By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SPEARFISH — It has been a summer to remember for sisters Brylee and Tiersyn Grubb of Spearfish. 

Earlier this spring eighth-grader Tiersyn qualified for the Junior High National Finals Rodeo in the barrel racing, ribbon roping and goat tying. Several weeks later it was older sister Brylee, a junior at Spearfish, who was crowned state goat tying champion at the South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals. 

“My sister and I just really enjoy goat tying,” Brylee Grub said. “We help each other, learn from each other and push each other in the process.” 

Tiersyn had a breakout performance during the Junior High National Finals Rodeo in Perry, Georgia, in June. Riding her horse “Romeo” the tandem made the short go-round finishing 16th in the world. 

Tiersyn Grubb says the relationship with her sister is invaluable in her rodeo progression. 

“We have a great friendship and she’s helped me through a lot of practices,” Tiersyn Grubb said. “She goes to a clinic and brings that information back and will share it with me.” 

It has been a wild summer of travel for the Grubb sisters and the summer isn’t over.

The entire family was in Fort Pierre to watch Brylee at the South Dakota High School Rodeo Finals. After the first go round, dad Jason and Tiersyn drove to Georgia for the Junior High National Finals. Mom, Stephanie Grubb stayed with Brylee in Fort Pierre for the conclusion of the finals in South Dakota before hopping on a plane to Georgia. Jason Grubb flew home and eventually brought Brylee to Oklahoma while Stephanie and Tiersyn Grubb were spending a brief layover in Texas. 

The rodeo in Oklahoma runs through the weekend, and after a quick pit stop at home, the family will load up for the National High School Rodeo Finals in Gillette, Wyoming, on July 17-23. 

In 2021, Brylee Grubb was leading the goat tying entering the state finals. After several early runs didn’t go her way Grubb clawed her way into the short go but failed to advance to the national finals. 

“Not making it last year motivated me but it also helped me understand there are more rodeos and not making it isn’t the end of the world,” she said. “This year I’ve enjoyed the rodeo a little more, had more fun but I was really excited to make it to Gillette.” 

Grubb had 28 points entering this year’s state finals. In the first go-round she had a run of 6.99 seconds, winning the round and adding 15 points to her total. 

“I drew a really good goat and he just stood there,” she said. “I put three wraps on that goat just to keep him down.” 

A tougher goat in the second go-round produced a run of 8.030 seconds, good enough for nine points and sixth place in the round. 

“I was just happy to get past that goat and into the short-go with good points,” she said. 

Entering the short-go Grubb said she was familiar with the goat she would be tying. 

“I knew I just needed to be smooth and I would go to nationals,” she said. 

Grubb finished with 78 points edging Salem’s Michaela McCormick who finished with 76 points. 

It is no accident the Grubb sisters are good at what they do. 

“In the winter we tie our goat dummy a lot,” Brylee Grubb said. “In the spring we get about ten goats and a couple of our friends from Buffalo and we practice.” 

Courtesy photo

The sisters say they ground tie a lot and several times a week they work with their horse on the getting off during the run maneuvers. 

A year ago Brylee Grubb rode what is now her younger sister’s horse, “Romeo”. This year she switched to another horse, “Chili” who is eight years old and competing in goat tying for the first time. 

“She is pretty young still and we’ve rodeoed on her before as she’s also our pole horse,” Brylee Grubb said. “ 

With both girls in high school next fall the sisters say they plan on team roping together in high school competitions. Until then, the younger sister will be looking to soak up everything her older sister is experiencing. 

“Having someone so close to compete against is nice,” Tiersyn Grubb said. “My sister and I are very close and we help each other out in everything from rodeo to volleyball and basketball. We push each other and hold each other accountable.