May 1, 2009
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M equestrian team held its annual post-season banquet on Friday evening at the Zone Club in Kyle Field.
Junior Caroline Gunn (Greensburg, Ind.) headed the list of most valuable rider honors passed out to the top rider in each discipline. Gunn successfully defended her individual national championship in horsemanship and posted a perfect 6-0 record at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships (VENC) to lead the Aggies to the western team title less than two weeks ago in Waco.
Sophomore Tara Christiansen (Snohomish, Wash.) was named reining MVP after putting together a banner season. Christiansen posted a perfect 10-0 regular season and won two of her three matches at the VENC for the western national champion Aggies.
On the hunter seat side, senior Tegan Zealy (Tampa, Fla.) put together the best English record on the team this season, recording an 11-5-1 mark, to earn team MVP honors on the flat. Senior Kristi Waldal (Battle Ground, Wash.) posted A&M's top fences record of 11-6 to earn her first team MVP award over fences.
The Aggie Heart Award, presented to only a single member of the entire team, was given to redshirt freshman Elizabeth Solch (Cincinnati, Ohio). Solch competed twice for the Aggies this season over fences but more importantly was a tremendous help behind the scenes at competitions in addition to other areas throughout the year.
The Best Under Pressure Award went to junior Lindsay Smith (West Friendship, Md.) on the hunter seat side and sophomore Randi Standley (Madisonville) on the western side. Smith racked up a fences record of 10-7, including a 3-1 record at the VENC, while Standley went 8-3-2, including three dominating horsemanship wins at the VENC.
Freshman Katie Lisabeth (Canton, Ga.) was awarded western rookie of the year honors after riding to a 10-3 horsemanship record, including a perfect 3-0 mark at the VENC. Freshman Maggie Earle (Fallbrook, Calif.) gave the Aggies a glimpse of what's to come in the future over fences, compiling a 5-1-1 record during the regular season, to earn hunter seat rookie of the year honors.
Most Improved Rider awards went to redshirt sophomore fences rider Morgan Lucas (San Antonio), who represented the hunter seat team, and junior reiner Leah Ward (Terrell), who was chosen from the western team. Ward earned reining wins at Oklahoma State and against TCU this season.
A freshman and a junior were given the team's Miss Aggie awards. Maggie Gratny (Leavenworth, Kan.) and newcomer Jackie O'Connell (Saunderstown, R.I.) were given the Miss Aggie awards by the coaches. The award honors those who most represent what it means to be an Aggie.