Texas A&M
South Carolina (Hunter Seat 3rd Place)
Western Riders Claim Title at Varsity Equestrian National Championships; Gunn, Gratny Grab Individual Crowns
Apr 17, 2010 | Equestrian
April 17, 2010
WACO, Texas - The Texas A&M western team brought home the program's eighth national championship and seniors Caroline Gunn and Maggie Gratny won individual titles Saturday afternoon at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships at the Heart O'Texas Fair Complex.
The western riders won their second consecutive national title thanks to a 6-2 win over Big 12 rival Kansas State.
In the championship round, wins by Abigail Grabein and Courtney Dawe in reining coupled with a sweep by the horsemanship squad brought home the crown. Gunn and Nowacek picked up wins to put the Aggies one victory away, and junior Randi Standley clinched the championship with a win over Laura Browne. Katie Lisabeth then won the final ride of the match to complete the sweep.
The championship was the fourth for the western program at the VENC, joining titles in 2005, 2007 and 2009.
Coupled with the fourth-place finish by the hunter seat team, the Aggies ended the competition deadlocked with Georgia for the overall championship. The squads then took part in the first-ever sudden-death playoff, which pitted one rider from both teams in each of the four disciplines to determine the overall winner.
The Bulldogs claimed points on the flat and over fences, but the Aggies responded with victories in horsemanship and reining. Georgia then claimed the overall title on raw score, as Texas A&M earned its fourth consecutive runner-up finish.
Gunn won her third consecutive individual national championship in horsemanship, edging teammate Carey Nowacek, 150-147.5. Gunn finished her Aggie career as the winningest rider in school history, a 62-7-3 record and six national titles-three western team and three individual.
Gratny also closed her career in style, taking home the program's first individual championship in reining. The senior downed New Mexico State's Rebecca McReynolds in the finals to finish her time at A&M with 46 wins and 15 MVP honors, both tops in her discipline.
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS - TEXAS A&M
Western Team Competition
Thursday (Quarterfinals) - No. 1 Texas A&M def. No. 9 Baylor, 5-3
Friday (Semifinals) - No. 1 Texas A&M def. No. 5 Georgia, 6-2
Saturday (Championship) - No. 1 Texas A&M def. No. 6 Kansas State, 6-2
Hunter Seat Team Competition
Thursday (Quarterfinals) - No. 4 Texas A&M def. No. 12 TCU, 6-2
Friday (Semifinals) - No. 1 Georgia def. No. 4 Texas A&M, 6-2
Saturday (Third-Place) - No. 3 South Carolina def. No. 4 Texas A&M, 8-0
Individual Competitions
(Quarterfinals - Friday)
Horsemanship - No. 1 Caroline Gunn (A&M) def. No. 8 Alicia Shrum (Georgia), 146.5-139
Horsemanship - No. 2 Carey Nowacek (A&M) def. No. 7 Mikaela Sundgren (Kansas State), 144.5-139
Reining - No. 1 Maggie Gratny (A&M) def. No. 8 Lyndsey Jordan (Auburn), 138-134.5
Equitation on the Flat - No. 5 Elizabeth Solch (A&M) def. No. 4 Carly Babcock (South Carolina), 164-162
Equitation over Fences - No. 1 Maggie McAlary (Auburn) def. No. 8 Maggie Earle (A&M), 80-60
(Semifinals - Saturday)
Horsemanship - No. 1 Caroline Gunn (A&M) def. No. 4 Courtney Chown (TCU), 147.5-142.5
Horsemanship - No. 2 Carey Nowacek (A&M) def. No. 6 Kelsey Huffman (TCU), 144-143
Reining - No. 1 Maggie Gratny (A&M) def. No. 4 Rachell Shobe (Oklahoma State), 138.5-134
Equitation on the Flat - No. 1 Ally Blais (Oklahoma State) def. No. 5 Elizabeth Solch (A&M), 151-145
(Championships - Saturday)
Horsemanship - No. 1 Caroline Gunn (A&M) def. No. 2 Carey Nowacek (A&M), 150-147.5
Reining - No. 1 Maggie Gratny (A&M) def. No. 3 Rebecca McReynolds (NMSU), 133-132.5
VENC Results and Info: http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-equest/10-natl-champ.html
Players Mentioned
