The Resistol Rookie of the Year title is awarded to competitors who find success in their first year of ProRodeo competition.
In the team roping, it goes to the top earners on the head and heel sides and can jump-start the career of the recipient—catching the attention of sponsors and enthusiasts. Adding to its allure, athletes only have one shot at it, making the Resistol Rookie of the Year one of the most coveted titles in rodeo.
The first recorded PRCA Resistol Rookie of the Year in team roping went to Brian Murphy of Paradise Valley, California, in 1977. Only one team roping Resistol Rookie of the Year was awarded until nearly 20 years later, when in 1996, Scooter Nolen Jr. and Mickey Gomez became the first to receive the “header” and “heeler” distinction.
Complete list of Resistol Rookies of the Year in the team roping
1977 — Brian Murphy; Paradise Valley, California
1978 — Brian Burrows, Reedley, California
1979 — Bill E. Parker, Billings, Montana
1980 — Tee Woolman, Llano, Texas
1981 — Bret Beach, Gilbert, Arizona
1982 — Mike Fuller, Clarkston, Washington; Chris Henderson, Coulee City, Washington
1983 — Joel Maker, Poteau, Oklahoma
1984 — William “Rusty” Wright, Mount Pleasant, Texas
1985 — Jerry Buckles, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
1986 — Dennis Gatz, Oakdale, California
1987 — Charles Pogue, Ringling, Oklahoma
1988 — Flynn Farris, Dalhart, Texas
Fast fact: Texas is the state with the most Resistol Rookie of the Year team ropers with 17. California has 10, and nine are from Arizona.
1989 — Andy Anaya, Tucson, Arizona
1990 — Liddon Cowden, Merced, California
1991 — Martin Lucero, Villa Nueva, New Mexico
1992 — Britt Bockius, Dewey, Oklahoma
1993 — Nick Sarchett, Scottsdale, Arizona
1994 — Brye Sayer, Phoenix, Arizona
1995 — Shad Chadwick, Mesa, Arizona
1996 — Heading – Scooter Nolen Jr., Whitesboro, Texas
1996 — Heeling – Mickey Gomez, Salado, Texas
1997 — Heading – Kit Sherwood, Snowflake, Arizona
1997 — Heeling – Kyle Lockett, Ivanhoe, California
1998 — Heading – Charly Crawford, Canby, Oregon
1998 — Heeling – John Paul Lucero, Villanueva, New Mexico
1999 — Heading – Ty Thomas, Idabel, Oklahoma
1999 — Heeling – Craig Branham, Canyon Country, California
2000 — Heading – Nick Sartain, Yukon, Oklahoma
2000 — Heeling – Trey Johnson, Lovington, New Mexico
2001 — Heading – Reese Kerr, Cotulla, Texas
2001 — Heeling – Matt Robertson, Augusta, Montana
2002 — Heading – Travis Gallais, Olds, Alberta
2002 — Heeling – Randon Adams, Logandale, Nevada
2003 — Heading – Jason Adams, Logandale, Nevada
2003 — Heeling – Patrick Smith, Midland, Texas
Fast fact: Reigning 2022 NFR average champions Patrick Smith and Tanner Tomlinson were both Resistol Rookies of the Year (2003 and 2020).
2004 — Heading – Jake Cooper, Monument, New Mexico
2004 — Heeling – Jim Ross Cooper, Stephenville, Texas
2005 — Heading – Brandon Beers, Powell Butte, Oregon
2005 — Heeling – Douglas Gillespie, Arrowhead, Alberta
2006 — Heading – Keven Daniel, Altha, Florida
2006 — Heeling – Jade Corkill, Fallon, Nevada
2007 — Heading – Justin Young, Firestone, Colorado
2007 — Heeling – Broc Cresta, Santa Rosa, California
2008 — Heading – Joel Bach, Milsap, Texas
2008 — Heeling – Rhen Richard, Roosevelt, Utah
2009 — Heading – Kaleb Driggers, Albany, Georgia
2009 — Heeling – Justin Hendrick, Rosenberg, Texas
2010 — Heading – Kaden Richard, Roosevelt, Utah
2010 — Heeling – Matt Garza, Las Cruces, New mexico
2011 — Heading – Joshua Torres, Bell City, Lousiana
2011 — Heeling – Dakota Kirchenschlager, De Leon, Texas
2012 — Heading – Tyler Wade, Terrell, Texas
2012 — Heeling – Clint Summers, Lake City, Forida
2013 — Heading – Chace Thompson, Munday, Texas
2013 — Heeling – Will Woodfin, Marshall, Texas
2014 — Heading – Rhett Anderson, Anabella, Utah
2014 — Heeling – Junior Nogueira, Scottsdale, Arizona
Fast fact: The reigning 2022 World Champions, Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueria, were both Resistol Rookies of the Year.
2015 — Heading – Cody Snow, Los Olivos, California
2015 — Heeling – Quinn Kesler, Holden, Utah
2016 — Heading – Dustin Egusquiza, Mariana, Florida
2016 — Heeling – Dalton Pearce, San Luis Obispo, California
2017 — Heading – Nelson Wyatt, Clanton, Alabama
2017 — Heeling – Cody Hogan, Athens, Texas
2018 — Heading – Jeff Flenniken, Caldwell, Idaho
2018 — Heeling – Ross Ashford, Lott, Texas
2019 — Heading – Kal Fuller, Bozeman, Montana
2019 — Heeling – Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas
2020 — Heading – Tanner Tomlinson, Angleton, Texas
2020 — Heeling – Clay Futrell, Union Grove, North Carolina
2021 — Heading – John Gaona, Winkelman, Arizona
2021 — Heeling – Caleb Hendrix, Fallon, Nevada
2022 — Heading – Tanner James, Porterville, California
2022 — Heeling – Junior Zambrano, Nogales, Arizona
