2020 Media Guide - Awards

Resistol Rookies of the Year

A PRCA rookie is a cowboy competing in his first year as a full member of the organization. (Cowboys first join under the PRCA’s permit system, which allows them to compete for some time without becoming full-fledged members. Once a cowboy has“filled his permit”by winning $1,000 at PRCA- sanctioned rodeos, he can apply to become a full member and is considered a rookie for the remainder of that season.) The PRCA’s Resistol Rookies of the Year are the first-season cowboys who earn the most money in their events during that season. The Resistol All-around Rookie of the Year is the rookie who earned the most money among all rookies in two or more events. The PRCA rookie standings and Rookie of the Year Awards are sponsored by Resistol Hats. Stetson Wright made history in 2019, winning three Rookie of the Year titles and his first world title. Wright, 20, finished first in the the all-around, saddle bronc riding and bull riding rookie standings; at his first Wrangler NFR, he became the first rookie to win the all-around world championship. The youngest competing member of the Wright family, Stetson is also the only one to branch out from saddle bronc riding and climb the ranks in bull riding. All told, the Utah cowboy won $182,999 during the 2019 regular season – $152,422 in bull riding and $71,301 in saddle bronc riding. “I learned I could hang with the big dogs,” Wright said. “Going into it, I was hoping for the best and I didn’t do good at the start of the year. When I realized I could do whatever I set my mind to I ended the year pretty strong.” Wright suffered a setback in August 2019, missing about a month of competition due to a broken jaw. “Sitting at home watching people win money and creep up on me in the world standings I was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me,’”Wright said. “But I came back and luckily they didn’t pass me.” Stetson’s rookie year was highlighted with 11 all-around cowboy wins at some of the biggest rodeos of the year including the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo and Cody (Wyo.) Stampede. He also won six rodeos for saddle bronc riding, including major ones such as Ogden (Utah) Pioneer Days. Among the 12 rodeos he won in bull riding, his biggest wins included Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days and California Rodeo Salinas. After finishing with $297,923 in 2019, Wright won his first all-around world title at his first Wrangler NFR. “It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “Being a world champion is something I have dreamed about since I was a kid.”

Stetson Wright made history in 2019, winning three Rookie of the Year titles and becoming the first rookie to win the all-around world championship.

2019 PRCA Resistol Rookies of the Year with Earnings All-around StetsonWright, Milford, Utah $155,422 Bareback riding Garrett Shadbolt, Merriman, Neb. 54,580 Steer wrestling Denell Henderson, Damascus, Ariz. 47,347 Team roping (header) Kal Fuller, Bozeman, Mont. 41,762 Team roping (heeler) Paden Bray, Stephenville, Texas 67,014 Saddle bronc riding StetsonWright, Milford, Utah 71,301 Tie-down roping Haven Meged, Miles City, Mont. 246,013 Bull riding StetsonWright, Milford, Utah 267,345 Steer roping Cole Patterson, Pratt, Kan. 43,671 Rookie World Champions EIght cowboys have won world championships their rookie years: Harry Charters, steer wrestling, 1959 TeeWoolman, team roping, 1980 Joe Beaver, tie-down roping, 1985

Sage Kimzey, bull riding, 2014 StetsonWright, all-around, 2019 Haven Meged, tie-down roping, 2019

Bill Kornell, bull riding, 1963 (youngest bull riding world champion at 19 years, 9 months) Roy Cooper, tie-down roping, 1976

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PRORODEO AWARDS