Six barrel racers entered at the College National Finals Rodeo are chasing a second prize this summer: the WPRA Resistol Rookie of the Year title. Here is who to watch when college rodeo’s best fill the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, June 14–20.
The Resistol Rookie of the Year race tracks first-year WPRA cardholders across their debut professional season. For a college cowgirl, that means running the CNFR and the ProRodeo trail at the same time, splitting the calendar between Casper and the summer run. These six are doing exactly that, and they will be worth following in both columns. Rookie ranks and earnings below reflect the WPRA Resistol Rookie barrel standings; the race runs through the fall, so the numbers will keep moving.
Mylee Modlin, Cal Poly
Resistol Rookie No. 12 · $4,943.80 · CNFR first-round draw: 17
Modlin tops this group in the rookie race, and she rides for one of the most decorated programs in college rodeo. She joined Cal Poly ahead of the 2025–26 season; the San Luis Obispo program owns six NIRA national team titles, more than any school in the country.
In pro company she has already shown up, placing fifth in the first round at the Red Bluff Round-Up in 17.54 seconds for $1,591.
Molly Harper, Odessa College
Resistol Rookie No. 17 · $3,147.02 · CNFR first-round draw: 4
Harper has anchored the barrels for Odessa College this season and carried it onto the ProRodeo trail, splitting seventh at the ABC Pro Rodeo in Levelland (15.97, $580) and cashing again at the Corpus Christi qualifier. She runs fourth out in the CNFR’s first go.
Paige Gartner, Blue Mountain Community College
Resistol Rookie No. 18 · $3,053.54 · CNFR first-round draw: 11
Gartner is a Touchet, Washington, product running for Blue Mountain Community College just down the road in Pendleton, and barrel racing runs in the family. She came up through the junior ranks to the JNFR, and her biggest pro check this spring came at the High Desert Stampede in Redmond, Oregon, where she placed sixth for $1,945. She has been fast all season, clocking a 14.07 at Central Point, Oregon, in May. She runs No. 11 in the first-round draw.
Read about Paige’s mom, Kacey: How Kacey Gartner Prepared Her Sleek Speedster “Mercedes” to Dominate the Pendleton Round-Up
Alissa Flores, Sam Houston State
Resistol Rookie No. 27 · $1,401.67 · CNFR first-round draw: 44
Flores rides for Sam Houston State, Coach Bubba Miller’s perennial Southern Region power. She has worked into the rookie standings in her first pro season while carrying a full college schedule, and she draws No. 44 in the first round.
Ellie Thurgood, College of Southern Idaho
Resistol Rookie No. 34 · $720.81 · CNFR first-round draw: 37
Thurgood is one of three College of Southern Idaho women bound for Casper, alongside Celie Davis and Hailey Gibbs. She doubles up at nationals, entered in both barrels and breakaway, and has posted pro times in the 17-second range. She is No. 37 in the first go.
Sierra Telford, South Plains College
Resistol Rookie No. 54 · $179.07 · CNFR first-round draw: 24
Telford, of Caldwell, Idaho, is the multi-event hand of the group for South Plains College. She rode to the Women’s All-Around title in her region and has placed in both barrels and breakaway across the season. She is No. 24 out in the first round.
Watch them in Casper
All six open their CNFR in Monday and Tuesday slack and across the week’s performances, with the championship short round set for Saturday, June 20. Watch the average in Casper, then watch the rookie standings: the WPRA race runs all summer and into the fall. Full CNFR results and barrel coverage all week at BarrelRacing.com.