Growing up in Poplarville, Robbie Shaw, Pearl River Community College head rodeo coach, has always been involved in rodeo, but little did he know that he would be leading the inaugural rodeo season for his alma mater.

The idea of starting a rodeo team at PRCC might be new to the school and surrounding area, but it isn’t for Shaw.

“When I went to college at PRCC, people were always asking me, ‘Why don’t you start a rodeo team here?’ But because of how difficult college can be, I never got the opportunity,” Shaw said. “Well recently some school board members came up to me and asked if I could help start the team, and I immediately said ‘yes.’”

Since 1994, Shaw has been competing in rodeos by representing Poplarville High School and competing in semi-pro rodeos across the nation.

Although this is the first season PRCC has had a rodeo team, the expectations of the school and its fans are high, but Shaw said he welcomes the challenge with high expectations of his own.

“It’s going to be a fun year. We will be able to compete with the established colleges already with all the great talent we will have,” Shaw said. “If we don’t walk away winning our division, we will be pretty close. Watch out for us, because we will be ready to compete.”

The expectations for PRCC are high because of the talent on the team, including Andrew Burks of Kiln who won the Roy Cooper award. Burks was the first Mississippian to bring home the award and will be leading the Wildcats this season. Other top riders in Mississippi on the PRCC rodeo team include Ryder Ladner of Kiln and Kelton Tynes of Poplarville. The team also includes Tyler Ladner of Poplarville, Bryant Channell of Seminary, Charles Hopkins of Carriere, Alex Nobles of Bogalusa, La., Selena Broom of Purvis, Nick Gonzales III of Carriere, Lacy Lee of Long Beach, MiKata Jo Reid of Poplarville, Raegan Lee of Picayune, Michaela Riley of Poplarville, Chelsey Johnson of Poplarville, Rebekah Rigby of Brooklyn and Colleen Brown of Biloxi.

This weekend, the Wildcats will travel to Marshall, Mo., to compete in the Missouri Valley College Rodeo, which is the first of the five events they will attend for the fall season. The team will also participate in five other events in the spring to end its inaugural 2016-17 season.

“I am honored to coach at the school I love and in my hometown. I want to represent the college right and I am happy to have the opportunity to do so,” Shaw said.

The PRCC rodeo team provides tuition scholarships to members, but is still a self-funded program. Shaw said he is looking for businesses interested in sponsoring the team Interested business owners can contact Robbie Shaw at rshaw@prcc.edu.