Submitted photo Wade Sundell stands with Shelby Janssen and their son, Rankan, after Sundell won the World Championship in Las Vegas earlier this month.

BOXHOLM — Last June, Wade Sundell lost his home and all of his possessions in a house fire.

Two weeks ago, he earned the centerpiece for his new mantle.

“A lot of things have happened,” Sundell said. “You have to put your nose to the grindstone and not let anything bother you. Just keep going.”

Sundell has been doing exactly that since beginning his time on the PRCA in 2007. He had a seven-year stretch — from 2009 through 2015 — where he reached the National Finals Rodeo before coming up just short of a World Championship.

The Boxholm native returned to Las Vegas this year and simply wasn’t going to be denied.

“It’s something I’ve always worked for. To actually get it — you can’t put it into words,” Sundell said. “I’ve always rode the same way, but just seemed to fall short a little in the past.”

Sundell’s father, Doug; stepmother, Mary; brother Kolbe; mother Laura Grieser; stepfather, William; girlfriend Shelby Janssen, and son, Rankan, were all in Las Vegas.

“Everyone has had my back,” Wade said. “They’ve been there for me from day one. It’s been awesome to have that kind of support.”

With the culmination of all of his hard work coming down to one night and that buckle and saddle becoming his property, Laura rode an emotional rollercoaster.

“I was pretty nervous and I didn’t eat much. I had to tell myself to breathe and I was getting shaky,” Grieser said. “I’ve always been that way, even with Jesse (Wade’s brother) when he was wrestling for state titles.

“Once he won it, I was emotional, crying, laughing and jumping up and down. To see him down there and then when they brought out the saddle and buckle … it was unbelievable. It was thrilling to see his dream come true.”

Doug was nervous as well, and had a hard time putting his emotions into words.

“I was speechless,” Doug said. “To see your son achieve something that he’s been chasing for a long time — it’s hard to explain all of the emotions.”

Doug knew at a young age that Wade had what it took to be a champion. After Wade’s grandfather passed away in 2009, everything started to come into focus.

“When Wade was headed to the Dodger National Circuit Finals Rodeo (in Pocatello, Idaho that year), my dad, Junior Sundell, passed away,” Doug said. “I told Wade to just go ride.

“He won the rodeo (which he dedicated to his grandfather), and at that point, I knew he had the talent to win it all.”

The last 12 months has been filled with twists, turns and life-changing moments for the cowboy from Boxholm.

On Nov. 14, 2017, Wade and Janssen, welcomed their son into the world.

“It was awesome when Rankan was born,” Wade said. “To witness it and be able to be a part of it was a great feeling.”

When the fire ravaged Wade’ home in Oklahoma this past summer, times got tough.

“When I got that call about the house burning down — knowing he lost everything that he worked for … the buckles, saddles and awards, everything he accomplished — I couldn’t believe it,” said Grieser, her voice cracking. “He just put it at the back of his mind and kept working his way back up the standings. I started to think maybe this would be the year, because he’s had a hard time and just kept coming up short before. They were not home (at the time of the fire), so everything else can be replaced, and they were safe.

“To finally have things come together made (all of the adversity) worth it.”

The strenuous year was capped recently by a return to Iowa for Christmas, which was a welcome sight for Wade and his family.

“Things have been going well (since winning the buckle),” Wade said. “It was a fun time in Vegas, but it was nice to get back here and finally see some grass.

“It’s pretty nice giving high-fives (in his return to Boxholm). It lets me keep reliving it.”