Leopold roping for junior high Wranger team
Leaders of the National High School Rodeo Association Wrangler Division, the newest junior high rodeo program in America, appointed Dakoda Leopold of Louise to the NHSRA Wrangler Division All-Star Rodeo Team, a corporatesponsored youth rodeo team.

Dakota Leopold is the newest member of the National High School Rodeo Association Wrangler Division All-Star Rodeo Team. Wearing the Wrangler logo, he will represent Wharton County as well as the state of Texas. He is the son of Alfred and Vickie Leopold of Louise and an eighth grader at St. Philip Catholic School. L-N Photo by Quala Matocha

As the only Wharton County youngster chosen to represent the state, Leopold earned the position based on his leadership qualities, as well as academic and athletic achievements.

Leopold was chosen to represent the State of Texas in ribbon roping. He also competes

in break-away roping, tie-down roping and

team roping.

He is the son of Alfred and Vickie Leopold of Louise and an eighth

grade student at St. Philip

Catholic School.

He is a member of the Texas Youth Rodeo Association (TYRA) and the Youth Rodeo Association (YRA).

According to his mom, the 14-year-old has been interested in rodeo events since he was 3 1/2-years-old.

The NHSRA Wrangler Division All-Star Rodeo Team is fashioned after Wrangler's champion pro rodeo team, which includes superstars like Trevor Brazile, Joe Beaver, Dan Mortensen, Dustin Elliott, Kelly Kaminski, Will Lowe and Hall-of- Famer the late Jim Shoulders.

"We are excited to expand Wrangler's rodeo sponsorship program at the middle school level," said Karl Stressman, director of special events at Wrangler.

"As always, it gives us a tremendous sense of pride to associate the Wrangler brand with promising young men and women. We're confident each member of the team will be an outstanding goodwill ambassador for the sport of rodeo."

Members of the Wrangler Division All-Star Rodeo Team receive official competition apparel consisting of a Wrangler Twenty X shirt embroidered with the team logo and one pair of competition jeans.

"Wrangler's NHSRA WD sponsorship is a natural extension of our professional and collegiate rodeo programs," said Stressman. "We are confident the NHSRA WD partnership will reinforce Wrangler brand loyalty with the youth market."

"The NHSRA WD owes much of its success to the support of its national sponsors," said Kent Sturman said, general manager of NHSRA WD.

"We are excited to have a prominent company like Wrangler once again step forward to help us meet the ever-increasing challenges facing our young people today. Cowboys and cowgirls can always depend on Wrangler to support the infrastructure of rodeo."