SAN ANTONIO -- Each year that steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack has entered the steer wrestling at the San Antonio Stock Show Rodeo, he has had more success.

Waguespack, from Gonzales, Louisiana, joined the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2012. The first time he qualified for the most lucrative regular-season rodeo was in 2014 when he won $1,466. The next year, he did a little better at $1,616.

Last year, on the way to his first world championship he won $6,130 in San Antonio. This year he plans to increase that and is ready to make a victory lap around the AT&T Center as the San Antonio champion. He has a way to go to get there but got started with a win on Tuesday night.

Riding the two-time world champion steer wrestling horse "Landry's Cadillac," Waguespack stopped the clock in 3.7 seconds to win the round and $2,281. This is the beginning of Bracket 3 and all of the contestants have two more opportunities to add to their earnings in hopes of advancing to the semifinals.

Waguespack's traveling partner, Clayton Hass from Weatherford, Texas, was on the other side of the steer hazing for him. They also travel with Ty Erickson from Helena, Montana. Hass and Erickson are competing in the next bracket.

I travel with the best group of guys," Waguespack said. "That takes a lot of pressure off. We have great horsepower and keep each other positive.

Waguespack is hoping for a San Antonio title, but if he doesn't win, he'd be very happy if it went to Hass or Erickson. They are having a lot of success early in the 2017 season. Erickson leads the world standings, Waguespack is second and Hass is in fourth place.

The 2013 world champion tie-down roper had the fastest time of the night by nearly a second. Shane Hanchey, from Sulphur, LA, stopped the clock in 7.3 seconds to win $2,281. Hanchey was aboard his trusty horse "Smokin Reata" for the win.

At the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo last December, Amberleigh Moore set the barrel racing world on fire. She entered in the 15th and final position and finished as the world champion aboard her great mare "CP Dark Moon" that she calls Paige. They finished in first place here on Tuesday as well.

Wednesday night's rodeo will start at 7 CT, when contestants will be in the second round of Bracket 3.

By Susan Kanode

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