Reigning champ Yaussi to join nine others in battling for second Jr. Ironman title

GUTHRIE, Okla. – The inaugural Jr. Ironman Championship was more than a showcase of excellence. It was a spectacle that had the greatest all-around stars in the game in awe.

“I think the Junior Timed Event is really good,” said Trevor Brazile, the winningest all-around cowboy in the history of the sport. “I remember how excited I was when I was 18, and I came here to compete in this. To see the Junior Timed Event here and getting those young cowboys involved early – in being multi-event cowboys and not specializing – means a lot to me.

“I hope to see some of those guys competing in the Timed Event in a few years. It gets in their blood early and lets them not be one-dimensional. For them to be able to reap the benefits of being a multi-event cowboy is fun to see. My hat’s off to the Lazy E for involving them.”

The second edition is going to be even better. It seems it wasn’t just the fans and families who enjoyed watching the young athletes battle through, heading, heeling, tie-down roping and steer wrestling – four of the five disciplines involved in the CINCH Timed Event Championship.

The upcoming Jr. Ironman will feature four cowboys that were part of the field last year, including the top three finishers – reigning champion Bo Yaussi, reserve champ J.D. Draper and Wyatt Hansen. Also in the mix is Myles Neighbors, who won the first of the three go-rounds this past March.

Yaussi, of Udall, Kan., won the lion’s share of the cash, pocketing the $10,000 first-place prize. He also has the distinguished title of being the inaugural Jr. Ironman titlist and has already placed himself among the great champions in the Lazy E Arena’s 34-year history.

“There were 10 awesome kids in this, but Bo Yaussi is a stud,” said Draper of Oakley, Kan.

Both will have a chance to prove it again in front of a big audience at the Lazy E Arena come the first weekend of March.

“This is an awesome experience, and I really liked it,” Draper said. “It’s good that we get to do all the events like this.”

2018 Jr. Ironman Championship Contestants
Bo Yaussi – Udall, Kan.                                                      J.D. Draper – Oakley, Kan.
Wyatt Hansen – Oakdale, Calif.                                          Chase Graves – Poplarville, Miss.
Ty Eason – Sulphur Spring, Texas                                    Ryder Ladner – Kiln, Miss.
Myles Neighbors – Bentonville, Ark.                                  Cully Morgan – Checotah, Okla.
Laine Moore – Asbury, Alabama                                         Carson Good – Long Valley, S.D.