Gregory Mitchell leads the USTRC Resistol Junior heading leaderboard with 101 points.
Roping is all the 16-year-old homeschooled junior from Adairsville, Georgia, has ever known.
“I’ve been roping ever since I can remember,” he said. “My dad taught me how to rope.”
Mitchell started his USTRC success at the South Carolina Championships, held May 17-18 in Prosperity, South Carolina, where he placed second in the #11.5 for 9 points. From there, he went to the North Alabama Championship, held June 14-15 in Rainsville, Alabama, where he earned 20 points by winning both the #13.5 Slide and the #12.5. Two months later, at the North Alabama Classic, he placed third in the #11.5 for 8 points.
Mitchell had a good weekend at the Tennessee Special, held Aug. 29-31 in McDonald, Tennessee, where he totaled 26 points. He placed fourth in the #13.5 for 7 points, then won the #10.5 for 10 points and finished second in the benefit roping for 9.
His biggest USTRC weekend to date came at the Northwest Georgia Classic, held Nov. 15-6 in Franklin, Georgia, where he earned 38 points. He won the #13.5 Slide for 10 points and placed second in the #13.5 for 9. He then won the #12.5 for 10 points and capped the weekend by placing second in the #11.5 for 9.
“That weekend went good,” he said of the Northwest Georgia Classic. “I had some good partners and was very blessed.”
Outside of USTRC ropings, Mitchell said his biggest win came at the National Team Roping League Finals, where he earned about $10,000 in 2024.
“It was really exciting,” he said. “I had a great week and was blessed to do so.”
With a year of high school left to go, Mitchell hasn’t made any set plans for his future, but he looks up to one of the top headers in the sport.
“I would say Kaleb Driggers is my team roping hero,” he said. “I always watch him on TV at the NFR and have always thought he was a winner. He also has great horsemanship to go along with it.”
USTRC Resistol Jr. Champion Standings
(as of 12/16/25. Go to USTRC.com for current standings.)
USTRC Resistol Jr. Standings: Headers
| Name | Points | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Gregory Mitchell | 101 | Adairsville, Georgia |
| 2. Carson Cameron | 76 | Knoxville, Tennessee |
| 3. Rylan Rogers | 67 | Ecru, Mississippi |
| 3. Conner Haygood | 67 | Fort Payne, Alabama |
| 5. Hayden Hines | 59 | Monroe, Georgia |
| 6. Heston Seufer | 47 | Holly, Colorado |
| 7. Rance Winters | 46 | Lipan, Texas |
| 7. Colt Hilley | 42 | Perrin, Texas |
| 9. Ty Havens | 40 | Lucedale, Mississippi |
| 10. Jaxen Morris | 35 | Muleshoe, Texas |
USTRC Resistol Jr. Standings: Heelers
| Name | Points | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jackson Sykes | 75 | Lebanon, Virginia |
| 2. Levi Baker | 61 | Culleoka, Tennessee |
| 3. Cole Shook | 55 | Leicester, North Carolina |
| 4. Kase Key | 47 | Stephenville, Texas |
| 5. Colt Daniel | 40 | Cullman, Alabama |
| 6. Reagan W. Overstreet | 35 | Kenansville, Florida |
| 6. Lane Starr | 35 | Era, Texas |
| 8. Austin Noe | 33 | London, Tennessee |
| 9. Canyon Moore | 32 | Granger, Texas |
| 10. Rance Winters | 31 | Lipan, Texas |
| 10. Trevor Bentley | 31 | Weimar, Texas |
| 10. Jay Faulkenberry | 31 | Rock Hill, South Carolina |
Current USTRC or Key Card/Key Card Max membership is required to participate in the Resistol Jr. Champion Program. Earned points begin counting at time of membership purchase thru the NFTR’s last shootout event. The season begins the Monday after the last USTRC Cinch NFTR event and ends the last day of the next USTRC Cinch NFTR event.
Ropers must enter at least one Shootout division in the USTRC NFTR to be eligible. The award will be announced at the end of the USTRC Cinch National Finals of Team Roping event.
The points breakdown is as follows: Starting with At Home Challenge Events, ropers will earn 10 points if they win the Challenge. No other points will be awarded. At Signature Events, points will be awarded to those winning an aggregate check. It starts at First Place with 10 points, Second = 9 points, and so on as far down as the roping is paid. During the Cinch NFTR, the placing points are simply doubled. First Place is worth 20 points, second = 18, and so on. For complete rules, please visit USTRC.com.
—TRJ—
