CHEYENNE, WY – Team roping and rodeo has always been in the blood of Laramie County Community College junior Reese Wadhams which makes in no surprise to anyone you ask who knows his family that he is heading to his first College National Finals Rodeo in just a few days.

Wadhams grew up around the event and was raised to not only compete in team roping, but to be successful at it.

“I dang sure worked at it and all my family worked at it,” Wadhams said. “We were kind of expected to work at it.”

Not only was his father a CNFR qualifier for what is now CSU-Pueblo to go along with a professional career, but Wadhams saw his brother take the same steps to qualifying for a CNFR in the Central Rocky Mountain Region six years ago in 2017 with Eastern Wyoming College, so to be able to carry on the legacy in the same region the pair made their path through means a lot.

“It’s a lot of weight off of my shoulders, I know that for sure,” he related. “It’s just relieving and it feels good. I’m glad I can kind of keep it in the family a little bit.”

Being around such a high level of the sport not only pushed Wadhams, but it gave him a chance to learn how to be successful at a young age, in turn leading to a state championship and a reserve world championship in high school with partner Beto Cisneros.

The pair both made the commitment to continue roping together at Laramie County after high school, but the two years never saw the success click the way it did during their run as seniors in high school.

Things turned around this year with new partner Rio Nutter from the University of Wyoming, whom Wadhams says has been someone who he formed a quick bond with.

“It is cool,” he said of their work together. “The best thing about it is it’s fun too. We don’t ever really argue or anything and we don’t ever really get sick of each other, so it’s nice.”

That partnership has grown to the point where the pair finished the season in the top ten in the country, with Nutter claiming the ninth spot for heading and Wadhams picking up one spot at number eight in heeling.

The two have done so well they are even hitting the road together this summer with nearly 30 rodeos on the docket for their rookie years in the professional ranks.

The pair is hoping to use their experience against the best when they return to Casper for what they hope is a big payoff.

“I think it’s going to be good,” Wadhams said of the schedule which began at Guyman in Oklahoma just a week after the school year closed. “Going to a few pro rodeos before and roping against good team ropers, I think it’s going to prepare me pretty well for the college finals.”

Along with experience in the arena, Wadhams said he is leaning on what he has learned from his father and brother in their trips to Casper and other big events along with his own experiences of roping in front of big crowds, where he feels he performs to the level of excitement.

Wadhams said he is mostly looking forward to soaking in the experience thought, which is something his brother said is one that will make him hungry for more.

“My brother told me to be prepared to have a lot of fun,” He said.

The CNFR will be on of the biggest events that Wadhams has competed in to this point in his career with three guaranteed runs, and he is focused on not adding to the pressure that already comes with such a big event, saying he is taking a page from his fathers’ book.

“I just kind of hanging out,” he said. “My dad, he won a really big roping competition at BFI (Bob Feist Invitational) and he didn’t even watch a whole lot of the roping. He just kind of did his own thing and I think that’s kinda what I like to do too.”

That isn’t to say that performing well isn’t on his mind and making it to Saturday’s final round is something he that would mean the world to him.

He won’t be alone in the quest either. Not only will he be making the trip to Casper with five other Golden Eagles and their coaches, but his family will be watching along every step of the way in the stands.

“It’s awesome,” he said of the support. “My family will be there and the coaches and I’m sure I’ll see the team and I’m sure we’ll be behind each other the whole way.”

It’s one of the reasons he remained at LCCC through the lean years, was the support of everyone involved.

“I really just have to thank Seth and Dean and Vicki,” Wadhams said. “They push us and I’m glad I came here these past three years. If I didn’t like it I wouldn’t have stayed three years and they were probably the best three years of my life really.”

Wadhams and Nutter will have early rounds in Casper with slack on both Monday and Tuesday in the mornings before returning for their performance round on Thursday night.

If all goes well, the pair hopes to make it back in the top 12 for Saturday night’s finals and a chance at a national title.