Without question, over the past 40 years, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo has made Las Vegas the center of the universe in the sport. For that matter, each December, Vegas becomes the center of the entire cowboy/cowgirl/Western galaxy.

That’s in part because other rodeo competitions continue adding to the NFR experience, in their own unique way. The biggest among those is the Ariat World Series of Team Roping, which has been part of Wrangler NFR Week festivities since 2006.

From Friday-Dec. 14, thousands of team ropers — from high-level pros to weekend warriors, and everyone in between — will ply their trade at the South Point Arena Equestrian Center. Contestants are placed into appropriate divisions, based on ability/experience.

It’s no accident that the WSTR overlaps the NFR.

“We’

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