The 2023 Resistol Rookie of the Year heeling race is tighter than ever, leading the top rookie candidates to strategize, rack up the miles and cross fingers in the quest to clinch the once-in-a-lifetime title.
The Team Roping Journal checked in with Kaden Profili, JR Gonzales and Cooper Freeman—the top three Resistol Rookie heelers—to see where the young men are with less than 20 days left in the season.
Shared rodeo schedule:
Each of the top three Resistol Rookie of the Year heeling candidates have similar travel plans for the rest of the season. All three are planning on hitting up:
Pendleton Round-Up
Taking place Sept. 13–16, 2023, in Pendleton, Oregon, the iconic rodeo boasts $360,000 in added money. In 2022, the event paid $587,575, and team roping champions Joshua and Johnathan Torres pocketed $8,302 in the average. Winning a round pays more than $5,500, and they pay six holes per performance.
Following the Pendleton Round-Up slack on Sept. 11, Profili and Freeman are advancing to the Friday night performance on Sept. 15 with their respective headers, James Arnold and Mason Appleton.
Amarillo Tri-State Fair and Rodeo
Held Sept. 21–23, 2023, the Tri-State Fair and Rodeo in Amarillo, Texas, has $45,000 in added money. This is less than the $103,572 they added in 2022, but the one-header format means if the Rookies can rope smart, they may be in for a simple payday (compared to Pendleton’s three rounds).
Cowboy Capital of the World PRCA Rodeo
Sept. 22–24, 2023, the cowboys will congregate in Stephenville, Texas. In 2022, it paid $2,858 to win it, but the added money has decreased from $97,426 to $36,000 this year. A check is a check, though, and even $1,000 will help a Rookie in his effort to top the others.
New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo
With $120,000 in added money, the New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo in Albuquerque, New Mexico,Sept. 13–17, 2023, draws in competitors with a tempting one-header format. In 2022, Manny Egusquiza and Reno Eddy won the event, pocketing $4,353 each. The average paid nine holes, too, making for several earning opportunities.
Springhill PRCA Rodeo
The 2023 Springhill PRCA Rodeo in Springhill, Louisiana,Sept. 21–23, 2023, provides a $40,000-added opportunity for the three Rookies with a comparatively short driving distance (Profili and Gonzales hail from Texas, and Freeman is from Missouri).
Pasadena Livestock Show & Rodeo
The Padasena Livestock Show & Rodeo in Pasadena, California, is taking place Sept. 22–28, 2023, and is offering $45,000 in added money this year. In 2022, it paid $1,969 to win the average with opportunities to win money in two rounds, as well.
Rookie stats and other last rodeos
No. 3 Cooper Freeman
Current earnings: $42,800
Expected number of rodeos left in the season: 9
Lion’s Dixie Roundup; St. George, UT
Sept. 14–16, 2023
Added money: $60,000
Comal County Fair & Rodeo; New Braunfels, TX
Sept. 28–30, 2023
Added money: $18,000
American Hat’s Bowie Pro Rodeo; Bowie, TX
Sept. 29–30, 2023
Added money: $7,000
No. 2 JR Gonzales
Current earnings: $44,101
Expected number of rodeos left in the season: 8
Othello PRCA Rodeo; Othello, WA
Sept. 15–16, 2023
Added money: $36,500
OR
Lion’s Dixie Roundup; St. George, UT
Sept. 14–16, 2023
Added money: $60,000
Omaha River City Rodeo; Omaha, NE
Sept. 22–23, 2023
Added money: $55,000
No. 1 Kaden Profili
Current earnings: $47,333
Expected number of rodeos left in the season: 8
Buffalo Pro Rodeo; Buffalo, TX
Sept. 15–16, 2023
Added money: $21,000
Comal County Fair & Rodeo; New Braunfels, TX
Sept. 28–30, 2023
Added money: $18,000
Stay tuned into The Team Roping Journal for Resistol Rookie of the Year race coverage through the crowning of the 2023 champions, brought to you by Resistol.
