ProRodeo Sports News - 2021 Year End Edition

TEAM ROPING AVERAGE WINNERS

Consistency is Key Team roping tandem of header Andrew Ward and heeler Buddy Hawkins II rope in Round 5 on their way to the team roping average title. PRCA ProRodeo photo by Phillip Kitts BY TANNER BARTH H eaded into the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Teton Ridge AndrewWard and Buddy Hawkins had six NFR qualifications amongst them but have never really found success on the sport’s biggest stage. That all changed for the team roping duo in 2021. Ward and Hawkins with what we just won with finishing this 10-day long race,” saidWard, 31. “I’ve made the NFR before and not had any of this money. You know you finish just short before being 16th or 17th, but then we get to come out here and you win $70,000 for the average and whatever money we won in the rounds, we had a heck of a good week. I feel thankful and super blessed.” Ward and Hawkins win first NFR average title “I think it’s close to $70,000

won the average title in Las Vegas with 54.7 seconds on 10 head, which broke the old average record of 59.1 seconds on 10 head, which was set by Jake Barnes and Clay O’Brien Cooper in 1994. “It’s truly unbelievable, it’s a blessing for sure,” said Hawkins, 35. “Records are records but just to go down in history as the only ones that have it this year against what was an amazing field here is Vegas is awesome. We were able to come out here with 14 other guys and do what we prepared to do, that’s such a blessing.” Ward entered the NFR 12th in the world standings, while Hawkins was sitting 11th, but they quickly climbed the leaderboard in Vegas. They didn’t come away with a round win, but they placed in four out of the 10 rounds. The average title earned the duo $69,234 each. They went on to finish 7th in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings with $184,652.

Their total money earned during the 2021 ProRodeo season is the most either cowboy has earned during a single year in the PRCA. They hope this is only the beginning as they shift their focus to bigger and better things next season. “We’re competitive and we want to beat Kaleb and Junior next year and we are going to try to prepare like we’re world champs and see where we end up,” Ward said. “To come out here and win the average this year is awesome, but I believe there’s things I can do better, and I think Buds did perfect. “I’m thankful for what we did and I’m always trying to figure out how to shorten the distance a little bit between us and them. Kaleb and Junior are the team to beat and that’s where we would like to be eventually.”

ProRodeo Sports News 12/17/2021

ProRodeo.com

36