story by Riata Cummings
Hailing from Daniel, Utah, MaCall Georgio is an 18-year-old rodeo cowgirl. She recently graduated from Wasatch High School where her favorite subjects were equine science, engineering and English. MaCall’s blended family consists of nine children; Alayna, Seara, Kaylie, Jordoun, Jarrett, Summer, Destyni, Dax, and MaCall is the youngest of the bunch. Her parents are Meg and Randy Upton and Vaughn and Karrie Georgio.
MaCall grew up in a softball family, but the sport wasn’t one of her passions. She was, however, passionate about rodeo and convinced her mom to let her start competing her freshman year of high school. She now competes in the barrel racing, goat tying and breakaway roping. Her favorite event is the goat tying because “it’s such a team effort. It can’t be all you or all your horse. It’s a partnership and you have to prove you can do more than hold on. We both put our hearts into it.”
MaCall’s rodeo horses are Ranger, a 16-year-old bay goat horse, and Arrow, a dark palomino with lots of energy and try. MaCall refers to Arrow as her “dancing horse” because his eagerness to compete makes him prance around the warm-up arena. MaCall is planning to attend Utah Valley University this fall and hopes to compete on their rodeo team so she can keep doing her “favorite things.”
Competing in rodeo has taught MaCall to set goals for herself. “There are so many talented people at the rodeo that you can’t compare yourself to them or put yourself down when you don’t win. You have to set goals that are based only on the things you can control, only for yourself.” MaCall lives by the saying, “Practice like you’ve never won and perform like you’ve never lost.” The motivating mantra helps her mimic the pressure of competition while in the practice pen. It also boosts her confidence while at the rodeo. “If you have that positive attitude that you can go above and beyond in the arena, it can really help you get above and beyond. Rodeo is a very psychological sport, and you have to train for that, too.”
MaCall’s hero is her mother, Meg. Meg was a single mother of three girls for a few years, and even though things were hard she always had a good attitude. MaCall would like to be strong, independent and dependable like her mother. One of MaCall’s greatest strengths right now is her independent nature. “I like people and appreciate their help, but I also know that I can do hard things on my own.”
MaCall would like to thank those that have helped her, including her mom, the Wasatch Rodeo Team, her mentors and her friends. “Rodeo wouldn’t be the same if people weren’t so willing to help each other improve. The mentors and people that have helped me made everything better.” MaCall is grateful for the opportunity she has been given to compete in rodeo and for all the people who have made it possible.
