With five Gold Buckles already to his name, including three in a row, Louisiana steer wrestler Tyler Waguespack’s 2024 season made getting a sixth seem out of the question.
A detached bicep tendon suffered in Oregon early in June severely limited Waguespack’s chances to earn money toward the 2024 National Finals. Despite the steep odds, the now 10-time NFR qualifier wasn’t fazed.
Waguespack made his return to the arena in a huge way at the end of July and kept a lead foot down from there. He hustled the final eight weeks of the regular season to jump from No. 33 in the World on August 1 to No. 14 come Sept. 30.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $8,750
In Waguespack’s best showing of the Texas Swing, he made four straight runs of 4.4 seconds or faster to advance to the Finals, where he would not make a qualified run. His best run of the rodeo was a 3.6 that won him the Second Semifinal and paid $5,000.
Mt Pleasant Rodeo, $2,312
The month of June brought in two wins before Waguespack was sidelined and the first came in Texas. His 4.0-second run was one of three that shared the top spot as he split the win with Tanner Brunner and Jay Williamson.
In his other win in the first week of June, Waguespack was as consistent as ever at the Eagle Rodeo in Idaho. A 5.5 and 5.6-second run would make his time on two head of 11.1 seconds the winner by more than 1.5 seconds.
The War Bonnet Round Up, $2,457
Waguespack’s return to the arena came in a huge way when he cashed in multiple wins his first weekend back. One of those wins was by way of Idaho Falls and a wicked fast time of 3.4 seconds. It matched the second-fastest run of his season.
Salmon Stampede, $2,032
Waguespack’s fastest time of the regular season came shortly after his return. A 3.1-second run would get him the win in Idaho by four tenths of a second. Waguespack last had a 3.1 in Deadwood in 2022.
Lake County Round-Up, $2,357
The final month of the season started on the right foot for Waguespack. His 3.8-second run would be one of only two sub-4-second runs in Oregon and it would be the fastest of the two. Waguespack continued to add to his regular season earnings and the Top 15 was in sight. He would go on to win Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo the very next weekend.
North Dakota Roughrider Cup, $14,572
Waguespack hit the jackpot in Mandan, posting a time of 3.4 seconds to win the one-head rodeo. Afterward, he said he was either going to take first place there or head home for the rest of the season. He demonstrated his championship resolve by delivering on that promise to himself. The win moved him from No. 21 into the Top 15.
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