Resistol Rookies may be young guns hitting the road for the first time, learning the game, but they know how to bring in some money.
Jeff Flenniken, the 2018 Resistol Rookie Header of the Year, and Junior Nogueira, 2014’s Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year, hold the record for the most impressive rookie season earnings over the last decade.
We look at how far the 2024 Resistol Rookie of the Year leaders, Tyler Tryan and Logan Moore, are from crushing the earnings of the top five Resistol Rookies of the Year of the last decade.
Current Resistol Rookie of the Year leaders
Team roping partners Tyler Tryan and Logan Moore currently lead the race with $57,675.66 won on the year for Tryan and $51,266.02 for Moore.
Headers
5. Nelson Wyatt, 2017: $52,011.81
Tryan surpassed Nelson Wyatt’s 2017 rookie season by $5,663.85. Tryan won $4,518 a man Aug. 2-4, at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo in Castle Rock, Colorado, to pass the two-time NFR header’s rookie earnings.
4. Cody Snow, 2015: $56,301.75
Tryan has passed 2015 Resistol Rookie Header of the Year Cody Snow’s rookie earnings by $1,373.91. Tryan’s second-place finish at the Cache County Fair and Rodeo in Logan, Utah, for $3,371 a man Aug. 7-10, likely pushed him past seven-time NFR header Snow’s rookie season.
3. Dustin Egusquiza, 2016: $58,692.10
Six-time NFR header Dustin Egusquiza cashed in $58,692.10 his rookie season to take home the coveted Resistol Rookie of the Year title. Tryan has almost surpassed Egusquiza and is just $1,016.44 behind Egusquiza’s rookie earnings. Of Tryan’s 12 money-earning weeks this year, each week has brought in over $1,016.44. Tryan has also had 18 runs in 2024 that won over $1,016.44.
2. Cole Thomas, 2023: $59,480.67
Cole Thomas is the most recent Resistol Rookie Header of the Year, and Tryan is $1,805.01 behind his $59,480.67 rookie season. Tryan has had roughly 12 weeks of money flow in his 2024 season, and of those 12, 10 have resulted in over $1,805.01. In terms of individual runs, Tryan has had 12 runs worth over $1,805.01.
1. Jeff Flenniken, 2018: $61,825.58
Jeff Flenniken won the 2018 Resistol Rookie Header of the Year title with $61,825.58 before going on to qualify for the 2020 NFR. Flenniken had the richest rookie year of the last decade, but Tryan is inching up on his 2018 earnings. Currently, Tryan has $57,675.66 won on his rookie season—just $4,149.92 behind Flenniken’s rookie earnings. Tryan has had five weeks where he has won over $4,149.92 and has made three individual runs worth over $4,149.92.
Heelers
5. Kaden Profili, 2023: $51,048.09
Moore has just barely passed 2023 Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year Kaden Profili’s rookie earnings. Moore is $217.93 over Profili’s earnings, and he passed it recently with his $501 check for 10th at Montana’s Cascade Pro Rodeo Aug. 9-10.
4. Caleb Hendrix, 2021: $58,355.06
In order to catch 2021 Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year Caleb Hendrix’s earnings, Moore needs to win $7,098.04. Of his rookie year, Moore has had two weeks surpassing that amount. Per week, Moore would need to win $1,183.01 to catch Hendrix’s earnings. Moore has had 12 weeks cashing in more than $1,183.01.
3. Quinn Kesler, 2015: $65,839.97
Moore is currently $14,573.95 behind late NFR qualifier Quinn Kesler’s rookie earnings. Moore would need to win $2,428.99 a week these last six to catch Kesler. Moore has had nine weeks above the $2,428.99 mark this season.
2. Paden Bray, 2019: $67,014.24
Paden Bray won the 2019 Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year title with $67,014.24. Moore is $15,748.22 behind Bray’s rookie earnings. In terms of the last six weeks, Moore would need to win roughly $2,624.70 a week from here on out to reach the 2020 NFR champ’s rookie earnings. Moore has had nine weeks this year winning over $2,624.70.
1. Junior Nogueira, 2014: $138,036
Of the last decade, Junior Nogueira had the richest rookie season, winning the 2014 Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year title and qualifying for his first NFR that same year. The now three-time world champion finished his rookie season with $138,036, including his NFR earnings. Currently, Moore is $86,769.98 behind Nogueira’s rookie earnings. With roughly six weeks left in the 2024 season, Moore would have to win $14,461.67 a week to catch Noguiera’s rookie earnings.
