ProRodeo Sports News - January 22, 2021

PRORODEO TEAM ROPERS

Team roping pairs shaping up in 2021 Trading Places William Kierce photo Team roping header Kaleb Driggers, right, and heeler Wesley Thorp compete in Odessa, Texas, in January. Thorp, the 2019 world champion, and Driggers, a nine-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, joined forces in 2021.

BY TRACY RENCK I n the ProRodeo world, team ropers switching partners has

respective heeler and header PRCA | RAMWorld Standings. Last season, Driggers roped with Cory Petska, the 2017 Team Roping Header World Champion. Driggers was 24th in the world standings in 2020 and Petska was 27th. Driggers finished third in the team roping header world standings in 2019 with partner Junior Nogueira. He finished second in the world standings three consecutive seasons (2016-18) while roping with Nogueira. In 2016, Driggers helped Nogueira win the all-around gold buckle. “The goal is to win gold buckles,” Thorp said. “We just need to get on the same page and make sure that we kind of know each other’s game plan in different scenarios. We also need to make sure we have different horses

seemingly become an annual event in January. And 2021 is no different. Topping the list of cowboys swapping partners is 2019World Champion Heeler WesleyThorp, who has teamed up with header Kaleb Driggers. “I’ve roped with Kaleb in jackpots a few times and I’ve been around him the last several years,” Thorp said. “I think we should have some good chemistry together. It seems like our styles fit well. I’m excited about being with Kaleb and I think we will hit pretty well together.” Thorp was with Chad Masters in 2020. The duo finished 10th in their

ProRodeo Sports News 1/22/2021

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