COLLEGE STATION - The No. 4 Texas A&M Equestrian heads to Waco, Texas, for the 2015 NCEA National Championship, with competition for the Aggies beginning on Friday when they take on the winner of No. 5 Auburn-No. 12 UT-Martin. Here are the #TopTen things you need to know before then:
1. Texas A&M is seeking its FIRST national championship since the 2012 season, the last time the team earned a first-round bye.
2. The Aggies have TWO victories over their potential opponents in the quarterfinals, opening the year with an 18-2 victory over UT-Martin and defeating Auburn at home 12-7 to close the regular season.
3. Of the four teams granted byes at this year's championship, A&M has competed against all THREE, with victories against both the other SEC programs and a close loss to Baylor.
4. A&M currently ranks FOURTH in the NCEA rankings. This is the first time the team has finished in the top five since the NCEA began competing for a combined national championship.
5. FIVE Aggie riders were named to the All-SEC teams earlier this week: seniors Haley Buchmiller and Laura Sumrall and sophomore Kaci Fisher earned all-conference honors and freshmen Alex Desiderio and Avery Ellis were named to the All-Freshman Team. Desiderio was later named the SEC Freshman of the Year in Equitation over Fences.
6. Additionally, SIX members of the A&M squad earned NCEA All-American honors: Buchmiller (1st team - Flat), Sumrall (2nd team - Reining), junior Audrey Gallagher (2nd team – Flat), junior Logan Pluhar (Honorable Mention – Horsemanship), Fisher (2nd team – Horsemanship) and sophomore Anna Rea (Honorable Mention – Flat).
7. This is the SEVENTH year in a row competing for a national championship, winning one overall and three western championships in that span.
8. Texas A&M currently stands at 8-6, more than tripling last season's win mark and besting its record from the last time the team advanced to the NCEA Quarterfinals in 2012-13.
9. The Aggies are seeking their NINTH victory of the season, a mark they haven't eclipsed since winning their last national championship.
10. Against TOP TEN opponents, the Aggies have five victories on the season, with three coming in the last month of competition.
Friday's competition will get underway at 8:30 a.m. and live results can be found by following @AggieEquestrian on Twitter and at 12thMan.com. Check back to 12thMan.com and follow @AggieEquestrian on Twitter for the latest news and results of the 2014-15 season.