#10 Shoot Out
2015 Cinch USTRC National Finals of Team Roping
Saturday October 31 2015
Mike Sibley and Jed Sibley
Sometimes our
emotions take hold of us and will not let go.
Being overwhelmed can leave us speechless and unable to grasp all that
has transpired. Sometimes our hearts are
full and all we can do is smile, hold back the tears and try to breath.
Mike Sibley
is a header from Denham Springs, Louisiana.
“It’s hard to
rope with your kids,” Sibley said. “There is a lot of pressure there. You want
to do well. You want a good start and
set everything up so they get a shot to do what you know they can do.”
Well, with a
doubt, Sibley got it all together to give his son, Jed, a shot at the
heels. The pair was the high team coming
back in the short go round of the #10 Shoot Out at the 2015 Cinch USTRC
National Finals of Team Roping.
“There is
just so much pressure,” Mike Sibley reiterated as he choked back tears. “This
is such a good place for kids to grow up.
It’s a good family atmosphere. I wanted a good clean run so Jed could
rope.”
The winners
in the average of the #10 Shoot Out would take $123,000 to the bank. Add to that an awesome prize line including
Martin Championship Trophy Saddles, Gist Championship Gold Buckles, Tony Lama
Full Quill Ostrich Skinned Boots and Western Horseman Collector’s Prints. It was mind boggling. At that point in time one could not actually
grasp what it all meant.
The short go
round was filled with pressure and nerves and each team was seeking some sort
of competitive edge. Thirty teams were coming back in the short go round for a
total payout of $465,580.
Aaron Noel
and Brock Hill was the second high team back. They roped their short go steer
with a time of 9.73 to take the lead away from Walt Arnold and Danny Watson.
Mike and Jeb Sibley knew they needed a ten second run or better to win the
average and move Noel and Hill to second.
“I kept
thinking I’ve got to stay focused,” Jed Sibley said. “I kept saying this is a
mental game and I’ve got to meet this challenge. I’ve got to adapt. You just
never know how things are going to turn out.”
When the
father/son duo rode into the box they were on the same page. A good solid clean mistake free run seemed to
flash somewhere in the background. Both
knew they just had to keep it all together.
When Mike
Sibley nodded he put all his faith in a twelve year old head horse he’s had for
about six years. The horse would do his
job and Sibley did his. He connected and
roped the horns. Jed was at the corner
when dad turned off and he scooped up both heels. The clock read 8.08. Perhaps Mike and Jed forgot to breathe.
$123,000 is a lot of money.
“I have no
clue about the money,” Mike Sibley said fighting back tears. “I cannot even put
my mind around this.”
Jed
collaborated, “This is my first USTRC saddle.
What has just happened has not even sunk in yet. It is such a mental game. It hasn’t registered yet what has
happened. We have a long drive home
tomorrow so we will have some time to think this through.”
“You just
work hard to keep your kids involved,” Mike said. “You want them involved in
team roping. This has such a good family atmosphere. It is a good place for kids, for family. To win this roping with my son means
everything. To say this is an emotional
win is to say the very least.”
Jed offered a
bit of advice for anyone wanting to rope.
“Don’t ever
give up, don’t ever quit and don’t ever give up on your dreams,” he commented.
“You have to learn to adapt. As a heeler
there are so many different shots to look at.
It’s a mental game. Always follow your dreams and don’t give up.”
Perhaps learning to adapt is a life lesson as well.
It is a
pretty safe bet to say that Mike and Jed Sibley will never ever forget a
Saturday afternoon in October at the 2015 Cinch USTRC NFTR. It is a good haul to Denham Springs,
Louisiana. There will be some reflection,
some deep thinking, and perhaps a bit of meditation and deliberation as to how
the #10 Shoot Out came down on that particular Saturday afternoon in October in
Oklahoma City.
One thing is
for certain the duo of Mike and Jed Sibley will rerun, rehash, rethink and
replay the roping and the result will always be the same. The pair won the #10 Shoot Out and they are
still going home with $123,000 and new saddles.
What a terrific memory! Who says team roping doesn’t change lives? Who
denies that roping and winning with your kids or family is just about as good
as it gets!
