Resistol Rookie

Williams Ropes Rookie of the Year Title

By Joe Kusek

With spring semester of college coming to an end, Summer Williams had a couple of options for the upcoming months.

She could return home to southern Mississippi and work for her father or Williams could stay on the road and rope.

Williams gripped the steering wheel tighter, pressed harder on the gas pedal and maneuvered her truck into the fast lane.

The well-traveled teenager capped off a whirlwind 2024 season, earning WPRA Breakaway Roping Resistol Rookie of the Year honors.

In the span of just 11 months, Summer went from competing on her permit to earning her professional rodeo card to walking away with a once-in-a-lifetime award.

“It means a lot to me,” said Williams, who is from Perkinston, Mississippi an unincorporated community 35 miles north of Biloxi. She is currently a sophomore at Cisco College in Texas, majoring in equine business.

“It definitely was fast. Looking back, I’m just really happy how the season went. Honestly, I never looked at the rookie standings, just to the next calf. God had a plan, and it worked out.”

Competing at 67 rodeos on two horses, Wiliams earned $27,503. She finished $2,410 ahead of Harley Meged of Miles City, Montana. Williams finished 49^th in the WPRA world standings.

Williams competed in the Great Lakes Circuit in 2024, getting her mail in Bethany, Missouri. “I was staying with friends,” she said.

The three-time National High School Finals Rodeo qualifier filled her permit in October of 2023 and bought her card after a win in Farmington, Missouri during the last weekend of May.

“I’m big on goalsetting and wanted to make the finals for the Great Lakes Circuit,” Williams said. “I kind of had a late start.”

The homeschooled 19-year-old leads the Great Lakes Circuit standings entering its Finals, Nov. 14-16 in Louisville, Kentucky. A year-end or Finals title will give her an opportunity to compete at the high-paying NFR Open in July of 2025.

Williams headed west during the Fourth of July with another goal on her list. “I decided to go for rookie of the year,” she said.

Williams pocketed $12,153 during July. She won at Burwell, Nebraska, Iron River, Michigan and Phillips, Wisconsin. She was also second in Manhattan, Kansas.

Her biggest check was a third-place finish at Ogden, Utah for $5,388.

“The highlight of the year was Ogden,” said Williams.

Williams rode Keeper and Kali during the summer.

Keeper is a 13-year-old bay gelding registered as Pitchforks Rey II. The horse is a son of Dual Smart Rey and out of Pitchforks Lena.

“He tries for me so hard every time,” said Williams. “He never takes a throw away from me. I have a lot of confidence in hm.”

Kali is a smooth-running six-year-old sorrel Quarter horse mare with roan flanks. She is registered as Flashy N Cashy out of Money Talks Smart and sired by Purdy Boy Flash.

“She’s really smooth,” said Williams. “Kali scores well and finishes. She reads a calf better than any horse I’ve ever ridden.”

Williams has been roping since the age of three. Her father Greg is a team roper. “My mother (Angel) has never ridden a horse,” said the youngest of three daughters.

While her older sisters played softball, Williams spent her weekends with her father at team roping events. “My mom knew softball was not for me,” she said.

Williams plans to compete in the Wilderness Circuit for 2025 with Victor, Idaho her address.

“Home is wherever you’re staying at the time with family and friends,” she said. “I plan to go hard this year, go more than I did last year. I hope to make the (National) Finals eventually.”