SAN ANGELO, Texas -- If momentum is a key to success, Tyler Waguespack is on quite a roll.

"Momentum is very important," said Waguespack, the 2016 world champion steer wrestler who leads the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo with a two-run cumulative time of 7.0 seconds. "It seems like two years ago over the Fourth of July, I had a really good run, and I've been having solid weeks ever since.

It's more about your confidence. Each time you back into the box, you know you're capable of making the runs to compete at this level.

He proved it very well during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this past December, when he placed in eight go-rounds -- including a share of three round victories -- and won the average title. He earned $213,218 in 10 nights, more than any other contestant in the field, and pushed his season total to just shy of $300,000.

That's not too bad for a man who was competing on ProRodeo's biggest stage for just the second time in his career.

"It's pretty hectic at the NFR and really nerve-racking," he said. "To come in the second year and win the world title is incredible. You get into a comfort zone by knowing what to expect more than anything."

Now he's parlayed that momentum into a solid start to the 2017 season. He has earned a little more than $28,000 and is second in the world standings, just about $1,200 behind traveling partner Ty Erickson; another member of their posse is Clayton Hass, who sits fourth in the standings so far. All ride Cadillac, a two-time AQHA Steer Wrestling Horse of the Year.

"We've been having a lot of luck for a while now, and I don't really want to take my foot off the gas right now," Waguespack said. "Ever since I was little, I've worked hard to get where I'm at. To ride a great horse like Cadillac just puts more fuel on the fire."

In addition to leading the rodeo, the Gonzalez, Louisiana, cowboy is one of two men who have posted the fastest time of the rodeo, a first-round tying 3.3-second run with a fourth traveling partner, Dakota Eldridge. Waguespack added a 3.7 on Sunday, and that has him seventh in the second round. Most importantly, he should easily return for the short go-round, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 17.

"In the first round, I was the second guy to go, and I wasn't sure what to expect on the steer," he said. "We were shooting blind but wound up good. For the second round, we were able to watch those steers go three times prior to today, and we made it work out. 

"This is the fifth time I've been here, and this is the fourth time for me. I really like this rodeo, and I've had a lot of luck before. It's definitely a hot spot for me."

Waguespack is on a hot streak, so he may as well enjoy his hot spot when he can.

By Ted Harbin, Rodeo Media Relations

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