Jan. 27, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Texas A&M sophomore Maggie Earle (Fallbrook, Calif.) has been selected to represent the Aggies in the first Winter Equestrian Festival Collegiate Equitation Challenge, it was announced this week.
Earle will join 15 other riders in a single-elimination, bracket format competition that will take place on Friday, Feb. 26 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Florida. The event will be run in the Varsity Equestrian head-to-head format over an equitation course and will be formatted similar to postseason team tournaments in sports such as college basketball, volleyball and soccer.
"We are ecstatic about the WEF offering to host this inaugural event," A&M associate head coach Linzy Woolf said. "This is a very prestigious competition that is well-known in our sport around the world, and it's a great opportunity for us in the varsity equestrian circles to get the word out about our exciting sport on the collegiate level."
The 16 competitors were chosen from collegiate equestrian programs across the country, with selections based upon individual national rankings. No more than one rider was selected from each school.
In just one-plus seasons competing on the collegiate scene, Earle has established herself as one of the top fences riders in the region. Last year, she posted a 5-1-1 record, leading the Aggies in winning percentage in the discipline and earning her the squad's hunter seat Rookie of the Year award. Earle continued her success this fall, winning four of her rides. The history major has scored two Most Valuable Rider honors this year with a pair of 90-plus point efforts that rank near the top of the Aggie record books.
"I'm thrilled that Maggie was chosen to represent our team and our school," Woolf said. "She has really been on a roll this year and I know she will do a great job."
Earle and the third-ranked Aggie equestrian team (5-2) begin the spring schedule on Saturday when they host Delaware State at the Brazos County Expo Complex. The show begins at 11 a.m. and admission is free.