By the time northeast Arizona residents Skylar Gishie and Alonzo Begay finished a campus tour and testing session June 23, there was only one thing left to do: Formally commit themselves as members of Diné College’s rodeo team. Gishie and Begay, who are both 18, signed letters of intent to rodeo for the Warriors come fall. The signings took place at the college’s Student Union Building and before a small Diné College fan base, which included College President Monty Roessel. Gishie and Begay are team roping specialists, and are familiar faces around the Four Corners area. “This is where I want to be,” Gishie said. “It’s close to home and the rodeo program is good.” A Holbrook native, Gishie participates in an average of 15 rodeos a year. He said other schools on his consideration list were Central Arizona College and Cochise College. Begay hails from Indian Wells, which is about 30 miles from Holbrook. He thought about attending Northland Pioneer College in Holbrook, but decided otherwise when Gishie committed to Diné College. Both are graduates of Holbrook High School. Gishie signed June 22 in the presence of his father, Roger Jr., and grandfather Roger Sr., Roessel and Warriors’ Interim Rodeo Coach Fred Tahe. Begay signed June 23 amid Diné College Interim Provost Geraldine Garrity, Tahe and a small contingent of friends. Tahe beamed at both signings. Tahe recently returned from Casper, Wyo., and the College Nationals Finals Rodeo, where Warriors’ super-sophomore Wyatt Betony was a contestant for the second year in a row. “No doubt about it, we just signed two stars,” Tahe said. “This is good for the program. The future with respect to (Diné College) rodeo looks bright.” Begay took first place at Gallup’s recent Best of the Best Timed Rodeo. Earlier this year, Gishie won a 2017 Dodge Ram truck at the National Team Roping Tour La Fiesta Truck Roping in Wickenburg.
