Aggie Teams & Activities

Do colleges recruit all record-breaking athletes to build championship teams or, do colleges play the athletes that come to them primarily for an education and are talented enough for varsity team competition? At NCTA, we recruit first those who desire our academic excellence and second, enjoy sports. NCTA is proud of the fact that even though athletics are the secondary aspect of a student's college career, NCTA athletic teams have maintained a 50 percent winning record or higher for over 30 years. For more information contact the NCTA Athletic Director, Jeremy Sievers at jsievers2@unl.edu or call 1-800-3CURTIS.

Aggie Rodeo Team

The National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) allows college bound cowgirls and cowboys a chance to have the best of both worlds - boots and books! Anyone who has the desire to rodeo can join the team and compete at the 10 NIRA Great Plains Region rodeos. Rodeos are held during the fall and spring semesters. Team members travel together and hotel expenses are paid by the college. The team practices most of the school year. Great Plains Region Competition includes: the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, Iowa State University, South Dakota State University, North Dakota State University, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, National American University and Dickinson State University. The NCTA rodeo team utilizes both the Livestock Teaching Center indoor arena as well as the Curtis Mill Park arena for practices.

For more information contact Coach Doug Smith at 1-800-3CURTIS.

Livestock Judging Team

Livestock Judging is an academic activity that complements ones educational experience by enhancing communication and decision making skills. Livestock judging is available to all NCTA majors regardless of previous experience. First year students learn livestock selection and evaluation in class, while second year students hone their skills and compete actively in intercollegiate contests throughout the year. Eight to 10 highly motivated students are selected for the first and second year teams. Support for the NCTA Livestock Judging team is wide spread as the team travels throughout the state and in other states for practices at private livestock operations. The NCTA team competes at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO; the Houston Livestock Show; the National Barrow Show in Austin, MN; the Kansas Junior Livestock Show; the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City, MO; the North American International Livestock Expo in Louisville, KY; the Cow Palace in San Francisco, CA; the Arizona National and the Dixie National in Jackson, MS.

For more information contact Coach Doug Smith at jsmith41@unl.edu or at 1-800-3CURTIS.

Horse Show Team

The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association was developed to allow student riders of any skill level or
economic background to be able to compete and succeed at their own level of skill and experience.
Teams do not move horses to shows. Riders from all colleges ride horses provided by the host college. Riders draw for mounts and utilize whatever tack is on the horse they've drawn. There is no schooling time; riders mount, adjust stirrups and ride in before the judge. The NCTA Horse Show team competes against Texas A&M, Colorado College, Laramie County Community College, the United States Air Force Academy, the University of Colorado - Boulder, the University of Wyoming, New Mexico State, Texas Tech and Colby Community College. Team members are responsible for IHSA and NCTA team dues and show entry fees ($15-$17 per class).

Students wishing to ride for the NCTA Horse Show team are not required to have a horse. Students will practice using college horses in addition to borrowed mounts.

For more information contact Coach Judy Bowmaster at jbowmaster1@unl.edu or 1-800-3CURTIS.

Intramural Athletics

Student interest generates the sports that are played in the NCTA intramural athletics program. Men and women participate in basketball, volleyball, football and softball every year with sports like wrestling and soccer also attracting large groups of students. Tournaments are held and awards presented to the winners.