The second annual Resistol Rookie Roundup presented by The Cowboy Channel is bringing you yet another class of top notch rookie athletes competing on a playing field all their own. Two performances to narrow down your champions and it all starts tonight at 8:30 PM ET on The Cowboy Channel and the Cowboy Channel Plus.
BAREBACK RIDING
No. 3 Rookie Luke Thrash VS. Miss Texas, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo
Thrash has been on a hot streak winning the first round of the San Angelo Rodeo and picking up a check in Redmond, Oregon and Logandale, Nevada. He is currently the No. 9 ranked bareback rider in the world. After being in the saddle bronc riding for the 2023 season so far, Miss Texas returns to bareback riding. Her last bareback ride came in June of 2022 in Big Spring, Texas and it was a 77-point score put on the board by young gun Kade Berry.
No. 5 Rookie Dean Thompson VS. Smokey Mountain, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo
Thompson had an impressive trip to the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo before he cashed in a go-round win and second place finish in Arizona. His most recent payday came in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with an 82-point ride. Pete Carr’s Smokey Mountain is horse that has one qualified ride this season from Yance Day but Wyatt Denny has been 85.5 on the horse while Zach Hibler was just one point less in 2021.
No. 11 Rookie Ty Pope VS. Big Apple, United Pro Rodeo
Pope’s success this season started early in Kentucky but recently, he has had paydays come from Tucson, Arizona, Montgomery, Alabama and Cedar Rapids, Iowa with the lowest of those three rides being an 83.5. Big Apple has had three outs this season and one with fellow rookie, Kade Sonnier going 78.5 on the horse in Fort Worth. Veteran bareback rider Chad Rutherford put an 83.5 on the board.
SADDLE BRONC RIDING
No. 2 Q Taylor VS. Short Night, Pickett Pro Rodeo
Taylor’s 2023 success started at the Permit Finals and carried on to the Mountain States Circuit Finals. He would hit big pay days on the Texas Swing in San Antonio and Austin raking in over $11,000 and his most recent pay day came in Red Bluff. Short Night has had two outs this season in Texas, one with Reed Neely and one with Bryan Huey.
No. 9 Rookie Stu Wright VS. Palindrome, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo
Another Wright has hit the road. Wright’s first win of his rookie year came in California aboard Bridwell Pro Rodeo’s Pearl Necklace for 86 points. He continued the success in Bismarck, North Dakota and the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Palindrome also had success in San Antonio. Sage Newman covered the horse for 86 points followed by Sam Martin in San Angelo who rode for 80 points.
No. 12 Rookie Clint Franks VS. Miss Bond, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo
Franks climbed on Brookman Pro Rodeo’s Flirting With Disaster in Lake Charles, Louisiana to earn his first professional win and an $1,100 payday. He would place second in Lake Havasu, Arizona to hit another payday while his most recent success came in Wisconsin. As for Miss Bond, World Champion Ryder Wright and six-time NFR qualifier Cort Scheer both covered the mare in San Angelo a few weeks ago.
BULL RIDING
No. 1 Rookie T Parker VS. Untamed, Pickett Pro Rodeo
The Winnie, Texas rookie already has four rodeo wins to his name and sits inside the Top 10 in the PRCA World Standings. Parker recently had a huge payday in Lawton, Oklahoma when he rode Bad John of Frontier Rodeo for 89.5 points and cashed in over $11,000 for the win. Untamed has one qualified ride this season that came in San Angelo with Brody Yeary.
No. 4 Rookie Deklan Garland VS. Juicy, Pete Carr Pro Rodeo
Garland has success at some smaller rodeos before his career took off at the San Angelo Rodeo. An 88.5-point ride on Pete Carr Pro Rodeo’s Smokin Again won him the Long Round before he was 86 in the Finals to finish third in the average and add almost $15,000 to his earnings. Juicy has had only one cowboy make the eight on him this season and it was Josh Frost in San Antonio for 84 points.
No. 5 Rookie Jate Frost VS. Outlaw, Pickett Pro Rodeo
Frost is hitting jackpots at Xtreme Bulls so far this season. From Jackson, Mississippi to Kalispell, Montana and Vernal, Utah he has picked up a total four checks from Xtreme events. The Ellis County Livestock Show and Rodeo would be where his latest check came from after a successful ride on Rafter G Rodeo’s Gritty. The bull he has drawn to kick off the Rookie Roundup is one he will have the inside scoop on. Outlaw bucked off Josh Frost in San Antonio and only has one qualified ride this season that came from a fellow rookie, Jestyn Woodward.
