May 15, 2007
Texas A&M freshman Maddi Williams (Valley View) will represent the Aggies in the Collegiate Reining Championship at the 2007 National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) Derby in Oklahoma City on May 19.
Twelve riders from both varsity and non-varsity schools were selected for the Collegiate Reining Championship competition which is held in conjunction with the NRHA Derby. Four riders were chosen based on performance at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships (VENC), four more were chosen based on performance at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships, while the final four were selected based on their year-long non-collegiate performance in the sport of reining.
Williams was selected based on her performance at the VENC show last month. Williams was a perfect 3-0 in reining, helping lead Texas A&M to a second western VENC team title in three years. Katie Bohr of Oklahoma State, Carrie von Uhlit of TCU, and Sara Weller of Kansas State were also selected based on their VENC performances.
For the first time, all four riders chosen at the IHSA National Championships were male athletes. A pair of reiners from the IHSA national champion University of Findlay team, Travis Womer and Trevor Dare, were selected, along with Ohio State?â„¢s Keith Ceddia and Utah State?â„¢s Jason Romney.
The four riders chosen based on their industry performance were Heather Dudley of the University of Pennsylvania-Edinboro, Ashley Griffith and Lindsey Jordan of Auburn, and Kate Stewart of Georgia.
The Collegiate Reining Championship will take place on Saturday, May 19, at 10 a.m. at the Oklahoma State Fair Park in Oklahoma City. All of the collegiate runs will be available to watch via webcast at www.nrha.com.