SWTJC Rodeo rides into town Oct. 5
Over 350 collegiate athletes, representing some 15 colleges and universities in the Southern Region are expected to compete in Uvalde.
Shaye Lynn Jesse, Rookie of the Year Award recipient at the College National Finals Rodeo this past summer along with a new cast of recruits will lead the rodeo team into competition.
This year’s event will also see a significant change. After a 38-year stretch at SWTJC, Roy Angermiller will be retiring as head rodeo coach.
Angermiller began working for SWTJC in 1980 teaching academic agricultural classes and coaching the rodeo team.
Since then Angermiller has coached countless rodeo athletes, some who have gone on to have a successful career in professional rodeo.
Angermiller will hand over the reins of the college rodeo program to new head rodeo coach Joe Almand, a native of Waxahachie, TX who became the new head rodeo coach on Sept. 1.
“Not only am I very excited, but I feel so fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to step into an already thriving program. Roy (Angermiller) has spent the last 38 years laying a solid and successful foundation here,” said Almand. “That’s a lot of time to pour yourself into something. I’ve got big shoes to fill, but I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and dive in full force. I can’t think of anything better than having the opportunity to carry on an already winning tradition here at SWTJC,”
Almand is no stranger to college rodeo, he is the 1989 National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Southwest Region Steer Wrestling Champion and has been a PRCA member since 1991.
His qualifications include a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education with a teaching certificate from Tarleton State University and his current business Almand Land & Cattle, LLC, which provides bulldogging steers for many Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association events.
The SWTJC Rodeo Team will kick-off the 2018-2019 rodeo season by competing at the first Southern region rodeo in Tatum, TX hosted by Panola College on Sept. 28-29.