Team roping brothers Josh and Jonathan Torres are are quickly making a name for themselves in the PRCA. Originally from Miami, Florida, Josh and Jonathan moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to rodeo for McNeese State University. While attending McNeese, they both made the College National Finals Rodeo four times and placed in the top 10 three out of their four trips.

While the brothers are new names to watch in the PRCA standings this year, they are no strangers to winning. They have qualified for the Southeastern Circuit Finals every year since 2013, and they won the All American Finals in 2011 -- the same year Josh was crowned the PRCA Rookie of the Year in the heading. So far this year, Josh is currently sitting 19th in the world in the heading, and Jonathan is sitting 17th in the heeling standings. They started off 2017 by placing at the Northwest Florida Championship in Bonifay, FL, the All American Finals in Waco, Texas, and the Southeastern Circuit Finals, and they look forward to continue their winning ways at Lafayette, LA, and Denver, Colorado, this coming week.

We caught up with the "Cuban Connection," as they are called by fans in the Southeastern Circuit, and asked them a few questions as they begin their quest for the 2017 WNFR.

FloRodeo: Who has had the biggest influence in your life in and out of the arena?
Josh: My parents, Jose and Teresa Torres.
Jonathan: My father mainly outside of the arena. He never roped a bunch but has always had our back.

How do you set goals, and what are your short-term and long-term goals?
Josh: I write a few things down I want to accomplish by the end of the year. Short-term goals for life is just to keep moving no matter what day of the week it is. My long-term goals for life is to be knowledgeable and determined in any part of the rodeo business. My No. 1 long-term goal is to be a world champion.
Jonathan: I tell myself what we need to do, where it will get us if we do this the correct way. Short-term goals are staying close enough to the top 15 all year long. Long-term goal (is) making the NFR and winning the world.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given about rodeo and competing?
Josh: You better have good horses, good horses and more good horses, and you better know how to plan.
Jonathan: If you're not entered, you don't even have a chance.

How did you start team roping?
Josh: Family friend got us involved and our parents helped with every aspect of roping they could.
Jonathan: One of my dad's friends, Nelson Linares, he used to rodeo, and my dad used to rope some.

What is your favorite rodeo or event you have ever had the opportunity to compete at?
Josh: Salinas, California. The weather is great five days in a row for a good chance at a good average check. All the greats are entered there every year, and it is a good atmosphere.
Jonathan: Rodeo Houston and The American.

What is it like roping with your brother? Who calls the shots in the practice pen, and who is the one responsible for entering?
Josh: It's great roping with my brother, because we each know how to handle our jobs. I usually give an idea, and he will confirm because it is a team sport. I handle 99.9 percent of the entering.
Jonathan: It's pretty good. We can agree on something together instead of just one thought, in the practice pen it's pretty much whatever we need to do for each other and our horses so I would say we both call the shots. Josh does all the entering.

How do you stay sharp while on the road?
Josh: Roping the dummy on a hay bale a lot to keep basics together and riding my horses working on my horsemanship. If we are fortunate to run some we just get some runs in on a few practice steers.
Jonathan: We rope the head dummy and the smarty pipes, and if we get the chance to practice we run some.

What is your favorite hobby besides rodeo?
Josh: Buying cattle and hanging with my wife, She'rae.
Jonathan: I just started playing golf about six months ago. I like that. I like to play basketball or anything like that. I'm a competitive person!

What are your favorite sports teams?
Josh: I am just a sports fan, basketball football and baseball. I enjoy watching professional athletes.
Jonathan: The Miami Heat and the Miami Dolphins. For college teams its University of Miami and the Florida Gators.

What is your biggest motivation?
Josh: I get motivated by having good horses to ride, believing in the lord, and the people that surround us who believe in us.
Jonathan: My Dad. I hope I can be the father, husband, guy he is after all we want is to make the finals to show him that all his time, money and help has paid off.

What quote/verse or phrase keeps you going?
Josh: Win, win, win no matter what… (in his best DJ Khaled impersonation.)
Jonathan: We are here to win. Focus, it's not that hard. You do it all the time.

Anything else you would like us to know or sponsors/people you would like to thank?
Josh: I have to thank a few families that keep us out going down the road, also a few sponsors Classic Ropes, Bayou West, Outlaw Equine, Nutrena, Smarty. These are the absolute best products on the market, and we are so fortunate enough to be a part of their team. That is a dream since (we were) little kids.
Jonathan: I'd like to thank my family and my sponsors: Smarty, Classic Ropes, Outlaw Equine, Tres Rios, Nutrena, Bayou West, JT Cattle, Young Guns Productions, and Retroversial.

What are you looking forward to the most in 2017?
Josh: The most exciting will be having fun with the horses we have lined up at the moment. We like our lineup, and it always makes it extra fun when you are driving a Cadillac.
Jonathan: Making the NFR, having all my family and friends out there with me.

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