April 14, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The Texas A&M equestrian team looks to capture its eighth national title this weekend when the Aggies compete in the Varsity Equestrian National Championships at the Heart O' Texas Fair Complex in Waco.
Team competition in both hunter seat and western gets underway on Thursday while individual competitions begin on Friday. The event will run through Saturday evening with the crowning of the national champions. Team titles are awarded in both the hunter seat and western disciplines along with an overall champion.
"This is what we work for all year long, the chance to bring home a national championship to Texas A&M," head coach Tana McKay said. "The team is very excited and ready to ride on Thursday."
The Aggie western team, the defending national champions, is the No. 1 seed in their bracket and will meet either No. 8-seed Fresno State or No. 9-seed Baylor in the quarterfinals beginning late afternoon on Thursday. Auburn is seeded second on the western side behind A&M, followed by Oklahoma State, TCU, Georgia, Kansas State, New Mexico State and Fresno State. Baylor, South Carolina, Delaware State and South Dakota State round out the 12-team field in order.
The hunter seat squad earned a No. 4 seed and a first-round bye as well, and awaits the winner of the match between No. 5-seed Baylor and No. 12-seed TCU. That quarterfinal matchup will also take place late in the afternoon on Thursday. Top seed in the hunter seat bracket went to Georgia, followed by Auburn, South Caroilna, A&M, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Tennessee-Martin and Fresno State. New Mexico State, Kansas State, SMU and TCU are the last four seeds in the bracket.
Semifinals in both disciplines will take place on Friday with the championship round scheduled for Saturday.
Texas A&M has claimed two championships in the varsity equestrian era, western titles in 2007 and 2009. The Aggies have finished second overall in each of the last two seasons.
In addition to the team competitions, each of the four disciplines will feature an eight-rider, single-elimination championship bracket, and A&M has five in those fields for the first time in program history. Quarterfinals of those events will take place Friday, with semifinal and final action set for Saturday.
Two-time defending national champion Caroline Gunn (14-1) earned the overall No. 1 seed in horsemanship. The senior will look to make it three straight when she faces No. 8-seed Alicia Shrum of Georgia in the quarterfinals.
True freshman Carey Nowacek (13-1-1) also made the draw in horsemanship and was awarded the No. 2 seed. She will ride against 7th-seed Mikaela Sundgren of Kansas State in the quarterfinals.
In reining, senior Maggie Gratny (11-3-1) is the field's top seed. Her quarterfinal opponent will be 8th-seeded Lyndsey Jordan of Auburn.
Over fences, sophomore Maggie Earle (9-5) is the No. 8 seed. She will battle Auburn's Maggie McAlary, the top seed in the competition, in quarterfinal action.
Rounding out A&M's individual riders is sophomore Elizabeth Solch (11-2-2), tabbed the No. 5 seed on the flat. She will meet fourth-seeded Carly Babcock of South Carolina in quarterfinal action.
Full brackets, results and more information on the Varsity Equestrian National Championships can be found all weekend long at baylorbears.com.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE - TEXAS A&M
Western Team Competition - Quarterfinals
Thursday - No. 1 Texas A&M vs No. 8 Fresno State/No. 9 Baylor, Time TBD
Hunter Seat Team Competition - Quarterfinals
Thursday - No. 4 Texas A&M vs No. 5 Baylor/No. 12 TCU, Time TBD
Individual Competitions (Quarterfinals - all scheduled for Friday)
Horsemanship - No. 1 Caroline Gunn (A&M) vs No. 8 Alicia Shrum (Georgia)
Horsemanship - No. 2 Carey Nowacek (A&M) vs No. 7 Mikaela Sundgren (Kansas State)
Reining - No. 1 Maggie Gratny (A&M) vs No. 8 Lyndsey Jordan (Auburn)
Equitation over Fences - No. 8 Maggie Earle (A&M) vs No. 1 Maggie McAlary (Auburn)
Equitation on the Flat - No. 5 Elizabeth Solch (A&M) vs No. 4 Carly Babcock (South Carolina)
VENC Results and Info: http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-equest/10-natl-champ.html