story by Lindsay Humphrey
In May 2021, not only will Charlcie Gatewood be graduating with a diploma from Welch Public Schools, but she will also gain her associate’s degree in natural science from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. “I started taking college classes the summer before my sophomore year. These last two years I’ve basically been full time with NEO,” said the 18-year-old. Charlcie is headed to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to rodeo from Oklahoma State University this fall where she’ll study biochemistry. It’s easy to see Charclie has an affinity for science, but she’s also passionate about helping people. “My plan as of now is to go to medical school and then work for a Cherokee Nation hospital.”
A member of the Cherokee Nation herself, Charlcie knows there’s a network of hospitals across the country she could work at eventually. “We have several Cherokee clinics and hospitals around home–Miami, Oklahoma–but I can pretty much go anywhere I want and get a job.” Charlcie would like to travel some, but she also can’t say she won’t want to go back home either. Thanks to rodeo, she’s already traveled quite a bit through Oklahoma as well as many of the surrounding states. She’s even found quite a bit of success out of state. Recently, she won the breakaway roping, goat tying and all-around title in the Missouri Junior Rodeo Association.
Her main focus for the last four years has been on the OHSRA. At the state finals last year, Charlcie was in the top 15 in the breakaway. Her time at the NLBFR, however, has almost always been spent in the goat tying short round. “One goal for this year, other than making high school nationals, would be to win the world in the goat tying in the Little Britches.” Charlcie is already qualified for the NLBFR, so now she just has to put in the work. Based on her track record, it’s clear she’s more than willing to do the work. “Rodeo has taught me not to give up, even if things aren’t going well, they can always turn around. The highs aren’t forever, but neither are the lows, so if you keep working and trying your hardest it will turn around at some point.”
Although Charlcie enjoys breakaway roping, goat tying is her favorite event. “I like goat tying because of the skill and the work it takes to be good at it. I’ve been tying goats for about ten years now and the athletic ability you need for it is one of my favorite parts.” The Gatewood family has always been involved in rodeo one way or another. Even though her parents–Ryan and Tobie–didn’t rodeo much themselves, they’ve still been an asset for teaching Charlcie how to ride and rodeo. Her grandpa, Dale Charles, was an accomplished bull dogger in the ACRA back in the day and her aunt, Lacie Cribbs, won the team roping at the WPRA finals a few years back. “They have inspired me a lot in rodeo. There isn’t any one person who has taught me goat tying, but Wade Sherrick and John Barnes taught me everything I know about roping calves.”
Her 13-year-old brother, Grady, is also an avid rodeo competitor but in the OKJHSRA. “The high school and junior high rodeos are on the same weekend, so we get to go to those together which is really cool. It makes it so much more of a family deal.” The family atmosphere is one of Charlcie’s favorite parts of competing in the OHSRA. Her fellow competitors and their families are all responsible for cultivating that favorable environment. “Pretty much everyone you meet in rodeo wants you to win just as much as they want to win. All the people are pretty much there to help you get better.” Charlcie appreciates that rodeo has taught her about hard work and the value of a dollar. “Without rodeo I wouldn’t be the person I am and wouldn’t have as much drive or determination for the things I want to accomplish.”
