ProRodeo Sports News 2022 Wrangler NFR Preview Issue

TEAM ROPING HEELER Record Season Nogueira eyes third gold buckle as the heeling season leader

BY TANNER BARTH J unior Nogueira’s rst PRCAWorld Cham pionship came back in 2016, when he captured the all-around title, but it was al ways the team roping title that had eluded him for the rst seven years of his career. at all changed last December at the omas &Mack Center in Las Vegas. Nogueira and partner Kaleb Driggers locked up their rst team roping titles in 2021. Nogueira had nished second in the PRCA | RAM World Standings on four di erent occasions. ey continued that momentum into 2022 and put together the best regular season in team roping history. e duo dominated from start to nish, placing in nearly every one of their 74 rodeos. ey wrapped up the

2022 TEAM ROPING HEELER STANDINGS

1. Junior Nogueira, Pres. Prudente, Brazil ... $227,878 2. Jake Long, Coffeyville, Kan. ........................ 130,332 3. Buddy Hawkins II, Stephenville, Texas ........ 123,076 4. Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nev............................... 110,855 5. Logan Medlin, Tatum, N.M. ......................... 110,691 6. Patrick Smith, Lipan, Texas ......................... 107,368 7. Travis Graves, Jay, Okla............................... 106,737 8. Jeremy Buhler, Arrowwood, Alberta............ 100,214 9. Levi Lord, Sturgis, S.D. ................................. 97,443 10. Trey Yates, Pueblo, Colo............................... 95,011 11. Joseph Harrison, Marietta, Okla. .................. 92,115 12. Wesley Thorp, Throckmorton, Texas............ 91,843 13. Brady Minor, Ellensburg, Wash. ................... 89,022 14. Brye Crites, Welch, Okla. .............................. 86,410 15. Jonathan Torres, Ocala, Fla. ......................... 82,968

FROM THE CHAMP

“It really was awesome to accomplish a lifelong dream. It’s really hard to even explain the feeling. I spent a lot of time working toward that goal and dreaming about it. I was a four-time reserve world champ and five times I went in No. 1 in the

regular season with $227,878, which broke the team roping regular season earnings mark before the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. Nogueira said nothing changed for them a er the title, it was back to business as usual. “As soon as we got home it was back to doing the same thing over and over again,” said Nogueira, 32. “We just continued getting our horses ready and getting better every single day with our roping.” Going into 2022 they had their sights set on having a strong regular season but didn’t anticipate having a record-breaking campaign. “We had a really good winter and that really helps a lot. We’ve always done great There was no slowing down Junior Nogueira after his 2021 PRCA World Championship. He broke the record for the most money won before the NFR this season with $227,878. Clay Guardipee photo

during the summertime, but never had a fantastic winter,” he said. “We weren’t even trying to break any sort of record this year. We always have a goal of trying to break records, but not really trying to chase it. I was just out there trying to do my job.” Nogueira was quick to credit his partner for their success in 2022. He said their partnership has been a match made in heaven. “My partner (Kaleb) is a phenomenal roper, and he always gives us a chance right out of the gate,” Nogueira said. “It seemed like this year every time we caught, we were placing pretty high. It also really helps that we have some

really great horses that we ride.

QUOTABLE “We had a really good winter and that really helps a lot. We’ve always done great during the summertime, but never had a fantastic winter.” – Junior Nogueira

Nogueira

“Without blessings fromGod nothing ever works. So, it’s just been a blessed year, having my family with me and rodeoing. I think what really has made a big di erence for us this year is we did do good at the big rodeos, but we also placed at a ton of the other ones. at consistency is key if you want to have success in our sport.” And even with so much already accomplished in 2022, they have their eyes on a much bigger goal headed into the omas &Mack this December. “We just had a high bar set out for ourselves and we have so much more we want to accomplish this season,” he said. “We want to win another title.”

world and could never get it done until (2021). So, to finally get it done is awesome and truly a blessing. Having my family and supporters by my side made it that much better.” – Junior Nogueira

ProRodeo Sports News 11/18/2022

WRANGLER NATIONAL FINALS RODEO

DEC. 1-10, 2022

ProRodeo Sports News 11/18/2022

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