COLLEGE STATION - The defending Big 12 and national champion Texas A&M equestrian team signed eight student-athletes to national letters of intent during the early fall signing period, head coach Tana McKay announced Tuesday.
Western riders Carolyn Day (Corpus Christi), Hannah Jechow (Uvalde), Mayers Lindley (Tomball) and Logan Pluhar (Canyon), along with hunter seat riders Jennie Edwards (Jacksonville, Fla.), Marlena Parker (Cumming, Ga.), Kimmy Saul (Brookeville, Md.) and Hannah Williams (Woodbine, Md.), will all join the Aggie program in the fall of 2012.
“We are very excited about adding these young women to our Aggie family,” McKay said. “They will add outstanding talent to our roster. We know the recruiting process can be very overwhelming, but we are so pleased that they have chosen to spend their college career here at Texas A&M.”
| 2011 Aggie Equestrian Signing Class | ||
| Name | Discipline | Hometown (High School) |
| Carolyn Day | Horsemanship | Corpus Christi, Texas (Carroll HS) |
| Jennie Edwards | Hunter Seat | Jacksonville, Fla. (UNL Independent Study) |
| Hannah Jechow | Reining | Uvalde, Texas (Uvalde HS) |
| Mayers Lindley | Horsemanship | Tomball, Texas (Klein Oak HS) |
| Marlena Parker | Hunter Seat | Cumming, Ga. (Woodsong Academy) |
| Logan Pluhar | Horsemanship/Reining | Canyon, Texas (Randall HS) |
| Kimmy Saul | Hunter Seat | Brookeville, Md. (Sherwood HS) |
| Hannah Williams | Hunter Seat | Woodbine, Md. (Notre Dame Prep) |
Carolyn Day
Fr-HS • Horsemanship • Corpus Christi, Texas (Carroll HS)
Carolyn Day is the daughter of Ted and Suzy Day of Corpus Christi … attends Carroll High School … a very successful rider at the top level of the AQHA show circuit in the all-around events … won the Novice All Around Youth at the 2011 Arizona Sun Circuit, the Redbud Spectacular and the Reichert Celebration … placed in the top 10 twice at the 2011 All American Quarter Horse Congress show … trainer is Reid Thomas of Corpus Christi.
A&M HORSEMANSHIP COACH BETH BASS: “I am thrilled that Carolyn has chosen to be an Aggie. She has had the opportunity to ride and show multiple types of horses during her youth career and this will bode well for her to be a successful collegiate athlete. I believe she will have a significant impact on our horsemanship team in the future and that she will adapt quickly to our format of competition.”
Jennie Edwards
Jennie Edwards
Fr-HS • Hunter Seat • Jacksonville, Fla. (UNL Independent Study)
Jennie Edwards is the daughter of Tom and Julie Edwards of Jacksonville … won the 2011 Virginia Horse Show Association Hunt Seat Medal Final, Virginia Horse Show Association Horsemanship Medal Final, and the USHJA Tad Coffin Zone III Junior Equitation Finals
… placed second in the Amy Reistrup Equitation Challenge and the Maryland Horse Show Association Hunt Seat Medal Final … earned a spot in the USEF Pessoa Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals … credits her success to her aunt, Ginny Edwards, and all of her team, including Erin O'Neil and Amanda Penick … also credits Don Stewart and Don Stewart Show Stables, Bibby Farmer Hill and Megan Edrick.
A&M ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/HUNTER SEAT COACH LINZY WOOLF: “Jennie has had a very successful junior career, including her win at the Zone 3 Equitation Finals this fall. Jennie has had the opportunity to train with many well-known and well-respected trainers in the equitation industry. I know the talent and knowledge she will bring will be a huge asset to our team.”
Hannah Jechow
Fr-HS • Reining • Uvalde, Texas (Uvalde HS)
Hannah Jechow is the daughter of Michael and Joy Jechow of Uvalde … attends Uvalde High School … has qualified for the American Quarter Horse Association's Youth World Show for several seasons ... won several classifications through her career at the National Reining Breeders Classic and the Texas Reining Horse Association … named the Texas State 4-H Horse Show Reining Champion in 2009 … claimed multiple wins at National Reining Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association events.
A&M HEAD COACH/REINING COACH TANA McKAY: “Hannah is going to be a wonderful addition to our team. She is a great student and has had some very good success in the show pen. We are looking forward to her joining our family.”
Mayers Lindley
Mayers Lindley
Fr-HS • Horsemanship • Tomball, Texas (Klein Oak HS)
Mayers (pronounced MY-ers) Lindley is the daughter of Russell and Ruth Lindley of Tomball … attends Klein Oak High School in Spring … a very successful rider in the horsemanship and all-around arenas … was the 2010 NSBA World Champion in the Showmanship and NSBA Reserve World Champion in the Horsemanship … qualified this season for the AQHYA World Show and finished in the Top 15 nationally … has won circuit championships at the Big A and the Texas Classic as well as winning the All American Quarter Horse Congress in 2008 … was top 3 in Justin Rookie of the Year … trainer is Robin Frid of Denton.
A&M HORSEMANSHIP COACH BETH BASS: “Mayers has had the opportunity to train with Robin Frid, and we have had great success with his riders in the past. I would expect no less from Mayers. She has incredible polish in the arena and I am excited to see what she is capable of achieving in collegiate equestrian. She has a rich heritage of Aggies in her family and I am excited that she has chosen to continue that tradition.”
Marlena Parker
Fr-HS • Horsemanship • Cumming, Ga. (Woodsong Academy)
Marlena Parker is the daughter of Frank and Marcie Parker of Cumming, Georgia … attends Woodsong Academy … ranked first in USEF Zone 4, and ninth nationally, in the older large junior hunter division … is leading the Georgia Hunter Jumper Association for large junior hunters … has already qualified for the 2012 USEF Medal Finals, will be her fourth consecutive year … won ribbons this year at the Alltech National Horse Show and the Devon Horse Show … has placed in the top 10 several times this season at USHJA International Hunter Derbies … competed at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in each of the last three years … trainer is Carolyn Bell of Fortitude Farm … previously trained with Kristie Dimarakis of Stonegate Farm and Kimberly Wikholm of Turning Leaf Farm.
A&M ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/HUNTER SEAT COACH LINZY WOOLF: “I am thrilled that Marlena has chosen to come ride for the Aggies. It was apparent from the first moment that she set foot on campus that her love for Aggieland was a strong one. Marlena has had a successful junior career competing and performing consistently on the national level. She is coming to our team with the polish and poise that can only help take our team to a national championship.”
Logan Pluhar
Fr-HS • Horsemanship/Reining • Canyon, Texas (Randall HS)
Logan Pluhar is the daughter of Darwin and Jenny Pluhar of Canyon … attends Randall High School … has had success both in the all-around show arena and the reining pen … placed fourth in reining and qualified for horsemanship at this year's AQHYA World Show … posted a top-3 finish at this fall's All-American Quarter Horse Congress (14-18 reining division) … a Texas State 4-H champion in horsemanship, showmanship and reining … currently serves as the AQHYA national treasurer … trainer is Nancy Cahill of Madisonville.
A&M HEAD COACH/REINING COACH TANA McKAY: “It has been fun watching Logan grow into a very accomplished rider. She will be doing both reining and horsemanship for us, which can be challenging. We know she has the mental toughness and talent to be successful in both events for us.”
A&M HORSEMANSHIP COACH BETH BASS: “We are excited about having Logan join us in the fall. She has a rich heritage of Aggies in her family and she already bleeds maroon. She has the talent to train and the feel to show a more green-type of horse, and this should translate into her becoming a great catch rider in college.”
Kimmy Saul
Fr-HS • Hunter Seat • Brookeville, Md. (Sherwood HS)
Kimberly Saul is the daughter of Don and Pam Saul of Brookeville, Maryland … a 2011 graduate of Sherwood High School in Sandy Spring … a four-year qualifier for indoors, earned ribbons in both the junior hunters and children's jumpers classes … was reserve champion in the children's jumpers class at the 2009 Harrisburg show … won circuit championships at shows in both Jacksonville and Tampa … placed fourth in the Maryland Horse Show Association (MHSA) medal finals … trainer is Patty Foster.
A&M ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/HUNTER SEAT COACH LINZY WOOLF: “Kimmy will be yet another strong Maryland addition for our team. I feel confident that her extensive catch-riding resume will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to help her be a top-contender in the collegiate ranks. Kimmy is definitely a great fit for Aggieland as she already bleeds maroon.”
Hannah Williams
Fr-HS • Hunter Seat • Woodbine, Md. (Notre Dame Prep)
Hannah Williams is the daughter of Dale and Kim Williams of Woodbine, Maryland … is attending Notre Dame Preparatory School … sister, Emily, is a junior on the Aggie equestrian team … had a strong year in the ring, winning the Maryland Horse Shows Association (MHSA) Junior Medals Finals and earning ribbons at the prestigious Devon Horse Show … placed second this season at the Gittings Horsemanship Final and took home top ribbons in the junior and working hunters divisions … claimed the flat championship at the 2010 Virginia Horse Show Association (VHSA) … also took home the Howard County Horse Shows Association junior medal … trained by Kim Williams and Andre Dignelli.
A&M ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH/HUNTER SEAT COACH LINZY WOOLF: “We couldn't be more excited about adding Hannah to our roster. Hannah has had an outstanding junior riding career, and is a very talented catch-rider. Her sister, Emily, has been a huge contributor to our team's success over the past few years, and I know that Hannah will produce the same results for us and help continue that winning family tradition.”