By Lily Weinacht
Creede Guardamondo is especially fond of rodeo. The 12 year old from Avondale, Colo., has been rodeoing since he was six, introduced to his now favorite sport by his dad, Tom Guardamondo. “My dad told me I could try rodeo if I wanted to, so I did, and I’ve fallen in love with it ever since!” says Creede. “Every day that I go out and practice is another day that I want to get better and just win! I started rodeo not really knowing what to expect, but as I started practicing more and winning first place more, rodeo got a lot easier.”
Just because rodeo is coming easier these days doesn’t mean Creede takes the sport any less seriously. He works diligently at all his events, which include breakaway roping, dally ribbon roping, goat tying, steer riding, and team roping as a header, with his partners Braden Morgan or Rory Beach. “Team roping is my favorite. I catch most of the time, and I love the competition of it,” Creede explains. Likewise, PRCA team roper Clay Tryan is Creede’s rodeo role model. “I look up to him because he says whatever you do, never give up – try your hardest and get better every day. I hope to meet him someday.” Creede adds, “My parents motivate me every day to go out there and do my best. They are the number one people who encourage me.”
Creede is further motivated to rodeo by the connection he has with his horses, Scout and Answers. “Scout is my favorite. I do breakaway and ribbon roping on her, and she is the friendliest, kindest horse I’ve ever met. She’ll follow me wherever I go, without a halter or lead rope, and I can see the confidence in her eyes. Answers is so fast, and if you have a problem, he has an answer for you!” Creede says of his goat tying and team roping horse. The Guardamondos have several more horses, two dogs, named DC and Ace, chickens, steers for steer riding, and the Angus beef cattle that Creede’s family raises. Creede often helps his dad with branding and checking cattle, but he also loves to spend time with the rest of his family. His mom, Laura Guardamondo, will watch Creede and his dad practice roping, while Creede’s brother, Chance, plays football and hockey. The brothers also have an older half sister, Tanya, who used to show in 4-H, and an older half brother, Justin, who ropes and rodeos.
Creede recently finished sixth grade at Vineland Middle School in Pueblo. Throughout the school year he does football, basketball, and track, but is thrilled that it is summer break, meaning more time to practice his roping and riding. “I plan on hanging out with friends and going to rodeos,” says Creede. “My friends and I like to play basketball in their backyards, and they’ll come out here and ride. I like to go out to the prairies and just ride.”
Launching into his first full rodeo season with the CJHSRA, Creede’s greatest summer goal was qualifying for the NJHFR, which he accomplished. He will be representing Colorado at the NJHFR in the steer riding, breakaway roping, and goat tying. He has also qualified for the CJRA finals several times and enjoys the competition. He used to compete with the NLBRA, and won second in the world in flag racing and fifth in pole bending in 2011 as a Little Wrangler. “I want to be a professional team roper and go to the Finals one day,” says Creede. “I hope to college rodeo, but becoming a professional team roper is my wish right now!”
