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13-Year-Old T.J. McCauley Earns Recognition From World Champs
by Jennifer Powell
Too Young To Drive...
A brand-new, black, fully loaded 2007 Dodge crew cab truck quietly sits in storage, waiting patiently for its 13-year-old owner, young gun T.J. McCauley, to mature to the ripe old age of sixteen so he can finally drive it.
“T.J. is going to be driving the oldest, new truck,” joked T.J.’s dad, Chico McCauley.
It was during the 2007 Load ‘Em in the Dark truck and trailer roping held in Mesquite, Nevada and T.J. was going into the short round of the #11 sitting 20th and 26th. He called his dad, who was unable to attend the roping, to explain the situation and ask for some advice.
“I thought he was too far out to have a chance at winning, so I told him he might as well make the fastest run he could,” remembered Chico.
After catching two feet on his call steer with Mike Baker, his header from Utah, T.J. phoned his dad back to let him know he was in the lead with nineteen teams left to go. Chico asked T.J. to put the phone on a fence post so he could listen to the remainder of the short go. Team after team faced difficulties with breaking out, catching a leg or missing altogether. After the last team went, he still held the lead.
T.J picked up the phone and asked, “Did you hear that Dad? I won the horse trailer!”
Chico congratulated him on his win and asked how many overall points he had towards the truck. T.J was not sure but let his dad know he would call him back as soon as he found out. Chico did not have to wait long to receive a call from his wife, Marie, letting him know he should jump on a plane to Mesquite so he could drive his oldest son’s new truck and trailer home to their ranch in Sparks, Nevada.
During the three years that this lean, 6’1” teenager has competed, T.J. has won buckles, numerous saddles, five horse trailers, and a truck.
His notable accomplishments in those few years have been winning $27,000 in the #10 roping in Oklahoma at the United States Team Roping Championships in October, 2005. He also won $40,000 and two buckles at the Donny Waters Invitational in May, 2007. He was the youngest roper to win the Oakdale 10 steer in 2007 with Kyle Lockett. He also qualified for the 2007 National Junior High School Rodeo Finals in Gallop, New Mexico in four different events.
“That’s a pretty big thing because it’s like a mini NFR,” explained T.J. T.J. has even had a little experience with the pro rodeo circuit.
In June 2007, Walt Woodard and Matt Sherwood came into town for the Reno Rodeo and made a stop at the McCauley’s for some practice time. Walt was so impressed with T.J.’s roping skills, he mentioned to Chico he should try and get the rodeo committee to let T.J. and Shane Bohach, another local roper, to run an exhibition steer. The committee agreed. That night at the rodeo, Walt Woodard won the round when he roped his steer in 5.6 seconds. At the end of the round, the local boys went out and roped their steer in 5.4 seconds. Needless to say, the crowd went wild.
“He’s phenomenal!” said 2007 World Champion Heeler Walt Woodard about T.J.
“It is phenomenal that he ropes so well at such a young age. I hope everyone remembers he’s only 13. He looks a lot older but he’s 13. That’s just out of 12.”
Walt also added, “I was very impressed with how well mannered he is.”
As a #8 heeler, T.J’s philosophy is, “Practice makes perfect, but I think you need to practice perfect. You need to make sure everything is right.” He also added, “Every time I saddle my horse, I want to master something, whether it’s laying a trap or something simple. I might even carry it over through a couple days of practice.”
School comes first at the McCauley house where T.J and his younger brother A.J. are straight “A” students, but as soon as they can, the two boys are out roping. Most likely they will head to the goat pen first where they rope the goats on foot. Then, they saddle a couple of horses and rope steers for three or four hours. T.J. has even been known to try and rope chickens.
“A.J. and I are very close. We really get excited and have a lot of fun in the practice pen,” said T.J. “We rope all the time and have won a lot together.”
For the past six months, T.J. has been travelling every Tuesday to his friend and fellow roper, T.J. Scoggin’s house for help with his calf roping.
“He’s funny and witty,” described Scoggin, owner of Cool Stance Horse Feed. “He’s good to be around. He’s a kick in the pants.” He went on to say, “He has so much ability. You show him something once and he can do it.”
Along with a huge dose of natural ability, T.J.’s strengths include determination, drive and self-motivation.
“You can’t give someone the drive and desire to go the extra mile that T.J. has,” said Scoggin. “It has to be born inside them.”
“Rope and rope and rope. He’s dedicated!” said close friend-of-the-family De Mar Thurman.
“Both boys have so much experience roping that they know what the next jump is going to be before it happens,” said Chico. “They have great eye-hand coordination and an incredible sense of timing.”
Even though T.J. makes heeling look incredibly easy, he still faces challenges.
“Going through the bad times is probably the most challenging. Having a rainy day that lasts for months,” explained T.J.
“But that’s when the family comes in and helps me through. They help me through the good and the bad. When it gets the worst, they keep me going.”
T.J also has a couple of dependable horses that help him make it through the good times and bad. Cash is a black 13-year-old gelding T.J. counts on in the roping pen but his number one horse is a 6-year-old sorrel horse named Cruiser.
“Cruiser never lets me down. He gives all of his heart,” said McCauley. “He puts his life on the line every time I ask him to.”
Not only is T.J. a top notch roper but he has a heart of gold and maturity beyond his years. When he was ten years old, he entered the Ernie Basso Memorial roping held in Livermore, California and won. T.J. knew Kathy Enderblitzen held the roping in memory of her father. When she presented T.J. with the saddle he won, he gave it back to her. He wanted her to have it in memory of her dad.
In May 2007, at the Donny Water’s Invitational, T.J. roped in the #11 roping with De Mar Thurman and #12 roping with T.J. Scoggin. Winners of each roping received a saddle and $20,000. The high point earner of each roping won a $5,000 Gist buckle. In the #12 roping, the T.J. ended up on top with both of them winning a saddle and $20,000. McCauley won the buckle for high point earner. At the end of the #11, De Mar and T.J. won the roping and were tied for high point earner. A rope-off was going to be held to determine who would get the buckle. Neither De Mar nor T.J. wanted to rope against the other so they decided to flip a coin. T.J. had already decided he wanted De Mar to have the buckle and was hoping to loose the coin toss, but as luck would have it, he won. When they went to present the buckle to T.J., he gave it to De Mar.
“It was a big surprise. It brought me to tears,” said De Mar. “But that’s the kind of kid he is. He is really a great kid. The whole family are great people.”
At the Braydon Durrant Foundation roping, A.J., a #4 header, and T.J. backed in the box for their final run. When all was said and done, the brothers won a horse trailer and a $1,000 purse. The boys approached their dad and asked if they could donate their winnings back to the foundation, which buys wheelchairs for children with cancer.
T.J and his brother A.J. are both known for their manners and polite, considerate, happy dispositions. Friends who know the family well agree the boys are extremely supportive and encouraging of each other with no resentment of one another’s success.
“As a mom, you hope your children enjoy life and are happy,” Maria said as she shared her thoughts on her boys.
“They make me the proudest when they handle themselves in a respectful manner and are appreciative.”
“My proudest moments of my boys are the day they were born and everything from there on,” said Chico. “They’re my world.”
The McCauley’s are a close knit family who spend a lot of time together.
“When we aren’t roping, we enjoy boating, jet skiing and fishing - all while we talk about roping,” laughed Chico.
The boys may enjoy other activities like hanging out with friends, playing basketball or watching movies, but the majority of their time is definitely spent in the roping pen, which explains why T.J.’s goals are focused on roping.
“I’d really like to be the youngest person to ever win the Bob Feist Invitational,” T.J. said. He went on to add, “I want to be the best of the best. Be the best I can be.”
“I think both boys could make it to the National Finals Rodeo if they wanted to,” said Chico. “But I want them to do what they want to do.”
Currently the boys are leading the state of Nevada in team roping in the Wrangler Jr. High School Rodeo association. T.J. is also first in goat tying and second in calf roping, with A.J. first in breakaway roping. They compete in Alamo, Nevada May 31st and June 1st 2008 for the right to advance to the National Finals in Gallop, New Mexico the first weekend of July. With the talent, confidence and ability T.J. possesses he should accomplish anything he sets his mind to do.
“It’s amazing what that kid can do with a rope,” related 2006 National Champion Header Matt Sherwood.
“He’s the best 13 year-old roper I have ever seen in my life.”
“T.J. is going to be driving the oldest, new truck,” joked T.J.’s dad, Chico McCauley.
It was during the 2007 Load ‘Em in the Dark truck and trailer roping held in Mesquite, Nevada and T.J. was going into the short round of the #11 sitting 20th and 26th. He called his dad, who was unable to attend the roping, to explain the situation and ask for some advice.
“I thought he was too far out to have a chance at winning, so I told him he might as well make the fastest run he could,” remembered Chico.
After catching two feet on his call steer with Mike Baker, his header from Utah, T.J. phoned his dad back to let him know he was in the lead with nineteen teams left to go. Chico asked T.J. to put the phone on a fence post so he could listen to the remainder of the short go. Team after team faced difficulties with breaking out, catching a leg or missing altogether. After the last team went, he still held the lead.
T.J picked up the phone and asked, “Did you hear that Dad? I won the horse trailer!”
Chico congratulated him on his win and asked how many overall points he had towards the truck. T.J was not sure but let his dad know he would call him back as soon as he found out. Chico did not have to wait long to receive a call from his wife, Marie, letting him know he should jump on a plane to Mesquite so he could drive his oldest son’s new truck and trailer home to their ranch in Sparks, Nevada.
During the three years that this lean, 6’1” teenager has competed, T.J. has won buckles, numerous saddles, five horse trailers, and a truck.
His notable accomplishments in those few years have been winning $27,000 in the #10 roping in Oklahoma at the United States Team Roping Championships in October, 2005. He also won $40,000 and two buckles at the Donny Waters Invitational in May, 2007. He was the youngest roper to win the Oakdale 10 steer in 2007 with Kyle Lockett. He also qualified for the 2007 National Junior High School Rodeo Finals in Gallop, New Mexico in four different events.
“That’s a pretty big thing because it’s like a mini NFR,” explained T.J. T.J. has even had a little experience with the pro rodeo circuit.
In June 2007, Walt Woodard and Matt Sherwood came into town for the Reno Rodeo and made a stop at the McCauley’s for some practice time. Walt was so impressed with T.J.’s roping skills, he mentioned to Chico he should try and get the rodeo committee to let T.J. and Shane Bohach, another local roper, to run an exhibition steer. The committee agreed. That night at the rodeo, Walt Woodard won the round when he roped his steer in 5.6 seconds. At the end of the round, the local boys went out and roped their steer in 5.4 seconds. Needless to say, the crowd went wild.
“He’s phenomenal!” said 2007 World Champion Heeler Walt Woodard about T.J.
“It is phenomenal that he ropes so well at such a young age. I hope everyone remembers he’s only 13. He looks a lot older but he’s 13. That’s just out of 12.”
Walt also added, “I was very impressed with how well mannered he is.”
As a #8 heeler, T.J’s philosophy is, “Practice makes perfect, but I think you need to practice perfect. You need to make sure everything is right.” He also added, “Every time I saddle my horse, I want to master something, whether it’s laying a trap or something simple. I might even carry it over through a couple days of practice.”
School comes first at the McCauley house where T.J and his younger brother A.J. are straight “A” students, but as soon as they can, the two boys are out roping. Most likely they will head to the goat pen first where they rope the goats on foot. Then, they saddle a couple of horses and rope steers for three or four hours. T.J. has even been known to try and rope chickens.
“A.J. and I are very close. We really get excited and have a lot of fun in the practice pen,” said T.J. “We rope all the time and have won a lot together.”
For the past six months, T.J. has been travelling every Tuesday to his friend and fellow roper, T.J. Scoggin’s house for help with his calf roping.
“He’s funny and witty,” described Scoggin, owner of Cool Stance Horse Feed. “He’s good to be around. He’s a kick in the pants.” He went on to say, “He has so much ability. You show him something once and he can do it.”
Along with a huge dose of natural ability, T.J.’s strengths include determination, drive and self-motivation.
“You can’t give someone the drive and desire to go the extra mile that T.J. has,” said Scoggin. “It has to be born inside them.”
“Rope and rope and rope. He’s dedicated!” said close friend-of-the-family De Mar Thurman.
“Both boys have so much experience roping that they know what the next jump is going to be before it happens,” said Chico. “They have great eye-hand coordination and an incredible sense of timing.”
Even though T.J. makes heeling look incredibly easy, he still faces challenges.
“Going through the bad times is probably the most challenging. Having a rainy day that lasts for months,” explained T.J.
“But that’s when the family comes in and helps me through. They help me through the good and the bad. When it gets the worst, they keep me going.”
T.J also has a couple of dependable horses that help him make it through the good times and bad. Cash is a black 13-year-old gelding T.J. counts on in the roping pen but his number one horse is a 6-year-old sorrel horse named Cruiser.
“Cruiser never lets me down. He gives all of his heart,” said McCauley. “He puts his life on the line every time I ask him to.”
Not only is T.J. a top notch roper but he has a heart of gold and maturity beyond his years. When he was ten years old, he entered the Ernie Basso Memorial roping held in Livermore, California and won. T.J. knew Kathy Enderblitzen held the roping in memory of her father. When she presented T.J. with the saddle he won, he gave it back to her. He wanted her to have it in memory of her dad.
In May 2007, at the Donny Water’s Invitational, T.J. roped in the #11 roping with De Mar Thurman and #12 roping with T.J. Scoggin. Winners of each roping received a saddle and $20,000. The high point earner of each roping won a $5,000 Gist buckle. In the #12 roping, the T.J. ended up on top with both of them winning a saddle and $20,000. McCauley won the buckle for high point earner. At the end of the #11, De Mar and T.J. won the roping and were tied for high point earner. A rope-off was going to be held to determine who would get the buckle. Neither De Mar nor T.J. wanted to rope against the other so they decided to flip a coin. T.J. had already decided he wanted De Mar to have the buckle and was hoping to loose the coin toss, but as luck would have it, he won. When they went to present the buckle to T.J., he gave it to De Mar.
“It was a big surprise. It brought me to tears,” said De Mar. “But that’s the kind of kid he is. He is really a great kid. The whole family are great people.”
At the Braydon Durrant Foundation roping, A.J., a #4 header, and T.J. backed in the box for their final run. When all was said and done, the brothers won a horse trailer and a $1,000 purse. The boys approached their dad and asked if they could donate their winnings back to the foundation, which buys wheelchairs for children with cancer.
T.J and his brother A.J. are both known for their manners and polite, considerate, happy dispositions. Friends who know the family well agree the boys are extremely supportive and encouraging of each other with no resentment of one another’s success.
“As a mom, you hope your children enjoy life and are happy,” Maria said as she shared her thoughts on her boys.
“They make me the proudest when they handle themselves in a respectful manner and are appreciative.”
“My proudest moments of my boys are the day they were born and everything from there on,” said Chico. “They’re my world.”
The McCauley’s are a close knit family who spend a lot of time together.
“When we aren’t roping, we enjoy boating, jet skiing and fishing - all while we talk about roping,” laughed Chico.
The boys may enjoy other activities like hanging out with friends, playing basketball or watching movies, but the majority of their time is definitely spent in the roping pen, which explains why T.J.’s goals are focused on roping.
“I’d really like to be the youngest person to ever win the Bob Feist Invitational,” T.J. said. He went on to add, “I want to be the best of the best. Be the best I can be.”
“I think both boys could make it to the National Finals Rodeo if they wanted to,” said Chico. “But I want them to do what they want to do.”
Currently the boys are leading the state of Nevada in team roping in the Wrangler Jr. High School Rodeo association. T.J. is also first in goat tying and second in calf roping, with A.J. first in breakaway roping. They compete in Alamo, Nevada May 31st and June 1st 2008 for the right to advance to the National Finals in Gallop, New Mexico the first weekend of July. With the talent, confidence and ability T.J. possesses he should accomplish anything he sets his mind to do.
“It’s amazing what that kid can do with a rope,” related 2006 National Champion Header Matt Sherwood.
“He’s the best 13 year-old roper I have ever seen in my life.”
