Northcott Sweeps Inaugural World Youth Team Roping Championships

Reigning World Champions Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp teamed up to showcase the future of team roping. One young talent shined above the rest and dominated the entire weekend, proving that the sport has a bright future.

Wesley Thorp and Nicky Northcott / Kaitlyn Woodman for SI Rodeo

Over the weekend of March 22-24, 2024, in Stephenville, Texas, the next generation of team ropers gathered at 377 Arena to rope for outstanding prize money with affordable fees and to have the chance to enter with their heroes. This was all made possible by the efforts of two World Champions who wanted to give back to the younger generation just as others had done for them growing up. 

Tyler Wade and Wesley Thorp are not only team roping partners but also long-time friends who had the opportunity when they were younger to rope at an event similar to the Wrangler Team Roping Championships. When the idea presented itself around eight months ago to set a plan in motion to bring this event to life, the two couldn’t pass it up. 

The idea for this format is to allow the kids to “rub shoulders” with the professional ropers and showcase the talent that the future of team roping has to offer. More often than not, the open ropers and youth ropers won’t cross paths at the larger ropings since they always rope on different days, so this event gave the kids an opportunity to improve and rope with open-level talent. 

Not only did Wade and Thorp shuttle back and forth between this event and the Lonestar Shootout in Abilene (Wade and his wife, Jessi, also welcoming a new baby girl just days before the roping was set to start), but they also entered over 100 times collectively with kids alone, not including their open runs. Their philosophy for the weekend was to not say “no” to any youth roper who asked them to enter. 

Impressively enough, the pros roped with the kids purely out of the kindness of their hearts and the majority of the winnings from each roping went solely to the kids. 

Youth and pro ropers waiting for their chance to rope in the Youth-Pro roping. / Kaitlyn Woodman for SI Rodeo

Nicky Northcott is no stranger to the winner's circle when it comes to the sport of team roping, and as a matter of fact, he is no stranger to the Open caliber competition presented by the pros of the industry. On the same day Northcott won the first Open roping at 377, he also placed 4th in the Lonestar Shootout Open with Kaleb Driggers. 

Although Northcott ropes at an extremely advanced level, he is only 17 years old and eligible to compete in youth events for a few more months. He proved that he is a force to be reckoned with amongst all levels of talent throughout the entire weekend. 

His first win came with fellow standout youth roper and Junior Ironman Champion Ketch Kelton in the Open on Friday. Shortly after, Northcott doubled down for another Open win on Saturday, this time with World Champion Clay Smith. He wasn’t quite done for the day yet and took home first and second in the Youth Pro with Chad Masters and Tyler Wade, respectively. 

The final day brought the “Main Event,” or the Youth Championships, where both ropers are required to be of high school age or below. Northcott topped the weekend off with yet another win and was awarded the “High Point Roper” saddle.

“I think it (World Youth Team Roping Championships) will make every single kid here better and that's what we want to see and to see the sport grow. We’re here to help kids get better, not give them a pat on the back and make it easy for them. So I think seeing talent like Nicky rope will inspire some of these kids to step up their game and get better.”

- Tyler Wade

Northcott has a unique perspective on roping and interacting with professionals, especially being the son of a World Champion, but he can appreciate what Wade and Thorp are doing for the younger generation of ropers who haven’t had the same opportunities as him. 

“It’s really cool to watch, it’s not every day you get to see kids interact and rope with the professionals so it’s a cool opportunity for the kids that aren’t around the professionals as much.”

- Nicky Northcott

With backing from companies like Equinity, Smarty, Wrangler, Resistol, and many more, the event was able to provide unique opportunities and added money for the kids. The event only hopes to get bigger and has intentions of continuing to hold the World Youth Team Roping Championships annually to grow the industry for years to come.

Visit www.facebook.com/WorldYouthTeamRopingChampionships for more information and updates on future dates and venues.