If there is such a thing as a secret to rodeoing, team ropers Derrick Begay and Cory Petska have surely found it.
The Arizona cowboys have 23 trips to the National Finals Rodeo between them and despite having no plans to rodeo full time this year, both are now in contention for another trip to the Finals in 2021.
It began when Begay earned a big payday at RFD-TV's The American in March roping with Matt Sherwood, setting him up for a chance at a ninth NFR. Meanwhile, Petska decided to take a month of the summer to hit some rodeos and ring up his old partner.
After winning Reno and Prescott right off the bat, their latest conquest came at the Mountain Valley Stampede in Heber City, Utah, yet another stop on the ProRodeo Tour. Roping on Saturday night, Aug. 7, Begay and Petska stopped the clock in 4.5 seconds to bank $3,706 each.
"The steer we had was a little stronger. Derrick reached a long way for him. It was kind of wild but it worked," Petska, 41, laughed.
"It was much needed," said Begay, 38. "We started out really good, but then all of a sudden it went the other way."
Begay was referring to a cold spell for the last couple of weeks.
"That's rodeoing," he said. "But this win came at a good time."
The team joined forces in late June and in just six weeks, cold spell notwithstanding, they've earned nearly $40,000 each. Begay came into the week ranked sixth in the PRCA | RAM World Standings for headers while Petska was 13th for heelers.
"In the beginning, no," Begay said of setting out to try for the Finals. "But after winning $10,000 at The American, it was sure in the back of my mind. I was wanting to go but didn't have a partner.
"Then Cory called."
Petska had been focusing on other business ventures, including 2,000-plus head of cattle he runs with his wife, Sherry Cervi, in Wisconsin. Those cows will need attention by September, giving Petska just a few more weeks of rodeoing to solidify his position in the standings.
"We're going through Caldwell," Petska said.
He and Begay were pulling an all-nighter back to Castle Rock, Colo., and Loveland, Colo., immediately following the Heber City win. "Then we're going to Wisconsin. I'll come back for Ellensburg but that will be about it."
This isn't the first time that Begay and Petska have pulled off a summer miracle – their last trip to the NFR in 2018 came on the heels of a huge winning streak from the Fourth of July on, and history appears to be repeating itself...MORE
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