clay Tryan, right, and Kelby Frizzell had a good Friday. They are placing in both rounds of team roping and lead the average race at the West of the Pecos Rodeo.
(PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN)

 

PECOS, Texas – Clay Tryan has done just about everything there is to do in team roping.

A three-time world champion and 20-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier, it’s been four years since he last traveled tens of thousands of miles chasing the sport’s most cherished prize. These days, he likes to stay closer to home.

“I haven’t rodeoed hard since 2022,” said Tryan, 47, a header originally from Billings, Montana, but now living in Lipan, Texas. “I like to rope still a little bit, because in a few years, I’ll probably be too old and terrible to do it.”

Don’t expect that anytime soon, because he’s still competing at a high level. Take Friday, for example; roping with 19-year-old Kelby Frizzell, the two roped two steers in a cumulative time of 15.3 seconds to take the team roping lead at the West of the Pecos Rodeo.

“I just try to rope with some of these young kids that rope pretty good,” Tryan said.

It’s a grand opportunity for newcomers to the game like Frizzell of Sterling City, Texas.

“We had a good steer this morning, so we went and caught him and knew we had a good steer tonight,” Frizzell said. “Clay did a good job, and I just caught him.”

It’s quite the education for the young cowboy. This month alone, the tandem placed in the top five at a couple of rodeos in the Lone Star State: Gladewater and Weatherford.

“Roping with Clay is really cool,” Frizzell said. “He turns a lot of really good steers, and all I’ve got to do is do my job and see where the cards fall.”

With one day of competition remaining, Tryan and Frizzell are holding a flush. While the elder statesman has earned a Pecos buckle, it would be Frizzell’s first if they hold on to the top spot. Their 8.4-second run has them eighth in the opening round, and the Friday night 6.9 has them in a tie for the second-round lead. That could lead to a nice payday.

“I don’t remember what year, but I have won Pecos,” Tryan said. “It would be nice to win it again. I don’t know if I will, but we’ll win something good.”

West of the Pecos Rodeo
June 24-27
Bareback riding: 1. Garrett Shadbolt, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Big Iron, and Roedy Farrel, on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Dusty Roads, 87 points; 3. (tie) Jess Pope, Lane McGehee, Kash Loyd and Brayze Schill, 85.5; 7. Tucker Carricato, 83.5; 8. Jayco Roper, 83.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1, Brenten Hall/Wyatt Cox, 6.4 seconds; 2. Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 7.3; 3. Denton Parish/Buddy Hawkins II, 7.8; 4. (tie) Lightning Aguilera/Kaden Profili and Cyle Denison/Braylon Tryan, 7.9; 6. Clay Ullery/B.J. Dugger, 8.0; 7. Cody Carter/McCoy Profilli, 8.2; 8. Clay Tryan/Kelby Frizzell, 8.4. Second round leaders: 1. (tie) Dalton Turner/Clay Clayman and Clay Tryan/Kelby Frizzell, 6.9 seconds; 3. Billy Bob Brown/Blaine Vick, 7.2; 4. Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 7.3; 5. Coleman Proctor/Travis Graves, 7.4; 6. Walker Smith/Will Smith, 7.9; 7. Chad Masters/J.D. McGuire, 9.3; 8. Jett Fisher/Vin Fisher; 9,4. Average leaders: 1. Clay Tryan/Kelby Frizzell, 15.3 seconds on two runs; 2. (tie) Clint Summers/Jade Corkill and Luke Brown/Hunter Koch, 17.3; 2. 4. Jett Fisher/Vin Fisher, 18.1; 5. Coleman Proctor/Travis Graves, 20.9; 6. Dalton Turner/Clay Clayman, 21.0; 7. Clay Ullery/B.J Dugger, 21.9; 8. Walker Smith/Will Smith, 22.5.

Steer roping: First round leaders: 1. Clay Long, 13.9 seconds; 2. Tony Reina, 13.6; 3. Quay Howard, 14.6; 4. Jason Burson, 15.1; 5. Martin Poindexter, 15.2; 6. Seth Ross, 15.3; 7. David Witcher, 15.7; 8. Vin Fisher Jr., 16.3.Second round leaders: 1. Scott Snedecor, 10.8 seconds; 2. Vin Fisher Jr., 11.0; 3. Jarett Holliday, 11.9; 4. Roger Nonella, 12.1; 5. Seth Schafer, 12.9; 6. Quay Howard, 13.4; 7. Mike Chase, 13.7; 8. (tie) Ketch Kelton and Dalton Walker, 14.0. Third round leaders: 1. Jake Clay, 11.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Jarett Holliday and Dalton Walker, 12.2; 4. J. Tom Fisher, 12.4; 5. Vin Fisher, 12.7; 6. Dustin Bassett, 12.9; 7. Will Eddleman, 13.1; 8. Seth Ross, 13.8. Average leaders: 1. Vin Fisher, 40.0 seconds on three runs; 2. Seth Ross, 43.2; 3. J. Tom Fisher, 46.3; 4. Dalton Walker, 49.4; 5. Mike Chase, 49.7; 6. David Witcher, 52.5; 7. Seth Schafer, 53.9; 8. Tanner Stec, 57.4.

Saddle bronc riding: 1. Lefty Holman, 88.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s River’s Ghost; 2. Statler Wright, 88; 3. (tie) Sage Newman, Will Pollock and Spencer Wright, 86; 6. Ryder Wright, 84.5; 7. Gus Gaillard, 83; 8. Cash Brangham, 79.5.

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. West Smith, 8.9 seconds; 2. Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.1; 3. Cade Wallis, 9.7; 4. Lucas Potter, 10.1; 5. Trevor Hale, 11.9; 6. Tyler Calhoun, 12.0; 7. Hunter Herrin, 12.3; 8. Chet Weitz, 12.6. Second round leaders: 1. Tyler Calhoun, 9.0 seconds; 2. Michael Otero, 9.6; 3. West Smith, 10.7; 4. Trevor Hale, 11.7; 5. Dillon Grote, 11.9; 6. (tie) Chance Oftedahl, Tanner Green and Trenton Smith, 12.0 . Average leaders: 1. West Smith, 19.6 seconds on two runs; 2. Tyler Calhoun, 21.0; 3. Michael Otero, 22.5; 4. Luke Potter, 22.6; 5. Trevor Hale, 23.6; 6. Chance Oftedahl, 25.0; 7. Chet Weitz, 25.7; 8. Dillon Grote, 26.7.

Breakaway roping: First round leaders: 1. Amy Ohrt, 3.2 seconds; 2. Haiden Thompson, 3.3; 3. Taylor Munsell, 3.6; 4. Kirsten George, 3.8; 5. (tie) Delani Kay Beatty, Danielle Lowman, Jayme Marcrum and Madalyn Richards, 4.0; 9. (tie) Martha Angelone and Grace Perez, 4.1. Second round leaders: 1. Martha Angelone, 2.9 seconds; 2. (tie) Makayla Boisjoli, Tibba Smith and Shelby Osceola-Moody, 3.3; 5. Jayme Marcrum, 3.5; 6. Haiden Thompson, 3.6; 7. Ashley Goforth, 3.7; 8. Delanie Beatty, 4.2; 9. Jaycee Davison, 4.5; 10. Kirby Rawlinson, 4.7. Average leaders: 1. Haiden Thompson, 6.9 seconds on two runs; 2. Martha Angelone, 7.0; 3. Jayme Marcum, 7.5; 4. Delani Beatty, 8.2; 5. Madalyn Richards, 9.1; 6. Danielle Lowman, 9.2; 7. (tie) Audrey Cunningham and Payton Johnson, 9.9; 9. Jakelyn Primrose, 10.1; 10. Haley Schafer, 10.4.

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1, (tie) Kyle Irwin and Tyler Waguespack, 4.6 seconds each; 3. (tie) Garrett Curry and Darcy Kersh, 5.1; 5. (tie) Eli Lord and Justin Shaffer, 5.2.; 7. Cameron Haumea, 5.7; 8. (tie) Dirk Tavenner and Zane Cline, 6.1. Second round leaders: 1. Jesse Brown, 4.8 seconds; 2. 3. Cash Robb and Darcy Kersh, 5.0; 4. Cole Pugh, 5.7; 5. (tie) Gus Franzen and Cody Devers, 5.8; 7. Eli Lord, 6.0; 8. Sam Shofner, 6.2. Average leaders: 1. Darcy Kersh, 10.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Eli Lord, 11.2; 3. Cole Pugh, 13.4; 4. Jake Shelton, 17.7; 5. Walt Arnold, 19.0; 6. Cole Walker, 19.6; 7. Tyler Waguespack, 19.8; 8. Dirk Tavenner, 20.9.

Barrel racing: 1. Jimmie Smith, 17.19 seconds; 2. Kim Squires, 17.20; 3. Maggie Wright, 17.47; 4. Carlee Otero, 17.63; 5. Brooke Krolczyk, 17.70; 6. Alyssa MacDonald, 17.75; 7. Shayna Wimberly, 17.85; 8. Caley Walkoviak, 17,90; 9. (tie) Tillar King and Maylee McCrary, 17.91; 11. Kortney Scheer, 17.93; 12. Amie Hennen, 17.95; 13. Karly Camozzi, 18.00; 14. Colee Charlesworth, 18.02; 15. Jennifer Driver, 18.03.

Bull riding: 1. Tristan Mize, 90.5 points on Penthouse Rodeo’s Hell at Night; 2. Braydan Kilcrease, 89.5; 3. Luke Mackey, 89; 4. (tie) Tristen Hutchings and Gavin Mitchell, 86.5; 6. Creek Young, 85; 7. T.J. Gray, 84.5; 8. Jate Frost, 83.