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Show fcCove&StoryS by KAREN KARVONEN Photos by Grttd Daugherty o h vi - i Jerad Schlegel knows the rewards of persistence and effctt. The road to becoming a National Little Britches Association rodeo champion was rougher than any bucking hone he ever straddled, after a string of injuries sidelined die youngster But family support and dicer grit aimed this haid-luc- k youth into a world champion when hr captured World Finds in 2000. the Little Britches Junior I try in learn from my mistakes and improve," ays Schlegel, 16, who hopes to make a career out of mdea Whether aspiring youngsters turn pro is not important, says Gay Gaillaixi, Little Britches maiketing direcxoc "We are not trying to stamp out professional rodeo athletes, he says. Our goal is to make good people out of them." Turning youngsters into upstanding dozens scans with the camaraderie and family atmosphere that sunounds all Little r; KV- nd SlMlQBSiEl:. 5 Britches rodeos. ixrt "Little Britches is the laigesr and oldest of die youth rodeo associations that cover this age nnge. We sanction 173 to 200 rodeos a year in 12 to 14 states in die West, Midwest, and South. Many of diem take place in small towns," Gaillatd says. k Little Britches has been port of Schlegds family from way back. His mother; Sherri, competed in little Britches rodeos through her school yean and continued battel taring and Joel, 13 were old enough to join. until her boys Jead "jaad was riding by himself when he was 2 and swinging a rope not long aften" she recalls. Schlegel qualified far the World Final when he was 11, but after his hone Rated and fell backward, brooking die young cowboy's leg, he went as a spectator cheering on Joel from the grandstands. In 1999, he huithisaim in bareback riding at the finals and had to drop out of contention far the title. in 2000, but during his fitst Schlegel stayed injury-fte- e round at the finals, things started going wrong. The goat he roped got ty, and hr missed his cal "I was pretty worried, but my dad told me not to look back and just ay to go all out and win my next events, nys Schlegel of Bums, Cola That pep talk helped Schlegel tally. Twice he set a pew goat-tyin-g record and eventually won world championships in flag taring and the junior King of Cowboys Schlegel won the very title that Ty Murray, die "King of Cowboys," won in the senior division nearly 14 yean earlier: Page 4 American Profile tba I J. W. Cooda dtoptay Wodd Champion and Murray 32, a scvcn-cm- c Pin Rodeo Hall of Gamer who retired in May; began his renowned career in youth mdea Murray began riding horses and calves at 2 and was ynt 3 when he was breaking from the chute in calf riding, dinging likeaburr to the back ofa fishtailing heifer He also competed in barrel tacii flag taring (smithing a from one barrel and placing it on another), ring grab, and team ropit, among other events, on the Arizona Junior Rodeo Areoriarion circuit. Rodeo was a Minay family ttadkioa His mother Joy ws the Senior World Champion far the National Little Britthcs Rodeo Areoriarion. YoutTy took hit fitst lessons from his fethet; Butch, who once rode bulls and bucking hones. "My dad would hold onto my belt loop and tun IfmgoA- - the calf so 1 wouldn't hit the ground," recalls Murray "I stoned going Little Brioches indeo when I was 12 and waaridh all thwwoniTglianrlrPvwitafliaMhatk riding, saddle bronc tiding, and bull tiding) a year later." Dubbed "The Michad Jordan of Rodeo," Munay later would specialize in those roughstock events far his Professional Rodeo Cowboy nation (PRCA) rides. Murray alan wni PUPA WhM lfcill BSd Champitides. reand far onship twice and bested Lany Mahan's six-riAll-Rou- nd 7 - nd Cawfcny Wngiy Hang 0 nd All-Arou- |