Oct. 29, 2010
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The second-ranked Texas A&M equestrian team returns to action on Saturday when the Aggies put a 25-show home win streak on the line against rival and fourth-ranked Oklahoma State at the Brazos County Expo Complex. Show time is 10 a.m. and admission is free.
"This should be a great show," head coach Tana McKay said. "It's been a while since the whole team has been in the arena together, and the energy level gets that much higher when we face off against a Big 12 rival like Oklahoma State. We've had some great competitions against them in the past and I expect Saturday will be no different."
A&M (2-0) will show both hunter seat and western riders for the first time in over a month, when the Aggies opened the season with a 14-5 win at Tennessee-Martin. The hunter seat team defeated SMU three weeks ago in its home opener, while Saturday's show will mark the two-time defending national champion western team's first home action of the season.
The Cowgirls (2-0), with wins over UT Martin and Baylor on the young season, are the last team to beat Texas A&M at home. That OSU victory came in a tiebreaker on Nov. 5, 2006 and remains the Aggies' only home loss in the varsity equestrian era (now entering its fifth year). A&M swept the season series between the schools last year, including a 16-11 win at the Expo Complex this past March.
Action will begin with the equitation over fences competition, followed by horsemanship, equitation on the flat and reining. The teams will compete seven riders in each of the four disciplines. For the first time, live results will be available on aggieathletics.com for those unable to attend the show.
The Junior Aggie Club will be in attendance Saturday, putting on a Halloween parade, games, coloring and other events for children. The 3,000-seat Expo Complex is located at 5827 Leonard Road in Bryan.
#4 Oklahoma State (2-0) at #2 Texas A&M (2-0)
Saturday, October 30 - 10 a.m. (CT)
Brazos County Expo Complex, Bryan, Texas
PROJECTED TEXAS A&M LINEUP
FENCES: Jackie O'Connell (Jr., Saunderstown, R.I.); Kori Pickett (So., Mount Airy, Md.); Kelsi Shevlin (So., Keller, Texas); Emily Williams (So., Woodbine, Md.). Alternate: Marisa Bernal (Jr., Albuquerque, N.M.). Demo: CiCi Riddle (RFr., Atlanta, Ga.).
FLAT: Marisa Bernal (Jr., Albuquerque, N.M.); Lia Chafee (Jr., Little Compton, R.I.); Brooke Coleman (Sr., Houston, Texas); Maggie Earle (Jr., Fallbrook, Calif.); Amber Goodwin (Jr., West Newbury, Mass.); Hannah Soibelman (Jr., Evergreen, Colo.); Elizabeth Solch (Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio). Alternate: Erica Whaley (So., Cumming, Ga.). Exhibition: Paige Russell (Fr., Cochrane, Alberta). Demo: Alyssa Martin (RFr., Austin, Texas); Shelby Lawson (Fr., Austin, Texas).
HORSEMANSHIP: Kelsey Adams (Jr., Colleyville, Texas); Amanda Brightwell (Jr., San Antonio, Texas); 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). Alternate: Jess McMullen (So., Spring Run, Pa.). Exhibition: Laura Brainard (So., Weatherford, Texas).
REINING: Tara Christiansen (Sr., Snohomish, Wash.); Cheyenne Cracraft (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev.); Courtney Dawe (Jr., Scottsdale, Ariz.); Abigail Grabein (Jr., Houston, Texas); Courtney Kile (So., Garrison, Texas); Becca Murray (So., Burbank, Calif.); Randi Standley (Sr., Madisonville, Texas). Alternate: Lindsey Bernbaum (Fr., Dufur, Ore.). Demo: Emma Myers (So., Yamhill, Ore.).
UP NEXT: Friday, Nov. 5 vs Auburn (Expo Complex, Bryan), 11 a.m.