San Angelo's Tie-Down Roper Ty Harris Sits in First Place After 2 Runs

SAN ANGELO, TX – Every year as a child, Ty Harris made his way to the Foster Communications Coliseum to see his rodeo heroes perform.

He dreamed of competing inside the historic building and chasing the title at his hometown event, the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo. Now 21 and just a month and a half removed from competing at his first National Finals Rodeo, he has given himself a chance,

“This is an awesome experience and a better experience than roping anywhere else,” said Harris, who roped and tied his calf in 8.8 during Friday’s second performance of the rodeo; that, combined with his 8.2-second run on Thursday, gave the local cowboy the overall lead with a two-run total of 17.0 seconds. “It’s exhilarating. Having so many people here that I know, it puts a lot of pressure on you, but I love it; I crave that.”

He’s proven that over the years, just not so much at home. This is his first time to be in such a position at the stock show and rodeo, and he’s over the top about it.

“To be leading this rodeo is awesome,” said Harris, who finished ninth in the 2019 world standings and sits third as of this week in ProRodeo. “There are 170 other really good ropers that are in this thing. I hope I get a chance to come back on (Feb.) 14th.”

He’s talking about the championship round in two weeks. Only the top 12 contestants in each event through the preliminary rounds get a chance at one more and a shot at the coveted San Angelo title. There are plenty of opportunities to be passed in the two-run aggregate race, but his time should still allow him to advance to the short round, based on recent history.

Plus, Harris is riding a wave of fearlessness. At the NFR, he placed in four go-rounds, including wins on the fifth and sixth nights, and pocketed just shy of $90,000 in 10 days.

“It was an amazing experience to get to go there to compete and with that much money,” he said. “I didn’t have the best finals, but I was pleased with it and really hungry to do even better this year.

“It helped, because now I know mentally that you can compete with those guys and have success. It helps with your confidence. I’ve had confidence, but it helps knowing that I belong with the Shane Hancheys, the Trevor Braziles, the Tuf Coopers and the Marty Yateses.”

He’s earned it, because nothing in rodeo is handed to the men and women who play the game. It’s long hours in the practice pen, the gym and on the road to make a living in a sport driven by passion.

“I just want to rope as good as I can as long as I can and give myself an opportunity to make as many NFRs as I can,” Harris said. “There are a lot of amazing calf ropers – a lot of incredible cowboys in every event – that have never won a gold buckle, but that’s every rodeo guy’s dream. If I didn’t have that dream and goal, it would be pretty dumb of me to rodeo for a living.

“I’m blessed to get to do this every day and make a living doing it.”

San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo - Jan. 30-Feb. 14

Scores as of the end of 2nd performance on Jan. 31, 2020

Bareback riding leaders: 1. Kody Lamb, 88 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Hometown Girl; 2. Chad Rutherford, 86; 3. Tilden Hooper, 84; 4. Spur Lacasse, 82; 5. Kash Wilson, 79; 6. Pascal Isabelle, 77; 7. (tie) Jacob Lees and Anthony Thomas, 76.

Steer wrestling: First round leaders: 1. Ty Erickson, 3.8 seconds; 2. Heath Thomas, 4.6; 3. Bridger Chambers, 5.1; 4. Scott Guenthner, 5.2; 5. Cody Cabral, 5.8; 6. Dakota Eldridge, 6.3; 7. (tie) Tyler Waguespack and Dirk Tavenner, 7.9.

Team roping: First round leaders: 1. Reno Cash Stoebner/Colton Brittain, 4.1 seconds; 2. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 4.5; 3. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 5.5; 4. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 9.4; 5. Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 9.8; 6. Tyler Wade/Billie Jack Saebens, 14.4; 7. Quisto Lopez/B.J. Dugger, 14.6; no other qualified runs. Second round leaders: 1. Levi Simpson/Shay Carroll, 4.8 seconds; 2. Brenton Hall/Chase Tryan, 4.9; 3. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 5.0; 4. Garrett Chick/Walt Woodard, 19.5; no other qualified runs. Average leaders: 1. Brenten Hall/Chase Tryan, 10.4 seconds on two runs; 2. Cyle Denison/Lane Mitchell, 14.4; 3. Reno Cash Stoebner, 4.1 seconds on one run; 4. Coleman Proctor/Ryan Motes, 4.5; 5. Levi Simpson/Shay Carrol, 4.8; 6. Tate Kirchenschlager/Ross Ashford, 9.8; 7. Tyler Wade, Billie Jack Saebens, 14.4; 8. Quisto Lopez/B.J. Dugger, 14.6.

Saddle bronc riding leaders: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 88 points on Lancaster & Jones ProRodeo’s Total Equine Ruffy; 2. Kolby Wanchuk, 84; 3. (tie) Isaac Diaz and Brody Cress, 82; 5. Sterling Crawley, 81; 6. Dean Wadsworth, 79.5; 7. Nat Stratton 78.5; 8. Jake Finlay, 78.

Tie-down roping: First round leaders: 1. Lane Livingston, 7.2 seconds; 2. (tie) Ty Harris, Westyn Hughes and Catfish Brown, 8.2; 5. Ike Fontenot, 12.2; 6. Tyan Thiboeaux, 12.7; 7. Adam Gray, 19.0; no other qualified runs. Second round leaders: 1. Justin Smith, 7.0 seconds; 2. (tie) Ike Fontenot and Riley Pruitt, 7.4; 4. Zach Jongbloed, 8.3; 5. Ty Harris, 8.8; 6. Adam Gray, 9.2; 7. Ryan Thibodeaux, 9.5; 8. Lane Livingston, 10.1. Average leaders: 1. Ty Harris, 17.0 seconds on two runs; 2. Lane Livingston, 17.3; 3. Ike Fontenot, 19.6; 4. Ryan Thibodeaux, 22.2; 5. Adam Gray, 28.2; 6. Justin Smith, 7.0 seconds on one run; 7. Riley Pruitt, 7.4; 8. (tie) Catfish Brown and Westyn Hughes, 8.2; 10. Zach Jongbloed, 8.3.

Barrel racing: Second round leaders: 1. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 14.26 seconds; 2. Amanda Harris, 14.48; 3. Margo Crowther, 14.50; 4. Tara Carr, 14.55; 5. Shelby Bates, 14.57; 6. Shelby McCamey, 14.60; 7. Christine Laughlin, 14.67; 8. Kelsey Knight, 14.75; 9. Angela Ganter, 14.77; 10. (tie) J.J Baldwin and Mary Jo Camera, 14.81. Average leaders: 1. Ivy Conrado-Saebens, 30.49 seconds on two runs; 2. Margo Crowther, 30.73; 3. Amanda Harris, 30.84; 4. Cristine Laughlin, 31.04; 5. Tara Carr, 31.13; 6. (tie) Shelby Bates, Shelby McCamey and Kelsey Knight, 31.18; 9. Angela Ganter, 31.22; 10. Janie Johnson, 31.38; 11. Mary Jo Camera, 31.41; 12. (tie) J.J Baldwin and Lisa Fernandes, 31.45.

Bull riding leaders: 1. Elliot Jacoby, 86.5 points on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Snake Ears; 2. Brody Yeary, 82; no other qualified rides.