Kyan Wilhite has pushed past $95,000 to lead the 2026 Resistol Rookie of the Year calf roping race and now sits ninth in the World standings, but the chase pack behind him just found its rhythm—starting with a $15,984 week from Orchard, Colorado’s Cason Kingsbury that pushed him from 15th to sixth in the rookie standings.

Wilhite, the 19-year-old from Clovis, New Mexico, sits at $95,300.47 in the Resistol Rookie standings, good for ninth in the world, and remains the only rookie inside the top 15. He passed 7-time NFR qualifier Ty Harris in the World standings during the last two-week window and is now $655 clear of him at No. 9. Weatherford, Texas’ Brodey Clemons holds second in the Rookie race at $76,677.25 and slid two spots to #19 in the World, four positions outside the NFR bubble but with a full run of summer rodeos ahead.

The Kingsbury surge

The story of the last two weeks belongs to Cason Kingsbury. He went from $6,450.79 on July 16 to $22,434.99 on July 28—a $15,984.20 haul that jumped him nine spots in the Rookie standings. Kingsbury is now sixth, within $10,547 of Sam Lewis and inside the top half of a class that had a lot of frozen dollar amounts through Cowboy Christmas.

Chase pack

Palo Cedro, California’s Colton Suther holds third at $38,608.74. He broke a month-long dry spell and sits $5,627 clear of the field behind him.

Aquilla, Texas’ Ace Reese sits fourth at $32,981.05 and #49 in the World. Sam Lewis of Amarillo, 2026 San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo champ, holds fifth at $24,180.51. Kingsbury is sixth. Broussard, Louisiana’s Jayden Broussard is seventh at $21,971.26. Winthrop, Arkansas’ Avery Matheson, one of the more active earners through late June, sits eighth at $21,310.86.

Kadoka, South Dakota’s Dalton Porch was the other big mover, adding $3,548 to sit ninth at $19,340.63. Moab, Utah’s Big E Ellis crossed $16,000 for tenth. Calmar, Alberta’s Walker Warkentin, the leader of the Canadian rookie contingent, is eleventh at $15,949.99.

The Wilhite & Clemons watch

Wilhite’s story is bigger than the Rookie standings now. At #9 in the World with $95,300.47, he’s inside the top 15. Ten spots down is Clemons, at #19, but with plenty of ProRodeo money left up for grabs, both Clemons and Wilhite could battle out the rookie race inside the Thomas & Mack over ten rounds.

Rookie of the Year Tie-Down Roping Standings 2026