While growing up on a ranch in Prairie View, Ian Catchings discovered his love for rodeo events, finding his specialty in tie-down roping.
In tie-down roping, the roper aims to lasso a calf from horseback. The rider quickly signals the horse to gallop after the calf leaves the chute, aiming for optimal speed. Once lassoed, the roper dismounts, runs to the calf, and stops it without causing it to fall. The roper signals "time" when the tie is complete, stopping the clock.
In a recent La Porte rodeo, Catchings, alongside his team roping partner, secured first place for their category, earning $2,000 and a coveted belt buckle. Despite being in his rookie year as a pro rodeo cowboy, Ian's experience helped him claim a notable seventh-place finish during a roping event at the annual Houston rodeo last year.
“It’s a big mental game. When you’re in a rodeo, you have thousands of people watching you, recording you, [and] you’ll have other ropers or family members by your side trying to talk to you,” said Catchings. “Once you get in the box, you just have to tune everyone out and focus on what you’re going to do – otherwise, you’re going to miss.”
Another thing that Catchings is sure not to miss is his welding classes at Galveston College.
Recognizing the inherent risks in rodeo, he strategically chose welding as a secure fallback career. He manages the demanding schedule of rodeo and education with admirable time management skills, a transformation he attributes to his welding professor, James Love.
Love's influence extends beyond the classroom, providing Catchings with valuable life lessons. Catching's welding skills proved transferable when he fixed a broken-down tractor on his mom's land, showcasing the practical applications of his education.
“I’ve loved my experience at Galveston College and I love my professor,” said Catchings. “He [Love] isn’t one of those professors that will teach the lesson and leave, he will give life lessons.”
Catchings is on track to complete the Welding Technology program in August 2024. Looking ahead, he plans to traverse the U.S. and Canada in pursuit of his pro rodeo dreams, aware that successful cowboys can accumulate substantial earnings.
Additionally, Catchings aspires to contribute to welding Texas pipelines, eventually combining his skills with his roots to build a personal barndominium, a barn-style building used for residential purposes.
Catching's story is a testament to his dedication to both rodeo and welding, finding harmony between passion and a secure future through Galveston College. As he straddles these two worlds, Catchings emerges as a promising talent ready to leave his mark on both the rodeo circuit and the welding industry.
For more information about the Galveston College Welding Technology program, contact James Love at jlove@gc.edu, call 409-944-1235, or visit gc.edu/welding.
ABOUT GALVESTON COLLEGE
Galveston College was founded in 1967 and is a comprehensive community college providing the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce development, continuing education and community service programs.