Header Callahan Taylor Takes the USTRC Resistol Jr. Lead

USTRC RESISTOL JR. RACE

Header Callahan Taylor Takes the Lead while the Heelers Put Heat on Houston Childers

The USTRC Resistol Jr. standings were action-packed, with Callahan Taylor becoming the new leader in the heading and, in the heeling, the whole Top 5 field made gains in attempts to catch Houston Childers.

Top 5 Headers

Since reported in the January issue of the magazine, Texan Callahan Taylor and Ashton Hughes, of Florida, have upended the Top 5 USTRC Resistol Jr. standings by capturing the top two spots with 73 and 64 points, respectively.

Taylor’s climb to the top is a continuation of his trajectory from the fourth-place position to third and, now, to first. The 13-year-old’s most recent successes in the heading (he also heels) were realized at Walt Eddy’s Lasso Del Sol in late December when he took fifth in the #12.5 USTRC for six points, and then dominated the #11.5 USTRC by taking first and second for 10 and 9 points, respectively. The efforts garnered the Canutillo, Texan 15 points, putting him 13 points ahead of the 60 points that last claimed the No. 1 position.

Days later, Wildwood, Florida’s Hughes also went to work at JX2 Productions’ South Georgia Super Qualifier, where he earned 15 points in the #12.5 USTRC alone with third- and fourth-place finishes. Hughes, 16, then earned another 7 points when he finished fourth in the #9.5 USTRC, followed by another 9-point gain for his second-place finish in the #7 USTRC. The 31-point haul nearly doubled Hughes’ Resistol Jr. total, which is now 64, worth the No. 2 spot in the standings.

The remaining Top 5 field reports no change in points, but Colt Hilley is now No. 3 with 60 points, Aiden Perrett is No. 4 with 58, and Tyler Mota now occupies the No. 5 spot with 47.

Top 5 Heelers

There’s been no change to Childer’s total of 93 points, which first earned him the No. 1 spot in the USTRC Resistol Jr. heeling standings. The 15-year-old Georgian has maintained his points since October 2023 but, behind him, the wolves are closing in.

At last reporting, Texan Kelby Frizzell was in the No. 7 spot with 40 points. This go-round, he’s in the No. 2 spot with 77 points, thanks to a strong start in 2024. Frizzell, 17, kicked off the New Year at the Mathews Land & Cattle roping in Andrews, Texas, to finish third in the #11.5 USTRC for 8 points. Mid-month, he hit up the X-treme Team Roping Winter Classic to earn 29 points by finishing first and second in the #14.5 USTRC and snagging first again in the #13.5 USTRC. He’s now a not-so-untenable 16 points behind Childers and still 16 points ahead of the No. 3 position.

Now boasting 61 points from that No. 3 position is Oklahoma’s Hazen Suit who, at last reporting, was tied for the No. 10 spot with 36 points. Suit, 15, concluded 2023 with a trip to 3 Point Productions’ Super Bowl, where he earned 7 points for a fourth-place finish in the #12.5 Slide USTRC, followed by a first- and third-place finish in the #11.5 USTRC for another 18 points.

On Suit’s heels by 4 points is fellow Oklahoman Kale Roark with 57 points, worth the No. 4 spot in this month’s USTRC Resistol Jr. standings. Though Roark was bumped from his second-place position, he did increase his total points by 6 with a fifth-place finish in the #9.5 USTRC at the Super Bowl in late December.

Alabama’s Brit Smith maintains his hold on the No. 5 spot this month, but only by winning the #9.5 USTRC at the South Georgia Super Qualifier for a crucial 10-point gain, giving him a total of 53 points and saving him from falling out of the Top 5 Resistol Jr. heeling standings.

2023–2024 USTRC Resistol Jr. Champion Standings

(as of 1/26/24. Go to USTRC.com for current standings)

Current USTRC or Key Card/Key Card Max membership is required to participate in the Resistol Junior 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 breakdowns are 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 ropings are paid. During the Cinch NFTR, the placing points are simply doubled. First Place will be 20, second = 18, and so on.