Charlie Gibson started rodeo 12 years ago, when he was five. “My dad (Casey Tyree) and my sister (Brittany Winslett – 7 years older) competed,” said the 17 year old from Greenwood, Texas. When he was too young to compete, he would go along with his sister and spend his time roping – anything he could find – the dummy, a goat, anything.
Hard work and lots of practice paid off for him at the 2016 American Junior Rodeo Association Finals where he won the team roping, ribbon roping, tie down roping (second year in a row), and all around. He also won the Alvin G. Davis Award at the AJRA finals, given to the contestant who helps out the other contestants, shows good morals, and sets a good example.
“Charlie was voted by our directors to receive this award as a member that has given back to the association in character and assisting the younger kids,” said Mary McMullan, AJRA Secretary Manager. “He’s been roping all year long injured – he is scheduled for knee surgery this fall; and he still gets out there and mugs calves for the little kids. He’s assisting without being asked and that’s awesome.”
In spite of his injury, he practices every day and sticks to the same routine. His day begins with practice, which is a family affair at his house. His dad, Casey rodeoed, and was still roping when Charlie started going, but has stopped to devote his time to helping Charlie. His mom, Jerilyn, runs the chute and the video camera. She’s also a great coach. “She’s figured out more of the game than most people know,” said Casey. Casey is Charlie’s coach in the practice pen. “We try not to use the safety. He’s getting a lot better about being a smart roper. He had a good high school year this year, won Region 2 tie down, high call back at Texas High School finals, and messed a hooey up and missed National Finals by one hole.”
Charlie has a daily workout that includes flipping a tire, doing push ups and other core strengthening work, and he also works with his dad at the family business building fence and barns, which is a work out too. He has learned to weld, and can do most of the fence building now unassisted. “We work until around 1 then I come home and do school work for a couple hours,” said Charlie, who will be a junior using the Christian Academy of America curriculum. After school is done, he heads back to the practice pen with his dad to rope. “We practice every day, no matter what,” he said. “When we get home, we watch videos of great ropers like Fred Whitfield or Trevor Brazile. Watching how fast and smooth they are, it motivates me to be like them and I want to win.”
Formal roping training has come from a Roy Cooper school that he attended when he was about 13, and pros that have come through to rope at his house or theirs. “I had a lot of good mentors just like he did. We study the game a lot, and go through lots of video,” said Casey. The horse power comes from various places. “Some of them from my mom and her ranch in New Mexico,” said Casey. “And some we pick up here and there. We take everybody’s projects and finish them or tweak them to fit him. He’s got a little different style than everyone else – all out. He’s going 90 miles an hour – he likes to go all out.”
He has three tie down roping horses, Tuff, Lightning, and Badger, and uses Lightning the most. “He’s more mature and knows how to do his job, and he’s a winner.” His team roping horse, Frankie, came from Jackie Smith and Casey trained him.
When he gets ready to back in the box, he takes a deep breath and goes through his steps with his dad. “I like to get by myself, think about what I want to do and get everything else out of my mind, and go do my job. Realize it’s just you and the calf and nobody else,” he said, recalling the missed hooey at the high school finals. “I got in too much of a hurry.” He has learned how to handle loss as well. “I walk out of the arena with my head high and go on to the next one.” One of the books he has read to help him with his mind is Gold Buckles Don’t Lie by Fred Whitfield. “No matter what happens, you have to go on with your life instead of look back.”
Charlie brought home four saddles, seven buckles, and some cash from the AJRA Finals, and he’s ready to go again. He has been invited to the Roy Cooper Invitational this December in Las Vegas, and the plan is to win state and National next year. “I want to win the world – and I’m going to do everything I know how; do what my dad’s taught me and go out there and be consistent.” He is thankful for God number one, his family, his sponsors, and everyone that helped along the way. His sponsors include: H4 Compression Specialties, Inc, DLH Inc and Ranchfolks.com.
Jerilyn is supportive of her children’s desire to rodeo. “It’s taught them hard work, and if they want something they have to work for it. It’s taught them morals and values and how to be a good person.”
Charlie Gibson started rodeo 12 years ago, when he was five. “My dad (Casey Tyree) and my sister (Brittany Winslett – 7 years older) competed,” said the 17 year old from Greenwood, Texas. When he was too young to compete, he would go along with his sister and spend his time roping – anything he could find – the dummy, a goat, anything.
Hard work and lots of practice paid off for him at the 2016 American Junior Rodeo Association Finals where he won the team roping, ribbon roping, tie down roping (second year in a row), and all around. He also won the Alvin G. Davis Award at the AJRA finals, given to the contestant who helps out the other contestants, shows good morals, and sets a good example.
“Charlie was voted by our directors to receive this award as a member that has given back to the association in character and assisting the younger kids,” said Mary McMullan, AJRA Secretary Manager. “He’s been roping all year long injured – he is scheduled for knee surgery this fall; and he still gets out there and mugs calves for the little kids. He’s assisting without being asked and that’s awesome.”
In spite of his injury, he practices every day and sticks to the same routine. His day begins with practice, which is a family affair at his house. His dad, Casey rodeoed, and was still roping when Charlie started going, but has stopped to devote his time to helping Charlie. His mom, Jerilyn, runs the chute and the video camera. She’s also a great coach. “She’s figured out more of the game than most people know,” said Casey. Casey is Charlie’s coach in the practice pen. “We try not to use the safety. He’s getting a lot better about being a smart roper. He had a good high school year this year, won Region 2 tie down, high call back at Texas High School finals, and messed a hooey up and missed National Finals by one hole.”
Charlie has a daily workout that includes flipping a tire, doing push ups and other core strengthening work, and he also works with his dad at the family business building fence and barns, which is a work out too. He has learned to weld, and can do most of the fence building now unassisted. “We work until around 1 then I come home and do school work for a couple hours,” said Charlie, who will be a junior using the Christian Academy of America curriculum. After school is done, he heads back to the practice pen with his dad to rope. “We practice every day, no matter what,” he said. “When we get home, we watch videos of great ropers like Fred Whitfield or Trevor Brazile. Watching how fast and smooth they are, it motivates me to be like them and I want to win.”
Formal roping training has come from a Roy Cooper school that he attended when he was about 13, and pros that have come through to rope at his house or theirs. “I had a lot of good mentors just like he did. We study the game a lot, and go through lots of video,” said Casey. The horse power comes from various places. “Some of them from my mom and her ranch in New Mexico,” said Casey. “And some we pick up here and there. We take everybody’s projects and finish them or tweak them to fit him. He’s got a little different style than everyone else – all out. He’s going 90 miles an hour – he likes to go all out.”
He has three tie down roping horses, Tuff, Lightning, and Badger, and uses Lightning the most. “He’s more mature and knows how to do his job, and he’s a winner.” His team roping horse, Frankie, came from Jackie Smith and Casey trained him.
When he gets ready to back in the box, he takes a deep breath and goes through his steps with his dad. “I like to get by myself, think about what I want to do and get everything else out of my mind, and go do my job. Realize it’s just you and the calf and nobody else,” he said, recalling the missed hooey at the high school finals. “I got in too much of a hurry.” He has learned how to handle loss as well. “I walk out of the arena with my head high and go on to the next one.” One of the books he has read to help him with his mind is Gold Buckles Don’t Lie by Fred Whitfield. “No matter what happens, you have to go on with your life instead of look back.”
Charlie brought home four saddles, seven buckles, and some cash from the AJRA Finals, and he’s ready to go again. He has been invited to the Roy Cooper Invitational this December in Las Vegas, and the plan is to win state and National next year. “I want to win the world – and I’m going to do everything I know how; do what my dad’s taught me and go out there and be consistent.” He is thankful for God number one, his family, his sponsors, and everyone that helped along the way. His sponsors include: H4 Compression Specialties, Inc, DLH Inc and Ranchfolks.com.
Jerilyn is supportive of her children’s desire to rodeo. “It’s taught them hard work, and if they want something they have to work for it. It’s taught them morals and values and how to be a good person.”
