The 2025 Resistol Rookie of the Year Breakaway race is stacked with IPRA, WCRA and BFI Champions, promising a thrilling watch until the season’s end on September 30.
While there are scores of handy breakaway ropers designated (R) for Rookie in 2025, we pulled the top five candidates, as of June 10, to give rodeo fans a brief overview of the field.
No. 5, Maelee Wade
Earnings: $9,642
Hometown: White, GA
The IPRA’s Maelee Wade has made the move to the ProRodeo game in 2025, and is keeping pace with the pack handily. The 2023 Champion of WCRA Rodeo Carolina, Wade is now riding blue roan gelding “Smoke” on the ProRodeo road.
No. 4, Emilee Charlesworth
Earnings: $9,749
Hometown: Marathon, TX
Emilee Charlesworth netted the win of a lifetime in March at the Bob Feist Invitational, winning the All-Girl breakaway with a time of 9.92 on three head, worth $21,000. She rode gray mare “Hallelujah” to the win—and with a summer of longer setups in front of them, we’re expecting big things from this pair.
No. 3, Hannah Phillips
Earnings: $10,608
Hometown: Brookshire, TX
Sam Houston State University graduate Hannah Phillips has a string of geldings including “Chrome” and “Max” on the roster.
No. 2, Ali Norcutt
Earnings: $11,342
Hometown: Fallon, NV
Texas Tech graduate Ali Norcutt made her presence known in a big way at the Resistol Rookie Roundup in Cowtown Coliseum in April, roping her final calf in 1.8 seconds to win a total of $3,263 in ProRodeo earnings.
No. 1, Brooke Bruner
Earnings: $13,753
Hometown: Parker, CO
No. 1 Brooke Bruner captured the 2024 Rookie Breakaway lead early in the season and has yet to relinquish it. Peer and friend Norcutt came within approximately $1,300 of Bruner following her Resistol Rookie Roundup win, but Bruner has been able to regain her distance—now outpacing Norcutt by $2,411.
