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By Kent Lynch
Courtesy of Dally Times

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Life changing...that seems to be the general narrative on winning the George Strait Team Roping Classic when you talk to the guys who just cashed the checks. Both Dustin Egusquiza and Kyle Lawrence used that description in their post-victory conversations. And, how can it not be life-changing? When a guy can walk out of the San Antonio Rose Palace after two days of roping with over $123,000 and the keys to a brand new Chevy pickup towing a Bruton Strait Xtreme trailer in his pocket, well, that’s the stuff dreams are made of.

For the 34th year, the Strait family hosted what has become one of the best events offered to team ropers. Held March 11-12 at the San Antonio Rose Palace, the “Strait” is a favorite, if not THE favorite among open ropers and fans alike. With a two day cash payout of over $650,000, 571 teams eagerly entered, hoping for a part of the loot. Those 571 teams competed in Friday’s two-round preliminary where $50,000 was paid out in 10 rotations. Each one of those teams, however is anticipating a top 50 finish so they can advance to Saturday’s finals where the payout gets serious.

Egusquiza and Lawrence finished Friday as the second fastest team on two head (9.68), right behind Kolton Schmidt and Jeremy Buhler. Schmidt and Buhler’s 9.20 earned them a pair of buckles with the fastest qualifying time. Those times meant nothing on Saturday morning however, as the slate was wiped clean and the top 50 started a new three-head roping.

Egusquiza, from Marianna, Florida, also qualified for Saturday with Caleb Anderson. The 20 year old header is fresh off his 2015 Rookie of the Year and World Champion honors in the International Professional Rodeo Association, which host its finals, the International Finals Rodeo, in Oklahoma City each January. The IPRA world champion title seems to be a family tradition for the Egusquizas, as Dustin’s brother Manny took the title in 2011. “Ever since my brother Manny won in 2011, that’s been a goal of mine,” said Dustin.

After the first two steers had been run on Saturday, Egusquiza and Anderson sat tied in the fifth call back position with Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill, both teams with a 9.92. In just his second year of competion at the GSTRC, Egusquiza was in prime position to take a big chunk of Strait cash, but a broken barrier seemed to dash those hopes for he and Anderson. “Maybe a little bit of both,” replied Egusquiza, when asked if nerves or the steer might have caused the mishap. “Someone told me that steer was strong and went right. I don’t usually listen to much about the steers, but I did that day. I felt like I took the same start I had all day but the steer kind of trailed off.”

Following that run, Tryan and Corkill blistered one in 4.19 seconds, taking control of the roping with a 14.11 on three. Andrew Ward and Cody Doescher roped one in 4.39 for a solid second, then David Key and Travis Woodard came up with a leg penalty. It was time for Egusquiza and Lawrence in the second call back. How would the earlier broken barrier affect Egusquiza? Not at all is the short answer. “I don’t have a very good mindset when it comes to just placing,” said Dustin. “I like to win first.”

Needing a 4.40 to take the lead, the duo turned in a 4.29 with one team to sweat. Tyler Waters and Chase Tryan drew a steer that tried and took a no-time, leaving the championship to Egusquiza and Lawrence.

“I wasn’t confident we would win first after that run,” said Dustin. “I thought we’d win second and I was fine with that. Tyler Waters can reach and I thought they would beat us.” That wasn’t the case and the average win was worth $231,000 in cash, trucks, trailers, buckles, spurs, jackets and hats.

Lawrence, from Andalusia, Alabama is a self-proclaimed “weekender”. “I tried to rodeo for a few years and it’s tough,” said Lawrence. “We have a trucking and construction company, so I try to make circuit rodeos and stay close to home.

“This is something, it’s a dream come true, it’s life-changing,” continued Lawrence. “I just can’t decide whether to drive my truck or park it. I want everyone to see it but I don’t want to take a chance on messing it up.”

Lawrence has roped at the Strait for several years but the past three have been really good for him. “I won seventh with Rance Gantt two years ago and fifth with Arkie Rogers last year,” he stated.

Lawrence, 35, joined the PRCA in 2000 and is a past Southeastern Circuit Champion. He and Egusquiza have a history of fast runs, holding the arena record at the Professional Cowboys Association Finals in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Each champion has different plans for the earnings. Lawrence is paying things off with a possible rodeo trip planned for the summer. “I went straight to the bank and put every bit of it on my house,” said Lawrence.

“I’ve never been to California, so this summer my wife Mary Ellen and I are planning to head to the BFI and stay from Reno to Cheyenne,” he continued. “I’ll rope with Cory Clark from Stephenville, Texas and we’ll spend about a month seeing the sites and rodeoing a little. No pressure, just a rodeo vacation.”

Egusquiza however has definite rodeo plans. After rodeoing on his PRCA permit in 2015, he now has his card and will begin his rookie year in Huntsville, Texas in early April. “This is definitely life-changing,” said Dustin. “Without this win, I wouldn’t have had the finances to try and make the Wrangler National Finals this year. I bought a new trailer and a couple of horses and I’ll be roping with Brad Culpepper this year.”

Both champions had great things to say about the GSTRC as well as the sponsors who helped get them there. “To the Straits, thanks for everything you do,” said Dustin. “This is the greatest roping in the world and definitely a life-changing experience...a dream come true. And, thanks to my sponsors who are so great to me, Lone Star Ropes, Wrangler, Lubrisyn and Best Ever Pads.”

“I just want to thank George and his family for an amazing roping,” said Lawrence. “And I said that before I ever won anything there. It’s the best roping there is. I also want to thank my sponsors, Robert Lever and Wrangler, George McQuain and Billie Bray at Equibrand and OE Nutraceuticals...thanks for all you do for me.”

Both Egusquiza and Lawrence were beside themselves as the presentations were being made and photos taken. Lawrence bought their winning run steer from Robertson Hill Ranch and named him George. After the arena cleared and the truck keys were handed over, both jumped in their new rigs and circled the arena in chuckwagon racing style, horns blowing and lights flashing. Lawrence then backed up to the chute and loaded George for the trip back to Alabama.

Tryan and Corkill took the reserve championship at this year’s GSTRC, earning over $92,000 and a pair of saddles. Ward and Doescher finished in third for a check worth $63,520.

Each go-round on Saturday pays $3,000 to the fastest time but in the traditional twist, if the round is won on a red-wrapped steer, it is worth another $10,000. Egusquiza and Lawrence took advantage of that red wrap in round one with a 4.06, winning $13,000. In round two, it was the Smith brothers, Clay and Jake, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, who roped one in 3.93 on a red wrap for the $13,000 payday. In round three, Jacob Dagenhart and Ben Gambrell turned in the fastest time of the weekend, a 3.83, for the $3,000 win.

As he does every year, George Strait himself humbly welcomed ropers and thanked sponsors to kick things off on Saturday. Strait also uses his event as a venture to raise money for charity. In another tradition, the custom painted Priefert chute used during the roping was auctioned off after round two with Strait making the initial purchase for $9,200. He then donated it back to sell again, this time bringing another $8,500 for charity. The chute was purchased by John Robinson.

Strait and his late brother, Buddy, hosted the first George Strait Team Roping in Kingsville, Texas in 1983. That roping hosted 137 teams and boasted a grand prize of a two-horse trailer. From those beginnings, the Strait family has continued to pour their hearts into presenting the greatest team roping in the free world for both competitors and fans. Life changing...I think I remember that description being used.

Results are as follows; payoffs are per team:

1st go: 1. Dustin Eg­u­s­­­­qui­za and Kyle Lawrence, 4.06, $3,000. 2nd go: 1. Clay Smith and Jake Smith, 3.93, $3,000. 3rd go: 1. Jacob Dagenhart and Ben Gambrell, 3.83, $3,000.

Red Wrap Steer: 1st go: 1. Dustin Egusquiza and Kyle Lawrence, 4.06, $10,000. 2nd go: 1. Clay Smith and Jake Smith, 393, $10,000.

Average: 1. Dustin Egusquiza and Kyle Lawrence, 13.99, $231,000. 2. Clay Tryan and Jade Corkill, 14.11, $92,400. 3. Andrew Ward and Cody Doescher, 14.23, $63,520. 4. Guy Howell and Jhett Johnson, 16.36, $57,750. 5. Landon McClaugherty and Joel Huerta, 16.57, $46,200. 6. Logan Olson and Walt Woodard, 17.51, $34,650. 7. Bubba Buckaloo and Gage Williams, 17.76, $26,880. 8. Blake Hughes and Brady Norman, 21.56, $23,100.

Friday overall fast time: 1. Kolton Schmidt and Jeremy Buhler, 4.23, buckles. Friday fast time on two: 1. Kolton Schmidt and Jeremy Buhler, 9.2, buckles