The summer run is off to a strong start, with the No. 1 Resistol Rookies on the heading and heeling side averaging $21,219 in earnings with just under four months to go in the 2023 season.
Two men will be crowned Resistol Rookies of the Year—an honor that often bodes well for a strong roping career. These are the top five Resistol Rookies as of June 7, 2023.
Headers
No. 1 Cole Thomas
Hometown: Emelle, Alabama
Age: 24
Partner: Clay (Marshall) Green
Earnings: $22,184
Fast Fact: Thomas—who was the Resistol Rookie Roundup Champion with Kaden Profili—is currently sitting No. 2 in the Southeastern Circuit with $10,505 earned.
No. 2 Cutter Machado
Hometown: Santa Maria, California
Age: 23
Partner: Dalton Pearce
Earnings: $11,338
Fast Fact: Machado is attending Cal Poly University while rodeoing on the California Circuit.
No. 3 Tyler Jackson
Hometown: Salem, Arkansas
Age: 29
Partner: Josh Hamby
Earnings: $8,736
Fast Fact: Jackson is rodeoing on the Great Lakes Circuit with the goal of making the 2024 NFR Open. He says if his and Hamby’s summer goes well, they’ll push harder for the Resistol Rookie race.
No. 4 Chet Weitz
Hometown: London, Texas
Age: 22
Partner: Cutter Thomison
Earnings: $7,691
Fast Fact: Weitz has taken some time off due to a shoulder surgery but plans to make his comeback at the Reno Rodeo in Nevada June 16–June 24, 2023.
No. 5 Tate Schmidt
Hometown: Barrhead, Alberta, Canada
Age: 22
Partner: Kagen Schmidt
Earnings: $7,564
Fast Fact: Schmidt is staying close(r) to home and rodeoing on the Maple Leaf Circuit.
Heelers
No. 1 Clay Clayman
Hometown: Highlandville, Missouri
Age: 20
Partner: Dalton Turner
Earnings: $20,255
Fast Fast: Clayman, who is the 2022 Junior Ironman Champion, has Dalton Tuner on the heels. Turner headed for 2022 Resistol Rookie of the Year Runner-Up Blaine Tuner. Now, Clayman and Turner are hitting up the Great Lakes Circuit while trying to break into the top 40 in the world to get the invitation to the bigger winter rodeos for 2024.
No. 2 Kaden Profili
Hometown: Jacksonville, Texas
Age: 21
Partner: Ty Arnold
Earnings: $17,788
Fast Fact: Profili earned the 2023 Resistol Rookie Roundup Championship, and ropes for Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.
No. 3 Cutter Thomison
Hometown: Hermleigh, Texas
Age: 22
Partner: Chet Weitz
Earnings: $15,318
Fast Fast: Thominson rodeos for Western Texas College in Snyder, Texas.
No. 4 Landen Glenn
Hometown: McAlester, Oklahoma
Age: 19
Partner: Kreece Thompson
Earnings: $12,765
Fast Fact: Glenn recently tied for third at the Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith, Arkansas, winning $2,140 a man.
No. 5 JR Gonzalez
Hometown: Maypearl, Texas
Age: 20
Partner: Bubba Buckaloo
Earnings: $11,196
Fast Fact: Gonzalez and NFR header Buckaloo picked up a second-place check worth $1,767 a man at the Crossett Riding Club Rodeo in Crossett, Arkansas.
The Team Roping Journal is your source for ProRodeo team roping coverage all year long, including PRCA Top 15 updates, circuit information and Resistol Rookie excitement. Stay tuned for exclusive interviews on “The Score” podcast and expert analysis as the season unfolds.
