Wheelchair-bound Man Wins Big at Team Roping Championships

by Karon Schneider The Arizona USTRC (U.S. Team Roping Championship), held at the Apache Gold Casino Arena January 26-28, was a weekend to remember for Rene Vega who teamed with Maricopa, Arizona heeler Secundino "Cundo" Lizarraga Jr, a wheelchair-bound 22-year-old, for the number 11 win. Vega, riding Chabelo, and Lizarraga Jr., riding Galon on "a saddle with a seat belt installed," won first place in the main Average for the USTRC saddles and first place in the Incentive (time 24.03) for the championship buckles, along with a payoff of $14,122, and $1,000, respectively, after roping four steers in 32.73 seconds. Vega and Lizarraga Jr, who is paralyzed from the waist down after being infected with a virus eight years ago, were both beaming from ear-to-ear. A very amiable and obviously well-liked young man, Lizarraga Jr. added that he had won four other saddles, but proudly said this was his first USTRC saddle. Cundo and Rene were among the top thirty out of 530 teams. The Saturday win earns them the opportunity to compete in the $4 million USTRC National Finals in Oklahoma City in October. USTRC, with a 30% female membership, and ropers aged 13 to 72, holds 84 ropings from coast to coast throughout the year, according to information from Walt Eddy. He added that four of those events are held in Arizona: in Globe at the end of January; in Flagstaff over Labor Day weekend; in Bullhead City in November; and in Scottsdale over New Year's. Team roping combinations include father-son, mother-son, husband-wife, father-daughter, mother-daughter, and grandfather-grandson/daughter and admission is always free.