As of July 24, 2024, Iowa’s Shawnee Murphy moved to the top of the Cinch Ladies Year-End Award heading race with 38 points while, in the heeling, Colorado’s Jimmi Jo Montera’s 17 points are safe for first, for now.
The Leaders
Shawnee Murphy —No. 1 Header
Shawnee Murphy, 17, first dipped her toe in the season’s waters back in May roping at the Missouri Classic by Jeff Smith and 3 Point Productions, where she finished seventh in the #9.5 USTRC for 4 points. In the last few weeks though, she’s dove in headfirst.
At the end of June, Murphy threw her name in the ring when she roped in the #11.5 USTRC at the Oklahoma Championships to win fourth place for 7 points. She also entered up in the JR #10.5 USTRC to finish second and third for 9 and 8 points, respectively. Winning the #11.5 at July’s Guthrie Championships gave her 10 points and a total of 38 points in the standings—good for this month’s No. 1 Cinch Ladies Header title (and a tie for No. 2 in the Resistol Jr. race, reported on p. 36)
Jimmi Jo Montera — No. 1 Heeler
Greeley, Colorado’s Jimmi Jo Montera holds her place at the top of the heeling standings this month with the 17 points previously reported.
The Top 5
Headers
Former No. 1 header Lexi Andrews maintains her 31 points from last month but drops to No. 2. Just 4 points behind her, Glencoe, Oklahoma’s Tia Danker cracks out with 27 points, earned entirely at July’s Guthrie Championships.
On Danker’s heels is fellow Top 5 newcomer Maddie Gomez of Belton, Texas. Gomex boasts 25 points she earned at June’s West Texas Championships, worth the No. 4 heading position. Behind her, TyAnn Clements maintains her 19 points, but falls three places to No. 5.
Heelers
Montera’s lead holds, but by a margin of 7 points instead of last month’s 9 points. In a tie for the No. 2 spot are Top 5 newcomers Sage Dieter of Alma, Nebraska, and Westminster, South Carolina’s Maddie Smith with 10 points each.
The remainder of the Top 5 consists of a three-way tie for fourth. In it, reigning USTRC Cinch Ladies Champion Heeler Kyra Hendren of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Morgan Robson of Rolla, Kansas; and Belton, Texas’ Janelle Gomez each bring 8 points to the standings.
2024-2025 USTRC Cinch Ladies Leaderboard
(as of 7/24/24. Go to USTRC.com for current standings.)
| HEADERS | POINTS | HOMETOWN |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Shawnee Murphy | 38 | Melrose, Iowa |
| 2. Lexi Andrews | 31 | Live Oak, Florida |
| 3. Tia Danker | 27 | Glencoe, Oklahoma |
| 4. Maddie Gomez | 25 | Belton, Texas |
| 5. TyAnn Clements | 19 | Stephenville, Texas |
| 6. Kay Stevens | 18 | Bethany, Missouri |
| 6. Amy Swanson | 18 | Lathrop, Missouri |
| 8. Gretchen Hilley | 17 | Perrin, Texas |
| 8. Holly Childers | 17 | Fairmount, Georgia |
| 10. Jana Murphy | 13 | Melrose, Iowa |
| HEELERS | POINTS | HOMETOWN |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Jimmi Jo Montera | 17 | Greeley, Colorado |
| 2. Sage Dieter | 10 | Alma, Nebraska |
| 2. Maddie Smith | 10 | Westminster, S. Carolina |
| 4. Kyra Hendren | 8 | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| 4. Morgan Robson | 8 | Rolla, Kansas |
| 4. Janelle Gomez | 8 | Belton, Texas |
| 7. Chris Lien | 6 | Valentine, Nebraska |
| 7. Libby Brewer | 6 | Lyerly, Georgia |
| 9. Jennifer Daly | 3 | Sutherland, Nebraska |
Current USTRC or Key Card/Key Card Max membership is required to participate in the Cinch Ladies Program. Earned points begin counting at the time of membership purchase through the NFTR’s last shootout event. The season begins the Monday after the last USTRC NFTR event and ends the last day of the next USTRC 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 National Finals of Team Roping event.
—TRJ—
