Daily Archives: November 16, 2009

High risk-high reward is the nature of his chosen business. In team roping, it’s be fast or go home.

But when Tryan absolutely needed a big throw, with every inch of his back against the wall, he produced the most important loop of his 2009 rodeo season. Tryan, of Billings, qualified for his eighth National Finals Rodeo on the final Sunday of the 2009 regular season.

Needing at least $1,100 to clinch a qualifying spot, Tryan and partner Cory Petska won more than $1,800 at a rodeo in San Bernardino, Calif., to punch their ticket to Las Vegas.

The two had competed at the Justin Boots Championships in Omaha, Neb., the previous days and had won $3,783. But Tryan’s return to Las Vegas was far from guaranteed. They flew to California on Sept. 27 for two rodeos.

“I knew when we started what we needed to do,’’ said Tryan of his pivotal day. “I was angry about the situation I was in.’’ (read more)