Troy Rodeo Teams Anxious to Open Season

2010-11 TROY RODEO ROSTER | LISTEN LIVE TO ACTION THIS WEEKEND

Troy University rodeo coach Josh Simmons wants to see his team begin to build on the successes enjoyed last year when the Trojans open the 2010-11 season this weekend at the Missouri Valley College Rodeo in Marshall, Mo.

The Trojans sent five competitors to the College National Finals Rodeo in June and return the core of that group for the coming season. Two of the Trojans placed in the top 10 nationally and the men's squad also finished in the top 10. Going into the new season, Simmons is not only looking for the same kind of results, but bigger ones.

Anytime you have riders coming back with National Championship experience, it's going to help; Simmons knows that first hand.

“The more you go, the better you are, especially in rodeo,” Simmons said. “They've been to the big show and that helps them with these fall rodeos. They know how to handle themselves. They have more confidence, more experience and that all plays together.”

The squad returns veterans Stetson Aldridge (Foulkston, Ga.), Lane Taylor (Kinston, Ala.), Will Bradley (Kossuth, Miss.) and Ty Pigott (Ariton, Ala.) for the fall season. Aldridge and Taylor placed sixth and seventh, respectively, in the nation last season and are looking to build on their strong performance at Nationals.

Not only is the prime talent back from last season, but Simmons was able to add newcomers who should help the Trojans have a more well-rounded squad. Some of those newcomers will compete in bull riding and steer wrestling, events the Trojans have not competed well in over recent years.

“They'll really help a lot, especially as we complete with UT-Martin and Missouri Valley,” Simmons said. “That's going to put us in place for the men's championship in the Ozark Region this year.”

Freshman Justin Walker (LaBelle, Fla.) is one of the new cowboys the Trojans will count on this year. Walker is the Florida State Bull Riding Champion and Simmons thinks he is one of the key pieces to taking Troy Rodeo to the next level.

Other newcomers on the men's team are Jeb Brown (Hamilton, Ga.), Jacob Ammerson (Dublin, Ga.), Billy Lathero (Fellsmere, Fla.), Austin Sellars (Leesburg, Fla.) and Will Saucer (Montgomery, Ala.). Lathero and Sellars, like Walker, are bull riders while Brown, Ammerson and Saucer all compete in team and calf roping.

On the ladies side, one of the new faces this year is Lanie Culligan (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla), who will compete in break-away roping and goat tying. She joins a stable of talent that returns from last year, including all-around standout Whitney Hazouri (St. Augustine, Fla.), who competes in barrel racing and team roping as well as break-away roping and goal tying.

Hazouri was the only member of the women's team to qualify for the CNFR last year. She competed in break-away roping, but was unable to post a qualifying time. She was the Ozark Region champion in that event last year.

The Trojans return 11 members of the 15 member squad from a year ago, and that experience last year should produce better results.

Among the most experienced members of the squad are three who ranked in the top 15 in the region in barrel racing, and two others who ranked in the top 10 in break-away roping behind Hazouri.

Ally Hayes (Ft. Pierce, Fla.) finished fifth in barrel racing last year, with Kaley Dixon (Lakeland, Fla.) and Cassidy Aldridge (Folkston, Ga.) behind her in 13th and 14th place, respectively.

Shelby Sipe (Brownsburg, Ind.) and Shelby Osceola (Hollywood, Fla.) ranked fifth and 10th in break-away roping last year and will be looking to climb the standings.

The Troy rodeo team will take part in five events during the fall schedule. The slate includes hosting the annual Trojan Stampede Rodeo October 14-16. That event will include the other 10 schools of the Ozark Region and will bring approximately 130 cowboys and cowgirls to Troy.

Troy opens competition Thursday night at Marshall, Mo., in the Missouri Valley College Rodeo. The teams from Missouri Valley were region champions (men) and runners-up (women) last year while the Missouri Valley men finished second in the nation at the CNFR.

Starting strong out of the gate will be crucial for the Trojans this year, and Simmons is excited about what the season may hold.

“We're looking for a solid weekend,” Simmons said. “It's the first weekend so there are a lot of nerves in play. We're looking for everybody to go do their thing and build some momentum going into the rest of the season.”

Troy University Athletics

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