Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/792366
t m c » p u l s e | m a r c h 2 0 1 7 20 Photo captions A broken ankle and a new love The rest of 2013 was a tough year for Teel. Just three months after injuring his elbow, he broke his jaw on both sides. To heal, his jaw was wired shut and a plate was put in his chin. "Depending on the injury, I usually take three or four months off," Teel said. "The more injuries I have now, I kind of know the deal and I know how to recover. It's just more about the mental part of it—you have to know yourself, know where you are at in the healing process, and climb back on." The following spring, he was ready to take on the Houston rodeo again. "I went to the Houston rodeo every year growing up," Teel said. "To get the chance to ride there means a lot to me." He didn't end up with the title in 2014. Instead, he walked away from the Houston rodeo with a broken ankle and a new girlfriend, Kaitlin. They got married last November. "We had been talking for a while, but he actually asked me to officially be his girlfriend while we were at the rodeo," Kaitlin said. "I never thought in a million years that I would end up with a rodeo guy. ... He is very reserved, respectful and nice." The two share a 4.5-acre ranch outside of College Station. Inside their home, evidence of Teel's rodeo success is everywhere. Saddles line the wall of their I always say that if you're going to get hurt, Houston is a good place to do it. They can do a lot of sports medicine and X-rays right there at the rodeo, but if you need something else, you can be at the hospital in five minutes. — CODY TEEL Champion bull rider