Where Are They Now? Checking in on the 2025 Resistol Rookie of the Year Class

Winning Resistol Rookie of the Year is one of the most prestigious honors a professional rodeo athlete can earn. This is an award that each rodeo athlete only has one year to win, being their very first Pro Rodeo season. 

It recognizes the top earning rookie in each event during their first season competing on the PRCA and WPRA circuits. For many competitors, the award marks the beginning of a career that could eventually lead to National Finals Rodeo qualifications and even World Championships.

We have seen time and time again, some of the greatest in the game rise to the top shortly after their Resistol Rookie of the Year title. The 2025 Rookie class was very strong. Now, just months after those rookie wins, many of those same athletes are already making noise again during the 2026 season.

Here’s a look at where each of them stands today. 

Few rookies made a statement in 2025 quite like Riley O’Rourke.

The 21 year old Oklahoma cowboy not only captured the All-Around and Steer Roping Rookie of the Year titles, but he also finished the season as the Reserve World Champion Steer Roper.

A native of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, which is often called the steer roping capital of the world, O’Rourke grew up surrounded by the event. He later attended Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, where he was coached by fellow steer roper and all-around cowboy Jess Tierney.

O’Rourke qualified for the National Finals Steer Roping during his rookie season and has carried that momentum into 2026, currently sitting sixth in the world standings.

The Blackfoot, Idaho cowboy made his mark during the 2025 season by earning the Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year title.

Now 22 years old, Allen is working his way toward the Top 15 with a steady start to the new season. He picked up a big check at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver and followed that with a second-place finish at the Dixie National Rodeo in Jackson, Mississippi. Those results have helped keep him within reach of the standings leaders as he looks to climb into NFR contention.

In saddle bronc riding, Gus Gaillard is already positioning himself for a potential trip to Las Vegas. The 23 year old Texas cowboy currently sits seventh in the world standings with nearly $50,000 in earnings early in the season already.

Gaillard started the year strong by winning the Texas Circuit Finals Rodeo and has continued to stay very consistent at several major rodeos since. If that momentum continues, Gaillard could find himself on rodeo’s biggest stage later this year.

The Washington steer wrestler has stayed competitive early in 2026 after winning the rookie title last season. Johnson recently split the win with Tyke Kipp in Okeechobee, Florida, stopping the clock in a super fast 3.2 seconds.

Earlier this year, he also claimed the title at the Helzapoppin Rodeo in Buckeye, Arizona. Those results have kept him inside the Top 40 in the world standings as he continues working his way toward NFR contention as well.

Few rookies have come out of the gate hotter in 2026 than James Arviso.

The Arizona cowboy currently sits eighth in the world standings after collecting big checks at both the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.

Arviso is heading for Rance Doyal, who currently sits 11th in the world standings on the heeling side, This young talented team has already proven they can compete with some of the best teams in the sport, and that they want their shot in Vegas this year. 

The 19 year old Texas cowboy has been a force since he could swing a rope. Northcott came incredibly close to qualifying for his first National Finals Rodeo during his rookie season.

Nicky finished 16th in the world standings in 2025, just barely missing that Top 15 cutoff. Now in his second season, he sits inside the Top 30 in the world standings and has reunited with 11 time NFR qualifier and two time world champion Clay Smith. For a young heeler, partnering with a veteran like Smith can be a valuable advantage as he continues building his career.

Tie-down roping rookie Tyler Calhoun has been steadily adding checks throughout the early part of the season. The young roper most recently captured a win at the Bay City Rodeo in Texas, stopping the clock in 7.2 seconds.

Combined with several placings at major rodeos, those results have helped keep him inside the Top 40 in the world standings as he continues to build momentum in 2026.

The 2025 barrel racing rookie race was one of the tightest of the season, with Makenzie Mayes ultimately coming out on top. The Texas cowgirl has carried that consistency into 2026, currently sitting inside the Top 20 in the world standings with nearly $20,000 in earnings so far this season.

Breakaway roper Haiden Thompson made history during her rookie season.

The Wyoming cowgirl broke the rookie earnings record in breakaway roping in 2025 and came very close to qualifying for her first National Finals Breakaway Roping.

This year, Thompson remains inside the Top 30 in the world standings and recently won the first round of Super Series 3 at RODEOHOUSTON, keeping her firmly in the mix as the season continues. You can never count Thompson out. 

The bull riding rookie race in 2025 remained undecided until the National Finals Rodeo. Four rookie riders competed in Las Vegas, but it was Bryce Jenson who ultimately captured the Resistol Rookie of the Year title after putting on a very impressive show at the NFR.

The 20 year old Texas cowboy finished sixth in the world standings in 2025 and has continued in his winning ways this year. Jenson currently sits eighth in the world standings with more than $40,000 in earnings already.

One of his biggest checks came early in the season at the Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo in Waco, where he was the only rider to cover a bull in the whole rodeo, scoring 82 points aboard Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s No. 214K to earn more than $10,000.

Meanwhile, fellow rookie Luke Mackey has also had a standout early season and currently sits second in the world standings, showing just how strong the bull riding rookie class truly was in 2025. 

Though still very early in the year, it is encouraging to see the rookies that stood out in 2025 are still very much holding their own as they step into their second year navigating pro rodeos. A lot of the year is left to go, and some of these names might just have a gold buckle to add to the case by the end of 2026.