Leading up to the start of the 2017-18 season, 12thMan.com will highlight a student-athlete from each discipline. The Aggies look to defend their NCEA National Championship as they begin the campaign against Fresno State on September 22.
Today, junior Rebekah Chenelle, who finished the season undefeated in Flat at the NCEA Championship, discussed her decision to come to Texas A&M, last season's success, and this year's campaign.
What was it like to win the program's 12th national championship?
"It was really exciting and such a great experience to cherish with our team. I think it is a tangible goal for this season because anything can happen. We have the talent, so I think if we work hard and push ourselves then we can do it again."
What responsibilities and leadership roles have you taken on since becoming an upperclassman?
"There is two classes below me now, so I'm not the baby anymore. Instead of asking people what to do, people are asking me what to do. I'm just trying to set an example for the underclassmen and showing them what to do. They aren't going to do it if we don't do it, so just showing them what kind of team we want to be and having it trickle down to them."
When did you begin competing in both disciplines?
"The end of my first semester freshman year I started riding in exhibitions and starting on the flat. That was a new format for us because as freshman we don't know the flat at all, so we have to learn it."
Which event do you feel stronger at?
"They are so different, and I love them both so differently because I really like to gallop around a fence course. I think that is so fun, and I have been doing that my whole life, so it's more close to home. Flat is so different, and this is the only platform that we do in a box, the Dressage Test, but it is still equitation. I love them both, but very differently. I treat them very differently because jumping is like showing normally and flat is so different. I don't prefer one over the other though."
What are your expectations for the incoming freshmen?
"I really like our freshman. They are so nice. I think they are all going to bring a lot to the table. I just hope that we can all get along and continue on with the team dynamic that we have been having. I hope we can keep the family aspect and work really hard to win a lot of meets."
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
"We have never won SECs, so that would be really cool to do. Personally, I just want to be consistent and do whatever I can to make the team successful. I think as a whole, we need to maintain being at the top. It is harder to stay there than to get there."
What was it like to go undefeated in Flat at the NCEA Championship last season?
"I had to take it all one step at a time because the box is all one step at a time. I would only think about one pattern at once so that I wouldn't mix patterns up. We do a lot of the same maneuvers and the same patterns, so it's easy to mix them up. The night before, I would print out a diagram sheet of the pattern, and I would write down everything that I wanted to do in that particular box on the paper. I would just study that and do all of my thinking ahead of time, so that when I was in the ring, I could just do it. I just took it one step at a time, and it all worked out for me. It was a team effort because everyone was putting in their different thoughts about the patterns. The seniors from last season were really helpful. One of them helped me analyze all the different components of the pattern, so that was beneficial."
What made you decide to come to Texas A&M?
"My sister (Leah Chenelle) was a big part of it. I tell everyone this, but I was not planning on coming to Texas A&M when I came on my visit. I just thought I was going to visit my sister and the whole school. I really had my heart set on going to another school, but as soon as I got here, I was like 'wait'. It kind of just stopped my world, and I thought I made the wrong decision. I really liked the Aggie Network and the family aspect. You don't get that on every team. It is hard with 55 girls, but we do a pretty good job of it I think."
What are your thoughts on new Hunt Seat coach Abby O'Mara?
"She comes from a family that really knows the sport and is very successful at the sport. She is very professional, which I really appreciate. I really like her perspective on things. She is more laid back, but wants to win just as bad. She is really going to bring a lot to the table, and I can't wait to get it started."
What does Head Coach Tana McKay mean to you?
"I really like how professional and classy she is. She holds us to a very high standard, which is really good. Not just in riding, but in life in general. She is really worried about our reputation and how we present ourselves to the world, not just when we are on the team, but when we get jobs afterwards. I think that speaks to her character because she is not just thinking about what we can do for her, but she is thinking about us and how this affects our future. I think that is really important."
Today, junior Rebekah Chenelle, who finished the season undefeated in Flat at the NCEA Championship, discussed her decision to come to Texas A&M, last season's success, and this year's campaign.
What was it like to win the program's 12th national championship?
"It was really exciting and such a great experience to cherish with our team. I think it is a tangible goal for this season because anything can happen. We have the talent, so I think if we work hard and push ourselves then we can do it again."
What responsibilities and leadership roles have you taken on since becoming an upperclassman?
"There is two classes below me now, so I'm not the baby anymore. Instead of asking people what to do, people are asking me what to do. I'm just trying to set an example for the underclassmen and showing them what to do. They aren't going to do it if we don't do it, so just showing them what kind of team we want to be and having it trickle down to them."
When did you begin competing in both disciplines?
"The end of my first semester freshman year I started riding in exhibitions and starting on the flat. That was a new format for us because as freshman we don't know the flat at all, so we have to learn it."
Which event do you feel stronger at?
"They are so different, and I love them both so differently because I really like to gallop around a fence course. I think that is so fun, and I have been doing that my whole life, so it's more close to home. Flat is so different, and this is the only platform that we do in a box, the Dressage Test, but it is still equitation. I love them both, but very differently. I treat them very differently because jumping is like showing normally and flat is so different. I don't prefer one over the other though."
What are your expectations for the incoming freshmen?
"I really like our freshman. They are so nice. I think they are all going to bring a lot to the table. I just hope that we can all get along and continue on with the team dynamic that we have been having. I hope we can keep the family aspect and work really hard to win a lot of meets."
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
"We have never won SECs, so that would be really cool to do. Personally, I just want to be consistent and do whatever I can to make the team successful. I think as a whole, we need to maintain being at the top. It is harder to stay there than to get there."
What was it like to go undefeated in Flat at the NCEA Championship last season?
"I had to take it all one step at a time because the box is all one step at a time. I would only think about one pattern at once so that I wouldn't mix patterns up. We do a lot of the same maneuvers and the same patterns, so it's easy to mix them up. The night before, I would print out a diagram sheet of the pattern, and I would write down everything that I wanted to do in that particular box on the paper. I would just study that and do all of my thinking ahead of time, so that when I was in the ring, I could just do it. I just took it one step at a time, and it all worked out for me. It was a team effort because everyone was putting in their different thoughts about the patterns. The seniors from last season were really helpful. One of them helped me analyze all the different components of the pattern, so that was beneficial."
What made you decide to come to Texas A&M?
"My sister (Leah Chenelle) was a big part of it. I tell everyone this, but I was not planning on coming to Texas A&M when I came on my visit. I just thought I was going to visit my sister and the whole school. I really had my heart set on going to another school, but as soon as I got here, I was like 'wait'. It kind of just stopped my world, and I thought I made the wrong decision. I really liked the Aggie Network and the family aspect. You don't get that on every team. It is hard with 55 girls, but we do a pretty good job of it I think."
What are your thoughts on new Hunt Seat coach Abby O'Mara?
"She comes from a family that really knows the sport and is very successful at the sport. She is very professional, which I really appreciate. I really like her perspective on things. She is more laid back, but wants to win just as bad. She is really going to bring a lot to the table, and I can't wait to get it started."
What does Head Coach Tana McKay mean to you?
"I really like how professional and classy she is. She holds us to a very high standard, which is really good. Not just in riding, but in life in general. She is really worried about our reputation and how we present ourselves to the world, not just when we are on the team, but when we get jobs afterwards. I think that speaks to her character because she is not just thinking about what we can do for her, but she is thinking about us and how this affects our future. I think that is really important."