Sept. 23, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The eight-time national champion Texas A&M equestrian team opens its 11th season of varsity competition on Saturday when the Aggies travel to face the University of Tennessee at Martin Skyhawks. Show time is 11 a.m. at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex.
It will be not only A&M's first-ever trip to Martin but the first-ever meeting between the schools in equestrian.
"We are looking forward to getting this season underway," head coach Tana McKay said. "We're excited about traveling to a new venue and competing against one of our former athletes. It should be a fun and competitive trip."
The Aggies return 28 letterwinners from a 2010 squad that captured its second-consecutive western team title at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships last spring, the eighth team championship in program history. A&M also finished second in the combined team standings for the fourth consecutive season.
Top returning riders on the hunter seat side include juniors Maggie Earle (Fallbrook, Calif.) over fences and Elizabeth Solch (Cincinnati, Ohio) on the flat. Both led their respective disciplines in victories last year, and both earned one of eight spots in the VENC individual national championship brackets last spring.
On the western side, sophomore Carey Nowacek (San Antonio) is back after an 18-win freshman campaign in horsemanship that saw her ride for the individual national championship in her discipline. Juniors Courtney Dawe (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Abigail Grabein (Houston) are the top returning reiners with 12 victories apiece in 2010.
The Skyhawks finished 8-7 last year and earned a bid to the Varsity Equestrian National Championships for the fourth straight season. UTM fell to Kansas State in the hunter seat quarterfinals, 5-3. Of note, coaching UT Martin's western riders is Ashley (Shiffler) Thompson-a product of the Texas A&M equestrian program who helped lead the Aggies to western national championships in 2003 and 2004.
Texas A&M will host seven home shows this season, including the Big 12 Championships in early April. The Aggies will open their home season on Sunday, Oct. 10 against SMU.
Texas A&M (0-0) at Tennessee-Martin (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 23 - 11 a.m. (CT)
Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex, Martin, Tenn.
PROJECTED TEXAS A&M LINEUP
FENCES: Jackie O'Connell (Jr., Saunderstown, R.I.); Kelsi Shevlin (So., Keller, Texas).
FLAT: Kristin Bell (So., Barrington, Ill.); Maggie Earle (Jr., Fallbrook, Calif.); Hannah Soibelman (Jr., Evergreen, Colo.); Elizabeth Solch (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio); Megan Webb (Jr., Burlington, W.Va.). Alternate: Marisa Bernal (Jr., Albuquerque, N.M.). Exhibition: Brooke Coleman (Sr., Houston, Texas); Amber Goodwin (Jr., West Newbury, Mass.).
HORSEMANSHIP: Bianca Lamb (Jr., Bottineau, N.D.); Katie Lisabeth (Jr., Canton, Ga.); Cassie Mantor (So., Corpus Christi, Texas); Carey Nowacek (So., San Antonio, Texas); Randi Standley (Sr., Madisonville, Texas). Alternates: Kelsey Adams (Jr., Colleyville, Texas); Laura Brainard (So., Weatherford, Texas); Amanda Brightwell (Jr., San Antonio, Texas).
REINING: Tara Christiansen (Sr., Snohomish, Wash.); Courtney Dawe (Jr., Scottsdale, Ariz.); Abigail Grabein (Jr., Houston, Texas); Becca Murray (So., Burbank, Calif.); Randi Standley (Sr., Madisonville, Texas). Alternate: Emma Myers (So., Yamhill, Ore.).