Wesley Thorp, left, and Tanner Tomlinson moved into the No. 1 spot in the aggregate race Saturday during the fourth performance of Dodge City Roundup Rodeo.
(PHOTO BY ROBBY FREEMAN)
DODGE CITY, Kan. – The most important commodity of being on a team is having a teammate’s back.
Tanner Tomlinson is a living epitome of that. He is sixth in the heading world standings having earned $101,000 so far this season, yet his focus is on something else.
“I need to get some money to get Wesley to Sioux Falls,” said Tomlinson, referring not only to his partner, Wesley Thorp, but also getting the heeler to the Playoff Series championship that takes place in late September in southeastern South Dakota. “We need to put some things together.”
It might be happening this week. The tandem put two solid runs Saturday to move into the team roping lead at Dodge City Roundup Rodeo. They won the first round in the morning session with a 4.9-second run, pocketing $3,937 each. They then stopped the clock in 5.5 seconds on a tough steer during the sold-out fourth performance and will roll into Championship Sunday with a great opportunity to win the prestigious Roundup buckle.
“I was super surprised we had that kind of go on that steer,” said Thorp, a three-time world champion from Stephenville, Texas. “We saw him (Saturday) morning, and he was really, really strong. He’s been two places, and he was super strong at both places. We made a game plan to haze him good, pick him up right out of the chute and try to put him in the left lead.
“Tanner was just going to take a good start and be as sharp and aggressive as he could with making a high-percentage shot. I felt like it went as well as it could have with the way we had it drawn up. If you would have told us that we could have been 7.0 (seconds) on that steer, we’d have been excited about it.”
The tandem began roping together this March, so they’re still adjusting to life working together. While Tomlinson is in the top 10, Thorp sits 26th in the heeling standings with $62,861. They need to make a run for them to rope together at the National Finals Rodeo. Tomlinson has roped there three times in the last four years, while Thorp has roped at the last 10, winning rodeo’s gold in 2019, 2023 and 2024.
“I’ve got to see Tanner for years, because we’ve always bu8ddied together, and the talent level is unreal,” said Thorp, a 10-time NFR qualifier. “There have been times where we’ve drawn steers where we don’t think we have a chance, and all of the sudden, he’ll turn one to win the rodeo.”
The two complement each other well, which is why things are moving in the right direction. A win in Dodge City would not only help both but would also raze some demons. Neither owns a Roundup buckle, though Tomlinson and former partner Patrick Smith entered the final round one year as the No. 1 team before missing out on the championship.
“Besides the year I was high call, I bet every other year I’ve come back here, I’d always mess up on the first one,” Tomlinson said. “I’ve always been able to come back and won top three holes in the second round every year. To catch the first one today, make a good run and win the first round was big. Then to come back (Saturday night) and catch that one was great.
“We usually have a chance on any steer, but that steer was tough. I told him to step (the steer) as much as he could, because there’s a lot of left in that arena, and try to slow him down. He did an amazing job getting that steer over to me, and I took and extra swing to set that run up. He heeled him, and we had a good finish.”
Now, they need to repeat it to walk away with the Dodge City title and a lot of momentum to close out the final two months of the regular season.
Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
Dodge City, Kan.
July 30-Aug. 3
Bareback riding: First round: 1. Cole Reiner, 89.5 points on Championship Pro Rodeo’s Terry, $4,132; 2. Jess Pope, 88.5, $3,168; 3. Garrett Shadbolt, 87, $2,342; 4. Cooper Filikpek, 86.5, $1,15; 5. Kash Loyd, 86, $964; 6. Tim O’Connell, 85.5, $689; 7. Mason Stuller, 85, $551; 8. Lane McGehee, 84.5, $413; 9. (tie) Roedy Farrell, Tanner Aus and Tanner Aus, 83.5; 10. Matthew McLanahan, 82.5.
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Rowdy Parrott, 3.6 seconds, $4,059; 2. (tie) Mason Couch and Kall Mayfield, 4.1, $3,265 each; 4. (tie) Tristan Martin, Talon Roseland and J.D. Struxness, 4.2, $1,941 each; 7. (tie) Chance Howard and Darcy Kersh, 4.3, $618 each. Second round: 1. Boyd Sawyer, 3.8 seconds, $4,059; 2. Trisyn Kalawaia, 3.9, $3,530; 3. (tie) Logan Kenline and Will Lummus, 4.0, $2,736 each; 5. (tie) Tanner Brunner, Emmett Edler, Trace Harris, Jeff Miller and Cooper Orr, 4.2, $918 each. Average leaders: (tie) Talon Roseland and Mason Couch, 8.6 seconds on two runs; 3. J.D. Struxness, 8.8; 4. Darcy Kersh, 9.1; 5. (tie) Kall Mayfield and Rowdy Parrott, 9.2; 7. Cole Walker, 9.7; 8. Tristan Martin, 10.0; 9. (tie) Trisyn Kalawaia and Riley Duvall, 10.1; 11. Chance Howard, 10.2; 12. Boyd Sawyer, 10.3.
Team roping: First round: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 4.9 seconds, $3,937 each; 2. Tyler Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 5.1, $3,423; 3. Clay Tryan/Will Woodfin, 5.2, $2,910; 4. (tie) Dawson Graham/Dillion Graham and Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner, 5.4, $2,139 each; 6. (tie) Kavis Drake/Denim Ross and Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 5.6, $1,113 each; 8. Andrew Ward/Jake Long, 5.7, $342. Second round: 1. (tie) Kaleb Driggers/Junior Nogueira, Cody Snow/Lane Mitchell and Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 4.9 seconds, $3,423 each; 4. Kolton Schmidt/Paden Bray, 5.2, $2,396; 5. (tie) Cole Eiguren/Dylan Hancock and Jake Smith/Douglas Rich, 5.3, $1,626 each; 7. Kelvin Medeiros/Tyson Thompson, 5.4, $856; 8. (tie) Kellan Johnson/Trae Smith and Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 5.5, $171 each. Average leaders: 1. Tanner Tomlinson/Wesley Thorp, 10.4; 2. Tyler Tryan/Nicky Northcott, 10.8; 3. Nelson Wyatt/Jonathan Torres, 11.3; 4. Clay Smith/Coleby Payne, 11.4; 5. (tie) Kavis Drake/Denim Ross and Clayton Van Aken/Jaydon Warner, 11.7; 7. Clay Tryan/Will Woodfin, 11.9; 8. (tie) Brandon Farris/Braden Harmon and Clint Summers/Jade Corkill, 12.4; 10. Ryon Boatright/Jett Hillman, 13.3; 11. Curry Kirchner/Tanner Braden, 13.6; 12. Jaxson Tucker/Brushton Minton, 14.6.
Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Skinny Parsons, 88.5 points on Double J Rodeo Company’s Miss Charcoal, $4,185; 2. (tie) Brody Cress, Dane McPhail and Mitchell Story, 84.5, $2,372 each; 5. Blake Steuck, 84, $977; 6. (tie) Waitley Sharon and Tom Webster, 82, $628 each; 8. (tie) Traven Sharon and Jett Williams, 81, $209 each; 10. Jake Finlay, 10.5; 11. (tie) Regan Lyons and Tagg Bond, 80.
Breakaway roping: First round: 1. (tie) Shelby Boisjoli-Meged and Jordan Jo Hollabaugh, 2.4 seconds, $2,502 each; 3. (tie) Madison Outhier and Macy Young, 2.5, $1,796 each; 5. (tie) Jackie Crawford, Reagan Davis, Molly Hamilton and Amy Ohrt, 2.6, $898 each; 9. Martha Angelone, 2.7, $385; 10. Kinlie Brennise, 2.8, $257. Second round: 1. Taylor Munsell, 1.7 seconds, $2,695; 2. Suzanne Williams, 1.9, $2,310; 3. (tie) Timber Allenbrand, Tiffany Schieck and Winter Williams, 2.1, $1,625 each; 6. (tie) Hannah Giger and Kendyl Rogers, 2.3, $898 each; 8. (tie) Jessi Everett and Madalyn Richards, 2.5, $449 each; 10. Kiley Slavin, 2.6, $257. Average leaders: 1. Madison Outhier, 5.5 seconds on two runs; 2. Shelby Boisjoli-Meged, 5.8; 3. Josie Conner, 6.0; 4. Delani Beatty, 6.1; 5. Rylee George, 6.2; 6. Jordi Edens-Mitchell, 6.3; 7. Alli Masters, 6.7; 8. Jackie White, 7.0; 9. Kelsie Domer, 7.3; 10. Jenna Adams, 7.4; 11. (tie) Jade Mitchell and Cali Griffin, 7.7.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Semaj Collins Jr., 8.1 seconds, $4,282; 2. Shad Mayfield, 8.2, $3,723; 3. Haven Meged, 8.9, $3,165; 4. Zane Rampey, 9.3, $2,606; 5. Bryce Derrer, 9.4, $2,048; 6. (tie) Shane Hanchey and Joel Harris, 9.7, $1,210 each; 8. Cole Clemons, 10.0, $372. Second round: 1. Sam Lewis, 7.2 seconds, $4,282; 2. Joel Harris, 7.4, $3,723; 3. John Douch, 7.6, $3,165; 4. Austin Lawrence, 7.7, $2,606; 5. (tie) Kincade Henry, Cory Solomon and Riley Mason Webb, 8.2, $1,489 each; 8. Bryce Derrer, 8.4, $372. Average leaders: 1. Joel Harris, 17.1 seconds on two runs; 2. Shad Mayfield, 17.3; 3. Bryce Derrer, 17.8; 4. Riley Webb, 18.3; 5. Shane Hanchey, 18.4; 6. Kincade Henry, 18.5; 7. Haven Meged, 19.3; 8. Blane Cox, 19.5; 9. Austin Lawrence, 20.0; 10. Dylan Hancock, 20.2; 11. Semaj Collins, 20.3; 12. Chizm KuyKendall, 20.9.
Barrel racing: First round: 1. Loralee Ward, 17.01 seconds, $2,676; 2. Carlee Otero, 17.12, $2,294; 3. Summer Kosel, 17.15, $1,911; 4. Emily Beisel, 17.22, $1,656; 5. Kylie Kanngiesser, 17.23, $1,274; 6. Emma Parr, 17.25, $1,019; 7. Piper Cordes, 17.31, $765; 8. Lanita Peirce, 17.38, $510; 9. Devon Brown, 17.42, $382; 10. Acey Pinkston, 17.44, $255. Second round: 1. Makenzie Mayes, 16.92 seconds, $2,676; 2. Summer Kosel, 17.10, $2,294; 3. Piper Cordes, 17.17, $1,911; 4. Kim Squires, 17.19, $1,656; 5. Tillar King, 17.25, $1,274; 6. Loralee Ward, 17.30, $1,019; 7. Faith Nolte, 17.31, $765; 8. Blake Molle, 17.39, $510; 9. (tie) Ari-Anna Flynn and Raelin Jurgens, 17.40, $319 each. Average leaders: 1. Summer Kosel, 34.25 seconds on two runs; 2. Loralee Ward, 34.31; 3. Piper Cordes, 34.48; 4. Makenzie Mayes, 34.58; 5. Emma Parr, 34.69; 6. Acey Pinkston, 34.86; 7. Devon Brown, 34.91; 8. Ari-Anna Flynn, 34.93; 9. Morgan Addison, 35.02; 10. Kaden Burger, 35.05; 11. Blake Molle, 35.08; 12. Torrie Edge, 35.12; 11. Brett Woolsey, 35.22; 12. Makiah Flake, 35.28.
Bull riding: First round: 1. Hudson Bolton, 89.5 points on Rafter G Rodeo’s Riser, $4,340; 2. Colorado Kid Mackey, 87, $3,327; 3. Noah Lee, 86, $2,459; 4. (tie) Jax Mills and Jackson Ward, 85.5, $1,302 each; 6. Mecate Trammell, 84.5, $723; 7. Colton Byram, 84, $579; 8. Seth Prejeant, 82, $434; 9. Braxton Whitesell, 80.5; 10. Trent Ferreir, 76; 11. Billy Quillan, 72.