Dec. 7, 2010
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas - The eight-time national champion Texas A&M equestrian team signed five student-athletes to national letters of intent, head coach Tana McKay announced Tuesday.
Hunter seat riders Kayla Briel and Haley Buchmiller, along with western riders Megan Gunther, Molli Jacobs and Laura Sumrall, will join the Aggies for the 2011-12 competition season.
"We are very excited to be signing these five student-athletes," head coach Tana McKay. "They will all add some great talent to our roster and we look forward to bringing them in to our Aggie family."
The Aggies (6-0) are currently undefeated on the year and ranked a unanimous No. 1 in the country. They resume the competition season on Jan. 28 when A&M hosts South Carolina.2010 Equestrian Signees |
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| Name | Event | Hometown (High School) |
| Kayla Briel | Hunter Seat | Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS) |
| Haley Buchmiller | Hunter Seast | Bartlett, Ill. (South Elgin HS) |
| Megan Gunther | Reining | Tomball, Texas (Tomball HS) |
| Molli Jacobs | Horsemanship | Dover, Ohio (Garaway HS) |
| Laura Sumrall | Reining | Summit, Miss. (Parklane Academy) |
KAYLA BRIEL
Fr-HS • Hunter Seat • Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)
Kayla Briel is the daughter of Gary and Janet Briel of Coppell ... trained by Joan Waterman and Will Roberts of Pine Hollow Farm ... recorded two top-12 finishes at the 2010 USHJA International Hunter Derby in Lexington, Kentucky ... currently ranked fifth nationally in her division (junior hunter small 16-17) by the United States Equestrian Federation ... won the south central regional crown at the 2010 World Championship Hunter Rider competition in Upper Marlboro, Maryland ... earned the title of USEF Horse of the Year National Champion in 2009 in the pony jumpers division ... has qualified for and competed in numerous prestigious horse shows over the last few years, including the Devon Horse Show, the Capital Challenge and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show ... attends Coppell High School, where she is ranked among the top 6 percent of her graduating class ... a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society ... is the vice-president of Invisible Children, a group focused on helping end the abduction of children for forced military participation in Uganda.
KAYLA BRIEL: "I was thrilled to have the opportunity to commit to such a successful program with great coaches, an amazing group of girls and a tradition-rich school. Now, when people congratulate me, I just say, `Thanks and Gig `Em!'"
A&M ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/HUNTER SEAT COACH LINZY WOOLF: "Kayla has really proven herself to be a top-contender nationally in the junior hunters over the past few years. She has really made a name for herself nationally in the equestrian community. Kayla's talent and enthusiasm for Texas A&M will be a great addition to our team."
HALEY BUCHMILLER
Fr-HS • Hunter Seat • Bartlett, Illinois (South Elgin HS)
Haley Buchmiller is the daughter of Carl and Debbie Buchmiller of Bartlett, Illinois ... trained by Kim Gardiner of Perfecta Farm ... currently holds a top-50 ranking on the United States Equitation Federation's charts ... earned a silver medal at the United States Equestrian Team Foundation's annual competition ... is a three-time qualifier for the prestigious USEF Medal Finals and the ASPCA Maclay Regionals ... earned two trips to the Maclay, most recently this year after a sixth-place finish at regionals ... a two-time competitor at the USEF East Coast Talent Search Finals ... has won the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association's (IHJA) Equitation 15-17 division championship in each of the last three years ... attends South Elgin High School.
HALEY BUCHMILLER: "I knew Texas A&M was the school for me from my very first visit. It has so much tradition and totally supports the Equestrian team. I liked Coach Woolf's positive style of teaching and her genuine love of the sport. I'm very excited to become an Aggie!"
A&M ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/HUNTER SEAT COACH LINZY WOOLF: "We are really looking forward to having Haley join our team. It was apparent from the moment that Haley arrived in Aggieland that she was a perfect fit for our program. Haley has really prepared herself well for collegiate riding and we are expecting great things from her."
MEGAN GUNTHER
Fr-HS • Reining • Tomball, Texas (Tomball HS)
Megan Gunther is the daughter of Lety Turullols and Patrick Buckley ... trained by Patti Brownshadel .... was the youth non-pro division champion at the 2009 John Deere Futurity, while placing in every non-pro futurity level ... claimed the Limited Non-Pro Championship at the 2009 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) in Katy, Texas ... won the title in the youth 14-18 division at the North American Affiliate Championships in 2008 ... has taken home multiple Texas Reining Horse Association (TRHA) championships ... Attends Tomball High School in Tomball, Texas.
MEGAN GUNTHER: "Texas A&M has been my top choice since I've been thinking about colleges. I love the small town feel and the great education it has to offer, as well as the awesome equestrian team! I am super excited to attend and hope to make the team proud. I've been riding since I could walk so hopefully all my hard work pays off."
A&M HEAD COACH/REINING COACH Tana McKay: "I have watched Megan grow up into a very accomplished rider. She has been very successful within the NRHA. We are looking forward to adding some great local talent to our team."
MOLLI JACOBS
Fr-HS • Horsemanship • Dover, Ohio (Garaway HS)
Molli Jacobs is the daughter of Randi and Holli Jacobs of Dover, Ohio ... trained by Bruce Vickery ... currently sits atop the AQHA's All-Around High Point Youth national standings ... is AQHA's top youth in showmanship, while ranking third in trail and fifth in horsemanship ... has six top-5 finishes at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, including four in the last five years ... a 2010 AQHYA World Show Champion ... a finalist for the 2009 AQHYA World Show ... attends Garaway High School in Sugarcreek, Ohio ... father is a professional horse trainer.
MOLLI JACOBS: "I have dreamed of going to Texas A&M University for many years now and, after visiting, I knew that it was the perfect fit for me. I plan to take advantage of the great academic opportunities that A&M has to offer and hope to become an asset to the best equestrian team in the country."
A&M ASSISTANT COACH/HORSEMANSHIP COACH Beth Bass: "Molli's horse show success began at an early age, when she won the 2000 AQHYA High Point Justin Rookie of the Year. She will most likely end this year with the prestigious honor of the AQHA National All-Around High Point Youth. That type of success shows extreme talent and dedication to her sport. Molli could have attended any school in the country, but she has bled maroon for quite a while now. Her talent, personal accomplishments and strong competitive drive should lend well to the future success of our team."
LAURA SUMRALL
Fr-HS • Reining • Summit, Mississippi (Parklane Academy)
Laura Sumrall is the daughter of Hiram and Dawn Sumrall of Summit, Mississippi ... trained by Randy Shaffhauser ... ranked fourth nationally in her division (youth 14-18) by the NRHA ... was selected to perform in freestyle exhibition at the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games ... a Level 4 finalist at the 2010 NRHA Non-Pro Derby in Oklahoma City ... qualifier for the 2010 AQHYA World Championship ... won the bronze medal at the 2010 USEF Championship in Oklahoma City ... won state titles as part of the Mississippi Reining Horse Association and the Mississippi Quarter Horse Youth Association ... attends Parklane Academy in McComb, Mississippi ... is the editor of her school newspaper, the Pioneer Press, which she started this year ... also vice-president of the Student Council ... mother, Dawn, is a member of Texas A&M's Class of 1984.
LAURA SUMRALL: "I am so excited to be an Aggie. A&M is definitely the right choice for me, and to top it all off, we are ranked No. 1 in the country. Gig `Em Aggies!"
A&M HEAD COACH/REINING COACH Tana McKay: "Laura is a very talented athlete. She has had some great experience in and out of the arena. She is a dedicated student and is very involved with her school. She will make a great addition to our team and to the Aggie family."