Local bull-rider Brody Sans returned from New Mexico celebrating earlier this month, as he was one of the top performers in the sixth annual National Junior High Finals Rodeo.

The competition took place in Gallup, New Mexico, from June 27 to July 3 and featured more than 1,000 contestants from the United States, Canada and Australia. It is the world's largest junior high rodeo.

Sans, a 13-year-old student at Bitterwater Tully School, traveled with his family to compete in the bull-riding category. To be named the National Junior High Finals Rodeo National Champion, contestants had to finish in the top 20 in their category after two rounds of competition. They then advanced to the final championship performance.

Sans entered the championship round on July 3 in third place. Sans needed to ride his bull for a total of eight seconds in order to have a chance at the title.

“After six seconds, my bull just stopped and wouldn't move,” Sans said. “It your bull doesn't buck, you have the option of a re-ride, which I took. If I didn't, I would have placed third or fourth in the competition.”

In his re-ride, Sans ended up riding his bull for five seconds before being bucked off. He ended the championship round in ninth place.

Roughly 90 junior bull-riders competed in the rodeo and only 20 made it to the championship round. Sans said the competition was the toughest he had ever seen, but it was great to meet so many riders. This was his first time competing in this competition.

All contestants were competing for more than $75,000 in prizes and more than $80,000 in various college scholarships. The championship performance was televised nationally as part of the “Cinch Town Tour” telecast.

“I got to meet a lot of new friends, that hopefully I learned from” Sans said. “They also had a lot of fun activities, like dances, volleyball and tug-of-war. This experience has only motivated me to work harder so I can come back and win next year. This is what I want to do for a career.”

For the complete article see the 07-14-2010 issue.

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