story by Lindsay King
Pietown, New Mexico: if you blink, you’ll miss it. At least that’s how Ike Cline describes his hometown. It’s the type of place where K-12 are educated in the same building and all of his classmates go out for all of the sports teams. It’s quiet, it’s western, it’s perfect for this 13-year-old. It’s also where the Ike’s family has ranched since the 1913. “I come from a long line of cowboys who worked and owned ranches. They were also very competitive in the rodeo arena,” the eighth grader said. Team roping is Ike’s rodeo event of choice. However, Ike likes to keep busy so he also ropes calves in the NMJHSRA: breakaway, ribbon and tie-down.
“Team roping is my favorite event,” the header said. “I just love doing it. It’s what I practice the most and I have good horses that help me do it well.” The whole family spends quality time together in their roping pen, even Ike’s two older sisters: NaLynn, 25, and Whitley, 23. “I probably rope with my dad (Will) and grandpa (Jerry McPhaul) the most. They are both down in the arena quite a bit, teaching me and showing me what to do.” Ike’s grandpa Jerry–on his mom’s side–is one of his role models. The other is his cousin Taus Muncy. “They are the type of people who are always there to help and show me what I need to do. They are always kind and friendly to everyone.”
Ike gets to rope with his grandpa Jerry regularly, but he doesn’t see Taus quite as much. “Taus is the reason I want to try saddle bronc. He’s really good at it and my whole family has done it, so I want to keep the tradition going.” The junior high season is just getting started, but Ike is already planning for his freshman year. “My dad’s side of the family were more of the roughstock riders, but my mom’s side were in the timed events. I want to jump into the roughstock but my dad wants me to get older and stronger before I give it a try.”
In the meantime, Ike is focused on roping with his new heeler: Pecos Tatum. “Our families have been friends for a long time, but this is our first time to rope together. He’s pretty good at what he does.” While Ike is looking forward to this new partnership, he’s also excited for his second year with his ribbon roping partner, Kya Salisbury. This will be their second year competing as runner and roper together. “She’s a really cool person and she tries hard at everything she does.”
All but born in the saddle, Ike’s been traveling the western side of the United States since he was in a swaddle. One of his favorite spots was Gillette, Wyoming. “My sisters both made it to the national finals rodeo up there so I got to go up there with them when I was younger. It was a really pretty place and we have lots of family there to go see.” Ike has his sights set on nationals for all four of his events. If Ike pulls it off, it will be his first trip to compete. He has the tools and the mindset to make it happen. “You can’t give up and you always have to keep working at it. When you don’t win anything and you just want to give up; you just have to keep pushing yourself to try harder and never give up.”
