When professional rodeo athletes declare their rookie year, they do so knowing the opportunity is only brief. The Resistol Rookie of the Year title can only be won once, and it is earned not in a single run or time, but across an entire season spent competing against the very best in the sport.
That reality well defined the 2025 Rookie of the Year class, a group of young athletes whose achievements were shaped by consistency and the ability to navigate a full professional schedule.
In most events, the Rookie of the Year race was decided well before the National Finals Rodeo began. Bull riding stood as the lone exception, with its rookie title remaining undecided until the final rounds in Las Vegas.
The 2025 Rookie of the Year winners were formally recognized during Round 6 at the National Finals Rodeo, a night traditionally known as Rookie Night, inside the Thomas & Mack Center. While most of the rookies did not compete there in Vegas, the recognition provided a moment on rodeo’s biggest stage to honor achievements earned across the full season. They are up-and-coming talented athletes that are very likely to be seen in the Thomas and Mack very soon.
Bareback Riding: Sage Allen
Sage Allen, a 21-year-old from Blackfoot, Idaho, closed the 2025 season as the Resistol Rookie of the Year in bareback riding after a first year defined by opportunity.
Allen earned $97,370 and finished 25th in the world standings, despite injuries that forced him to miss time during the season. After graduating from the College of Southern Idaho, where he competed on the rodeo team, Allen committed fully to professional rodeo in 2025.
One of his defining early moments came when he won the San Angelo rodeo, part of the Texas swing. While Allen did not qualify for the NFR, he set himself up very well for 2026.
Steer Wrestling: Traver Johnson
In steer wrestling, Traver Johnson of Eltopia, Washington, earned Resistol Rookie of the Year honors following a consistent first season on the professional road.
A 2025 Montana State University graduate with a degree in business management, Johnson earned $51,462 during his rookie year and finished 41st in the world standings, highlighted by a top-10 finish at Pendleton.
Team Roping Heading: James Arviso
The team roping heading Rookie of the Year went to James Arviso of Arizona, whose rookie season bridged his collegiate success with early pro momentum.
Arviso finished 38th in the world standings and earned more than $54,000 during his first PRCA season. A strong Cowboy Christmas run, where he won more than $22,000 was very pivotal in his Rookie of the Year race.
A Hill College cowboy, Arviso also won the 2024 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association team roping championship, teaming with Kaden Profili of Texas A&M–Commerce to claim the national title. He has proven his talent on the big stages, and is well prepared to continue on the professional road.
Team Roping Heeling: Nicky Northcott
On the heeling side of things, Nicky Northcott earned Resistol Rookie of the Year honors after a standout season.
A Stephenville, Texas, native, Northcott earned $111,029 and just barely missed qualifying for the NFR. He ended up 16th in the world.
He spent much of the season roping alongside two-time world champion Clay Smith. The team had big finishes including third at Reno, second at Cody, Wyoming, and a tie for the win at Kennewick, Washington.
Saddle Bronc Riding: Gus Galliard
The saddle bronc riding Rookie of the Year title went to Gus Galliard, a 22-year-old from Morse, Texas, who completed against his best buddies for the title.
Galliard earned $94,014, finished 21st in the world standings, and also barely missed qualifying for his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. A former 2024 CNFR champion saddle bronc rider at Tarleton State, Galliard later won the average at the Texas Circuit Finals this year, securing qualification for the NFR Open. He set himself up very well to go after the NFR again in 2026.
Breakaway Roping: Haiden Thompson
In breakaway roping, Haiden Thompson of Yoder, Wyoming, delivered the most accomplished rookie seasons ever. She broke the Restiol Rookie Breakaway earnings record.
Thompson earned $64,624, finished 25th in the world standings. She also won the Mountain States Circuit, highlighted by a mid-July stretch where she earned $21,041 in 10 days across rodeos including Estes Park, Sheridan, Casper, Gunnison, and Cheyenne to name a few.
Her season included significant challenges, including the loss of her No. 1 mare, in July. Thompson just missed qualifying for her first NFBR and was later crowned the WPRA All-Around Cowgirl World Champion at the WPRA Finals for the second year in a row.
Barrel Racing: Makenzie Mayes
In barrel racing, Makenzie Mayes came out on top in one of deepest rookie races of the year to earn the Resistol Rookie of the Year title.
The 21 year old competed at a whole 95 rodeos, earned $81,776.13, and finished 24th in the world standings. Her season included wins at the Nashville Music City Rodeo and Kennewick, Washington, a co-championship at Walla Walla, and a sixth-place finish at Pendleton.
Tie-Down Roping: Tyler Calhoun
In tie-down roping, Tyler Calhoun of Richards, Texas, earned Resistol Rookie of the Year after a big year travelign with mentor and friend, two-time world champion Shad Mayfield.
The reigning CNFR tie-down roping champion for Southwest Texas College and a former NHSRA national champion, began his year advancing to the RodeoHouston semifinals. This was just the start, as Tyler continued to have a great year against all of the best.
Calhoun finished No. 17 in the world standings and earned $110,637, very narrowly missing qualification for his first NFR.
Bull Riding: Bryce Jensen
Bull riding was the only Rookie of the Year title still undecided entering the Vegas. Bryce Jensen showed off in the Thomas and Mack and came out on top of a very tough race.
The 20-year-old from Huntsville, Texas, entered Las Vegas trailing fellow rookie Hudson Bolton but went ahead after a strong NFR performance. Jensen won Round 4 and closed the finals sixth in the world standings, sealing the Rookie of the Year title on the sports biggest stage.
Steer Roping and All-Around: Riley O’Rourke
In steer roping, Riley O’Rourke completed one of the most complete rookie seasons of 2025, earning Resistol Rookie of the Year honors in the Steer Roping and the PRCA All-Around Rookie of the Year title.
An Oklahoma cowboy, O’Rourke earned $152,130, finished second in the world standings in steer roping, and qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping. He also earned money in tie-down roping, securing the all-around rookie title.
O’Rourke’s year was much guided by Jess Tierney, his mentor, fellow NFSR qualfier, and the college rodeo coach at Western Oklahoma State College.
The 2025 Rookie Class
The 2025 Rookie of the Year champions go to show just how tough the up and comers of this sport is. The title is earned once, tested across months, and secured through consistency in these athletes first year on the road.
While most of this year’s rookies did not compete at the NFR, each proved capable of being there in coming years. As they close their rookie seasons, they move forward no longer defined by those big firsts, but by the foundation they have built for big goals coming next.