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| Cory Solomon |
Full Name: Cory Solomon | Current Status: Active PRCA tie-down roper, 10-time Wrangler NFR qualifier, contending at The American in 2026
Cory Solomon had already mentally closed the book on his 2020 season — a 16th-place regular-season finish, one spot outside the National Finals Rodeo field. Then the phone rang. Caleb Smidt was out. Solomon backed into the box at the Thomas & Mack Center on a calf he'd never seen, on a whim, and won the round. That call-up turned into a career-best fifth-place world finish — and it's exactly the kind of quiet, green-clad consistency that's defined the Prairie View, Texas roper for over a decade.
Biography Summary
Cory Solomon has spent close to two decades as one of the most reliable names in tie-down roping without ever chasing headlines. Raised in Prairie View, Texas, where his parents both work at Prairie View A&M University, Solomon started roping calves at age 4 and turned pro in 2009 under the mentorship of seven-time world champion Fred Whitfield.
Ten Wrangler NFR qualifications, a signature all-green look, and a career-best fifth-place world finish define a résumé built on longevity rather than a single defining season. He remains an active title contender in 2026, still chasing the one accolade that has eluded him — a PRCA gold buckle.
Early Life
Solomon was raised in Prairie View, Texas, where his father, Larry, runs the university farm at Prairie View A&M and his mother, Caralita, also works in the school's agriculture department. His father started teaching him to rope at age 4, and roping became a family affair — Solomon and both of his older brothers, Kenneth and Lawrence, went on to compete in the PRCA.
Solomon joined the PRCA as a tie-down roper in 2009. He caught the attention of Fred Whitfield, the legendary Black Texas cowboy and 7-time PRCA tie-down roping world champion, who became one of Solomon's earliest mentors as he broke into the professional ranks.
Professional Career
Solomon's career has been defined by remarkable staying power in one of rodeo's most competitive events, spanning more than 15 years on the PRCA circuit.
2011–2018: Building a Reputation
Solomon qualified for his first Wrangler NFR in 2011, followed by a second trip in 2012. After a gap, he returned to Las Vegas for four straight years, 2015 through 2018. Along the way he picked up rodeo wins at the Lea County Fair & PRCA Rodeo and the Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo (2017), the Wainwright Stampede (2018), and a co-championship at the World's Oldest Rodeo (2018), finishing that season 15th in the world.
2020: The Unexpected Call-Up
Solomon appeared to have missed the cut for the 2020 NFR, finishing 16th in the regular-season world standings — one spot outside the qualifying field. When Caleb Smidt was unable to compete, Solomon got the call to step in. Roping calves he'd never seen, on a horse he wasn't fully familiar with in the Thomas & Mack Center, Solomon won Round 3 with a 7.0-second run, jumped into the top five in the world standings, and closed the year with a career-best 5th-place finish.
2021–2023: A Steady Presence in Vegas
Solomon backed up his 2020 breakthrough by matching it with another 5th-place world finish in 2021. He returned to the NFR again in 2022 — his ninth trip — sitting No. 8 in the world entering Las Vegas, and won an average title at an Idaho rodeo that season with a fast 7.1-second run. In 2023, he made his 10th career Wrangler NFR qualification, finishing the regular season with $129,105.72 in earnings before Vegas and closing the year 6th in the final world standings with $246,330.50. He also switched to a horse sourced from Trevor Brazile's program mid-Finals that year, immediately winning Round 3 with a 6.9-second run.
2026: Chasing The American
Now 36 and still fully competitive, Solomon opened 2026 with a strong showing at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, then won the American West Regional Finals with a 7.73-second run in the final round — beating out competitors including three-time World Champion Tuf Cooper — to advance to the Championship weekend at Globe Life Field in Arlington, where he'll compete for a share of The American Rodeo's $2 million prize purse.
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Joins the PRCA; mentored by Fred Whitfield |
| 2011 | First Wrangler NFR qualification |
| 2012 | Second consecutive NFR qualification |
| 2015–2018 | Four straight NFR qualifications; rodeo wins at Lea County Fair, Nicola Valley, Wainwright Stampede |
| 2020 | Called up as an NFR alternate; wins Round 3; finishes 5th in the world |
| 2021 | Matches career-best 5th-place world finish |
| 2022 | Ninth NFR trip; wins Idaho rodeo average title |
| 2023 | Tenth NFR qualification; wins Round 3; finishes 6th in the world |
| 2026 | Wins American West Regional Finals; advances to The American Championship weekend |
Major Achievements
Solomon's accomplishments reflect remarkable consistency across more than a decade at the sport's highest level, even without a world title to date.
- 10x Wrangler NFR Qualifier (2011-2012, 2015-2018, 2020-2023)
- Career-best 5th-place PRCA World Standings finish (2020, 2021)
- Multiple NFR go-round victories (2020, 2023)
- 2026 American West Regional Finals Champion
- Rodeo wins at Lea County Fair, Nicola Valley, and Wainwright Stampede
Awards & Honors
- Idaho rodeo Average title winner (2022)
- Co-champion, World's Oldest Rodeo (2018)
Career Statistics
| Season | World Standing | Key Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 15th | Won Wainwright Stampede; co-champion World's Oldest Rodeo |
| 2020 | 5th | NFR alternate call-up; won Round 3 (7.0s) |
| 2021 | 5th | Career-best finish matched |
| 2022 | 8th (entering NFR) | Ninth NFR trip; Idaho average title |
| 2023 | 6th ($246,330.50) | Tenth NFR trip; won Round 3 (6.9s) |
| Career earnings: more than $1 million, and growing through continued NFR qualifications. | ||
Records
- 10 career Wrangler NFR qualifications across three distinct multi-year stretches (2011-12, 2015-18, 2020-23)
- Multiple go-round wins at the NFR spanning different eras of his career (2020 and 2023)
Net Worth
Solomon's income comes primarily from PRCA competition winnings. His career earnings have exceeded $1 million, supplemented by sponsorships, endorsements, appearance fees, and other opportunities tied to his long career in professional tie-down roping. A precise personal net worth figure has not been publicly disclosed by Solomon or verified through any reliable source.
Gear & Equipment
Solomon is instantly recognizable in the arena for his signature green apparel and boots, a personal branding choice he's maintained for years on the circuit. At the 2023 NFR, he made a horse change mid-week to a mount sourced from Trevor Brazile's program, immediately winning a round on the new horse.
Playing Style
Solomon is known for coming alive under the bright lights of the Thomas & Mack Center, often turning in some of his fastest times of the year at the NFR regardless of how the regular season went — a trait that made his surprise 2020 call-up story possible in the first place.
Injuries and Challenges
Solomon's toughest career challenge has been the razor-thin margin between qualifying and missing the NFR field — he finished 16th (one spot outside the Top 15) in 2020 before an alternate call-up saved his season. Beyond that near-miss, no major reported injuries have significantly derailed his career.
Training, Diet & Fitness
Much of Solomon's preparation centers on horsemanship developed since childhood on his family's Prairie View, Texas property, along with the demands of a full PRCA travel schedule that keeps him competing across multiple regions each season.
Personal Life
Solomon comes from a roping family: his father, Larry, runs the farm at Prairie View A&M University, and his mother, Caralita, also works in the school's agriculture department. Both of his older brothers, Kenneth and Lawrence, also competed in the PRCA, making tie-down roping a true family tradition.
Legacy
Without a single defining championship season, Cory Solomon has nonetheless built one of the more remarkable longevity stories in modern tie-down roping — 10 NFR qualifications across three separate multi-year runs, a career-saving alternate call-up turned into a career-best finish, and continued relevance into his mid-30s against ropers a decade younger. His mentorship under Fred Whitfield also places him within a lineage of respected Black cowboys in a sport where that representation has historically been rare.
Interesting Facts
- Solomon started roping calves at age 4, taught by his father on the family's Prairie View, Texas property.
- Both of his parents work at Prairie View A&M University — his father runs the university farm.
- Both of his older brothers, Kenneth and Lawrence, also competed as PRCA ropers.
- He was mentored early in his career by 7-time World Champion Fred Whitfield.
- He believed his 2020 season was over after finishing 16th in the world, one spot outside the NFR field.
- He got an unexpected call-up to the 2020 NFR after Caleb Smidt couldn't compete — and won a round on a horse and calves he barely knew.
- That surprise NFR run turned into his career-best 5th-place world finish.
- He matched that career-best finish again the very next year, in 2021.
- He's instantly recognizable in the arena for his all-green apparel and boots.
- He switched horses mid-Finals in 2023 to a mount connected to Trevor Brazile's program — and won immediately.
- He reached his 10th career Wrangler NFR qualification in 2023.
- At 36 years old in 2026, he was still winning regional qualifiers and chasing a share of The American's $2 million prize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Cory Solomon won a PRCA world championship?
No — as of the most recent verified reporting, Cory Solomon has not won a PRCA Tie-Down Roping World Championship. His best career finish is 5th in the world standings, achieved in both 2020 and 2021.
How many times has Cory Solomon qualified for the NFR?
He has qualified for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 10 times, across 2011-2012, 2015-2018, and 2020-2023.
Where is Cory Solomon from?
He is from Prairie View, Texas, where his parents both work at Prairie View A&M University.
Who mentored Cory Solomon early in his career?
He was mentored by Fred Whitfield, a 7-time PRCA tie-down roping world champion.
How did Cory Solomon qualify for the 2020 NFR?
He was called up as an alternate after finishing 16th in the regular season, when Caleb Smidt was unable to compete. Solomon went on to win a round and finish 5th in the world that year.
Conclusion
Not every rodeo legend needs a gold buckle to earn respect across the sport. Cory Solomon has spent more than a decade proving that consistency, resilience, and patience can be just as valuable as championship titles. From learning under Fred Whitfield to turning an unexpected 2020 NFR alternate call into a career-best season, Solomon has built one of tie-down roping's most inspiring careers.
Even in 2026, he's still chasing the biggest prize in rodeo with the same determination that first brought him to the professional circuit. Which moment from Cory Solomon's journey stands out the most to you—the unforgettable 2020 NFR call-up, his 10 Wrangler NFR qualifications, or his continued pursuit of a PRCA world championship?
If you've followed Cory Solomon throughout his career or have a favorite run, memory, or story that deserves a mention, I'd love to hear it. Share your thoughts in the comments below, and if you spot anything that could make this biography even better, feel free to let me know.