By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
A graduate of the class of 2022 at Williston High School was honored Tuesday by Levy County Commissioners for his outstanding accomplishments in rodeo competition. He was introduced by Commissioner Matt Brooks.
Tayelen Seabrook was born and raised in Williston. He was also a part of the WHS boys’ varsity basketball team. Rodeo and basketball are the sports in which he competes well, but he has always been a cowboy at heart.
He has been in rodeo since age 4. Tayelen began his love for horses at such a tender age.
In 2022, Tayelen qualified for the NLBRA Finals, National Rodeo SW. He finished 11th in the short go-round, 10th in the average, and 10th in the World for his accomplishments. He came away with a nice cowboy buckle for his efforts.
He had never competed in steer wrestling until December 2020 when he qualified for the Jr NFR. He competed in three events: steer wrestling, team roping, and tie-down roping. He made it to the semi-finals and placed in the Top 20 SW.
Tayelen got his start in rodeo at Rafter Cross Cowboy Youth Rodeo and from there he competed at the Georgia Florida Youth Rodeo and National/Florida Little Britches Rodeo Association. His events included steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, flank and tie, breakaway roping and chute dogging.
He has been trained and taught by his Uncle Erick “Rick” Wallace.
Wallace gave it all up to provide Tayelen with this great opportunity. Tayelen had the talent and the athletic gifts to take advantage of his uncle’s instruction.
“Tayelen was born with a blessing to be able to ride. He was a born natural,” Brooks said. “He does it with such ease and grace he definitely makes it look easy.”
Among his other accomplishments, he won Top Hand Cowboy at the Rafter Cross Cowboy Church Youth Rodeo.
In the Georgia Florida Youth Rodeo, he won Top Hand Cowboy in 2022.
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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting August 16, 2022; Posted August 16, 2022
