Meet the Members Tyra & Tydon Tsosie
story by Julie Carter Hailing from the Steer Wrestling capitol of the Navajo Nation, Crownpoint, NM, the 17-year-old Tsosie twins, Tyra and Tydon, have made […]
story by Lindsay King
Breaking records is an annual occurrence for Roberto Galaz from Los Lunas, New Mexico, who holds four national titles in the light rifle shooting. The 17-year-old is also a competitor in the trap shooting. “We started rodeo in the roping pen and then realized there were shooting events. My dad brought us up in a shooting and hunting environment, so it made sense to start the shooting sports,” said the high school senior. When Roberto started rodeo he was in the breakaway, ribbon roping and team roping. Now he mostly heads at jackpots.
A six-year veteran in the light rifle shooting, Roberto is going into his third season of trap shooting. He said it is his favorite event because “it is more exciting to see the targets that you are shooting at break in the air.” Crediting his parents, Alex and Vikki Galaz, as his biggest influence, Roberto is thankful for his support system. “My dad grew up in rodeo and hunting. He brought me up in that life style. He showed me everything he knew and throughout the years we kept learning and getting better.” Providing the moral support and encouragement is his mom, consistently reassuring Roberto to never give up and to keep setting goals for himself.
It was in 2015 when Roberto won his first national title in the eighth grade. “The year before I was the reserve champion, so it was exciting to win it all. It was a great accomplishment and a memorable place to see all my hard work pay off.” Improving in shooting sport takes the same ingredients as any other rodeo event. However, the process and mindset is quite a bit different. “You have to control your breathing and adjust for different weather conditions, like wind. We shoot in the rain also.” Wind affects the trajectory of the bullet more than anything else. “This year at nationals the wind was pushing 16 miles an hour while we were out on the range shooting. It is important to practice in those conditions if you want to get better.”
Following the high school national finals around the Midwest is easily Roberto’s favorite rodeo each year. The always humble marksman knows it’s an accomplishment to even get to nationals. “You arrive at nationals and feel great about yourself. At times, there is a lot of pressure because there are a lot of real tough competitive athletes shooting at nationals every year.” In 2015, Roberto marked the highest score ever recorded. He went back and broke his own record the next year. His record shots in both junior high and high school still stand today. “Winning at nationals this year was probably my proudest moment so far. Nobody has won it four years in a row. The excitement was just like the first time I won it.”
Like any rodeo event, it all comes down to the mental game. The hardest part? Roberto said it is calming down his nerves, so he does not shake while he is shooting. He also shoots in 4-H and is in his Valencia High School FFA chapter where he competes in the ag mech contest. He hopes to one day shoot on a college team. Though he is undecided on what college he will compete for, he plans to pursue a degree in nurse anesthetist. “Basically, I want to be the person that knocks you out before you go into surgery. The people who actually give the medicine. I have a bunch of nurses in my family and this job caught my attention. It seems like something I would like to do.”
story by Julie Carter Hailing from the Steer Wrestling capitol of the Navajo Nation, Crownpoint, NM, the 17-year-old Tsosie twins, Tyra and Tydon, have made […]
story by Julie Carter July 2023 and the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, WY escorted Ashlynn Jones out of one phase of her […]
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October 11, 2020
Bareback
Lumpkin Tekota 40
Saddle Bronc
Charleston Oistin 20
Reined Cow Horse
Mitchell Sterlin 75
Priest Colton 68.5
Brandon Paige 55.5
Shiver McKinzee 51
Lynch Fayth 47.5
Harwell Clate 46.5
Morris Abby 18
Boys Cutting
Mitchell Sterlin 58
Priest Colton 45
Harwell Clate 42
Mirabal Joren 15
Team Roping
Hernandez Chilly 63
Montoya Juan 63
Candelaria Faron 63
Taylor Calvin 63
Mendiaz Luis 32
Reno Weslynn 32
Johnson Dakota 29.5
Ybarra Meason 29.5
Oldfield Roan 29
Runyan Colten 29
Martinez Laramie 24
Martinez Myles 24
Wood Trent 23
Martinez Cade 22
Oder Hadlee 19
Sullivan Quincy 19
Reno Bladen 15
Abel Rylee Grace 15
Mathis Dillon 15
Harwell Clate 14
Breakaway
Segura Evann 38
Sullivan Quincy 35
McCormick Tiffanie 34.5
Marr Shaeden 32
Jodie Kadin 30
Ledesma Avery 24.5
Abel Rylee Grace 23
Shiver McKinzee 23
Massey Bailey 22
Reno Weslynn 21
Bull Riding
Juarez Marco 36.5
Griego Cade 36
Griego Caleb 28
Garley Clay 10
Wood Damien 10
Chavez Joseph 9
Huber Trenton 9
Marquez Justin 9
Taylor Peysen 7.5
Girls Cutting
Morris Abby 74
Ledesma Avery 70
Shiver McKinzee 68
Wamel Jordyn 39
Calf Roping
Pacheco Dontae 59
Wood Trent 52.5
Harwell Clate 51
Mathis Dillon 35
Mullins Hayden 31
Oder Hadlee 25
Mirabal Joren 22
Reno Bladen 20
Burton TK 19
Cline Ike 15.5
Steer Wrestling
Harwell Clate 46
Mathis Dillon 28
Griffin Samuel 27
Tsosie Tydon 18
Cline Zane 18
Henio Dorien 9
Barrels
Tidwell Hadley 63
Ledesma Avery 63
Marr Shaeden 51
Reno Weslynn 44
McNiel Payton 42.5
Abel Rylee Grace 38
Detweiler Katelyn 31
West Kylie 29
Castagnetto Mia 17
Gutierrez Maddie 12
Goat Tying
Ledesma Avery 52
Massey Bailey 52
Abel Rylee Grace 48
Larabee Natalie 47
Reed Codi 39
Tsosie Tyra 37
Shiver McKinzee 35
Marr Shaeden 34
Tidwell Hadley 33
Reno Weslynn 23
Build a Cowboy Bareback Riding
Sanchez David 10
BOYS ALL AROUND
Harwell Clate 199.5
Mitchell Sterlin 138
Priest Colton 113.5
Mathis Dillon 78
Wood Trent 75.5
Candelaria Faron 66
Hernandez Chilly 63
Montoya Juan 63
Taylor Calvin 63
Pacheco Dontae 59
GIRLS ALL AROUND
Ledesma Avery 243.5
Shiver McKinzee 200
Marr Shaeden 180
Abel Rylee Grace 168
Reno Weslynn 153
Morris Abby 101
Tidwell Hadley 96
Wamel Jordyn 88
Massey Bailey 74
Detweiler Katelyn 72
BOYS ROOKIE ALL AROUND
Lumpkin Tekota 40
Mullins Hayden 31
Cline Ike 26.5
Martinez Laramie 24
Martinez Cade 22
Tsosie Tydon 18
Dennis Walker 18
Boutwell Brock 11
Wood Damien 10
Sanchez David 10
GIRLS ROOKIE ALL AROUND
Wamel Jordyn 88
Miller Teagan 50
Jodie Kadin 40
Tsosie Tyra 37
Ybarra Riley 34
Littleton Morgan 34
Etsitty Erin 26
Castagnetto Mia 23
Offutt Addy 23
Washburn Teagan 21