The 2025 Resistol Rookie of the Year contenders have been traveling full swing, right alongside the best in the world. With Cowboy Christmas right around the corner and the summer run getting fully underway, the rookies have had their fair share at major money throughout the month. 

This is where the Resistol Rookies have been cashing in recently.

Riley Kittle leads the Resistol Rookie of the Year heading standings, and its thanks in part to a strong last two weeks. Kittle, 23, has won $9,692 since June 11, giving him the top spot with $20,409.69. Kittle got on a roll at Idaho’s Eagle Rodeo where he pocketed $2,115 for sixth. He kept the momentum rolling into Oklahoma’s Woodward Elks Rodeo with a fourth-place finish for $3,024. On the West Coast, Kittle won $1,467 at the Sisters Rodeo in Oregon, as well as $823 at the Livermore Rodeo in California. The week of June 17-22, Kittle picked up $675 at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, and $1,588 at the Days Of The Old West Rodeo in Delta, Utah.

James Arviso may be $4,402.60 behind Kittle at No. 2, but he’s steadily winning. The 21-year-old from Winslow, Arizona, has $16,007.09 won on the season. The weekend of June 17-18, Arviso pocketed $1,794 for third at the Fallon’s 3C PRCA Rodeo in Nevada. He also just won $2,703 for fourth in the first round of Colorado’s Greeley Stampede June 24.

Devon Johnson had a strong start to his Resistol Rookie season, holding the lead until the middle of June. Johnson took a big win at the High Desert Stampede in Redmond, Oregon this April for $3,884, and he pocketed $1,136 at the Resistol Rookie Roundup that same month. His summer is off to a quieter start, however, winning $728 at the Mesquite Championship Rodeo in early June, followed by $512 in Delta, Utah.

On the heel side, young phenom Nicky Northcott continues to lead the way, now with $23,459.12. The 18-year-old, partnered up with two-time World Champion Clay Smith, recently won $2,920 in Elko, as well as $864 at the Strawberry Days Rodeo in Pleasant Grove, Utah. He also pocketed $1,572 with Smith at the San Juan Stampede in Monticello, Utah, to kick off their June. Earlier in the season, Northcott won $4,481 out of the Clovis Rodeo in California with Arviso, as well as $5,165 for the first-round win at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo with three-time World Champion Clay Tryan.

Jace Helton isn’t letting Northcott out of his sight, however. Helton, 22, sits second in the Resistol Rookie of the Year heeling standings with $17,876.67 won on the year, putting him $5,582.45 behind Northcott. Helton started the 2025 season strong, winning second at the Sandhills Stock Show & Rodeo in Odessa, Texas, for a total $3,547, as well as the $2,300 win in the first round of his bracket at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Though he hit a tick of a dry spell in May, he’s won $3,448 in June between Vernal’s Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo in Utah and Eagle.

Mississippi’s Bryce Graves is also strong in the fight. The 23-year-old won $6,043 in May between the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo and Mt Pleasant Rodeo (Texas). So far in June, Graves has won $942 at the Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo in Texas and $1,763 in Livermore. Graves is currently third in the Resistol Rookie of the Year heeling standings with $14,446.83.

2025 Resistol Rookie of the Year standings

As of June 26, 2025