The Resistol Rookie of the Year title is often a litmus test of future team roping success, but nothing is guaranteed.
The Team Roping Journal checked the numbers on former team roping Rookies of the Year to see how they’re taking the 2023 ProRodeo road, from the world standings race to circuit action.
2022 Resistol Rookie Header: Tanner James
Tanner James is currently No. 26 in the world with $64,797 in earnings. He’s roping with Wyatt Cox in 2023 and the two have won the Mountain Valley Stampede in Heber City, Utah and the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo in Castle Rock, Colorado, together.
Jame is set to make the California Circuit Finals with $12,007 in earnings—currently sitting No. 7.
2022 Resistol Rookie Heeler Junior Zambrano
Junior Zambrano is sitting No. 4 in the Tuquoise Circuit standings with $9,892, having split the in at the 78th Annual Yuma Silver Spur Rodeo, in Arizona with Jesse McNett. He also picked up a win at the Alamosa Round-Up in Colorado with Pedro Egurrola.
2021 Resistol Rookie Heeler: Caleb Hendrix
Caleb Hendrix is No. 26 in the world on the heel side with $64,291 in earnings. He won the Ute Mountain Round-Up in Cortez, Colorado with Hagen Peterson, and is currently No. 2 in the Wilderness Circuit behind fellow Rookie of the Yeah Junior Nogueira. Hendrix boasts $21,102 in earnings on the circuit.
Find a complete list of team roping Resistol Rookies of the Year here.
2020 Resistol Rookie Header: Tanner Tomlinson
Tanner Tomlinson is currently No. 6 in the world with $118,705 won and is set to make his second NFR. He and partner Patrick Smith have won:
• Old Fort Days Rodeo in Fort Smith, Arkansas
• Cody Stampede in Wyoming
• Ute Stampede in Nephi, Utah
• Silver State Stampede in Elko, Nevada
2019 Resistol Rookie Heeler: Paden Bray
Paden Bray is fighting the bubble, currently sitting No. 15 with $82,680 earned. He and Brenten Hall have won the Farm-City Rodeo in Hermiston, Oregon, the Gooding Pro Rodeo in Idaho and the Gem State Stampede in Coeur D Alene, Idaho.
2018 Resistol Rookie Header: Jeff Flenniken
Jeff Flenniken said he was taking a step back from full-time ProRodeo in 2021 to focus on the Columbia River Circuit, but the Caldwell, Idaho man has still managed to rake in $68,265 in earnings this year. He is currently sitting No. 36 and has picked up wins with partner Tyler Worley including Rodeo Austin in Texas, Old Santa Ynez Days in California, Elgin Stampede in Oregon and the Omak Stampede in Washington. He’s currently sitting No. 3 in the Columbia River Circuit with $13,444 won.
2018 Resistol Rookie Heeler: Ross Ashford
Ross Ashford is sitting No. 23 in the world with $74,709 in earnings, and partner Jr. Dees is sitting No. 22 with $74,590 in earnings. The two of them won the Clovis Rodeo and the High Desert Stampede in Redmond, Oregon.
Interestingly, Ashford is roping in Sioux Falls with Nelson Wyatt.
2017 Resistol Rookie Header: Nelson Wyatt
Nelson Wyatt is seeded No. 2 in the world with $149,361, roping with Chase Tryan throughout the summer. Some of his team roping wins include:
• NFR Open with Tyler Worley
• Texas Circuit Finals, in Waco with Tyler Worley
• Stockyards Pro Rodeo in Fort Worth with Levi Lord
• Big Fork Summer ProRodeo, in Montana with Chase Tryan
• Lawton Rangers Rodeo, in Oklahoma with Chase Tryan
2016 Resistol Rookie Header: Dustin Egusquiza
Dustin Egusquiza is the No. 3 man in the world with $135,481 in earnings. He and Levi Lord have raked in a slew of 2023 rodeo championships including the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, Livingston Rodeo Days in Montana, Mandan Rodeo Days in North Dakota and the PPCLA PRCA Rodeo in Mineral Wells, Texas.
2016 Resistol Rookie Heeler: Dalton Pearce
Dalton Pearce is sitting No. 4 in the California Circuit race with $11,538 won including the Rowell Ranch Rodeo in Hayward California with current Reistol Rookie of the Year Candidate Cutter Machado.
Resistol Rookie of the Year coverage is supported by none other than Resistol.
