With thousands of people surrounding the dirt ring at the American Cowboy Team Roping Association’s National Finals in Reno, Hollister’s Wyatt Naccarato, 16, and Craig Slibsager, 18, knew they were a long way from home.
After hearing names from Arizona, Texas and Nevada, the pair had no idea what they were up against. But it didn’t matter for Slibsager and Naccarato, who placed second in their division, as they roped their steer in a mere eight seconds during the Oct. 27 finals.
“We just kind of worked together,” Slibsager said. “We both never have been there. It was pretty much the biggest thing we’ve ever done.”
The two actually held the lead for the majority of the day, until they were defeated by .2 seconds with four teams left. Still, Slibsager and Naccarato left with more than $4,300 in prizes and championship saddles.
It was a great accomplishment for the two young ropers, who never competed with each other before the championship round.
“That was our first time together,” Naccarato said. “We practice a lot. We rope together in practicing. But we never competed anywhere.”
To qualify for the national championship, each roper competed in 10 sanctioned ACTRA events throughout the year. Afterward they competed in the state finals, where they placed third, to advance to the national competition.
With more than 850 teams participating inside the Reno Event Center, Slibsager and Naccarato needed to catch three steers to compete on the final short round. It was in the short round where Slibsager and Naccarato completed their best time.
“My dad and everyone around me told me not be fast but just catch your cattle,” Naccarato said. “If you catch your cattle you’re pretty much going to get some money. I knew we could get under 10 (seconds). I knew we could do it. So I just pushed myself a little bit.”
Naccarato caught the steer before Slibsager wrapped of its legs.
After having success in Hollister during some competitions, the two were amazed by the level of cowboys at the national championship, Slibsager said.
“There was more competition,” he said. “When you are roping around here you know people when you’re there you don’t know anyone and what they are going to do.”
Because of that, the ropers needed to focus on their own skills more, Naccarato said.
“You have to do what you’re going to do,” he said. “You can’t worry about anyone else. You can’t worry about anyone else. If you don’t catch your cattle you have nothing to worry about.”
The two plan to continue roping with each other in the near future.
