March 25, 2010
The third-ranked Texas A&M equestrian team begins its postseason run this weekend when the Aggies participate in the Big 12 Equestrian Championship at the Willis Family Equestrian Center in Waco.
Four Big 12 schools sponsor the sport of equestrian and are seeded based on regular-season results for the two-day event. Action opens on Friday at 10 a.m. with the semifinals, as top-seeded A&M (10-4) will face No. 4-seed Kansas State (5-7) and second-seeded Oklahoma State (6-5) will battle third-seeded and host Baylor (7-8).
The winners of each contest will face off on Saturday at 9 a.m. to determine the champion, while the losers will battle for third place.
"We are excited to get the postseason under way," A&M coach Tana McKay said. "After a strong finish to the regular season and two good weeks of preparation, we are ready for the weekend. All these teams know each other so well that the competition should be intense and we are looking forward to the challenge."
The format will be similar to a regular-season show. Each school will enter four riders in each of the four disciplines and, while riders from every school will be competing at the same time, head-to-head results will determine the advancing school and the overall champion the next day.
Texas A&M swept all six shows this year against the field to earn the top seed on the weekend. Against K-State, the Aggies picked up a win in a tiebreaker back in Manhattan on Nov. 6 before downing the Wildcats, 14-9, at home on Feb. 19. A&M brings a four-show win streak into the weekend.
The event has been held in one form or another since 2007, when it debuted as the Big 12 Classic in College Station and A&M took home the title. It was renamed the Central Championships in 2008 before becoming the Big 12 Championship for the first time in 2009. The Aggies finished third in last year's competition, held in Stillwater, and holds a 3-3 record all-time at the event.
Willis Family Equestrian Center, Waco, Texas
Friday, March 26, 2010
Match 1: No. 1 Texas A&M vs. No. 4 Kansas State, 10 a.m.
Match 2: No. 2 Oklahoma State vs. No. 3 Baylor, 10 a.m.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Championship: Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2, 9 a.m.
Third-Place: Loser Match 1 vs. Loser Match 2, 9 a.m.
Order of Events (Both days)
1. Equitation over Fences
2. Equitation on the Flat
3. Horsemanship
4. Reining