Equestrian 2023 Signing Class
2023 Signing Class
The signing period continues for equestrian through next summer. Additional signees will be announced as they become official leading up to the 2023-24 academic year and will be listed in alphabetical order by last name.
Marina Caputo | Horsemanship | Seattle, Washington
Previous Athletic Experience: Earned multiple all around titles … AQHA Year End Hight Point 2020 L1 Youth Western Riding, Multiple Circuit Champion, Top 10 AQHYA World Show Performance Halter.
Personal: Daughter of Liza and Mike Caputo, has one sister, Izzy … Was the WSQHYA Secretary … Is a former DECA member and former Best Buddies member … Plans to major in business and marketing with goals to become a real estate agent or business owner … Enjoys working out, walking her dog, cooking and traveling
Mimi Cate Copeland | Horsemanship | Edmond, Oklahoma
Previous Athletic Experience: Greatest accomplishment was getting reserve in the Lv 2 showmanship at the AQHYA World Show … Was also able to win a chair at the Big A in Horsemanship.
Personal: Daughter of Meridith and Rob Copeland, has one brother, Allen … Plans to major in environmental design and hopes to be an architect and design barns or show facilities … Her grandfather, Randy Geiselman, played golf for Texas … Uncle, Scott Louderback, graduated from Texas A&M in 1987 … Really enjoys art as well as being with her horse … She was adopted from Ukraine when she was 18 months old … Favorite foods is homemade noodles and pot roast.
Avery DeYoung | Jumping Seat | Richmond, Texas
Previous Athletic Experience: Qualifier for Gladstone and Jr. Hunter finals … Placed top 10 at THIS finals as well as top placing at Capital Challenge, WEF and other national ranked horse shows.
Personal: Daughter of Shannon and Jason DeYoung, has one sister, Ella, and one brother, Von … Member of National Spanish Honor Society … President of Big Sis, Lil Sis … Member of Lion Ambassador … Plans to be a business major and would like to attend law school … Enjoys doing laundry, watching tv, hanging out with friends and is an active member of Young Life.
Kendall Dirksen | Horsemanship | Windsor, Colorado
Previous Athletic Experience: Finished top 15 in L3 Showmanship - All American Quarter Horse Congress and L2 Western Riding - All American Quarter Horse Congress in 2022 … Earned a ninth place finish in L2 Equitation at the AQHA Youth World in 2022 … Finished in fourth place at Equitation (NYATT) - All American Quarter Horse Congress in 2021 … Top 15 finishes in L1 Horsemanship and L1 Trail at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in 2021 … Top-15 finish in L1 Western Riding at the AQHA Youth World in 2021 … Top 10 finishes in L1 Horsemanship, L1 Equitation and L1 Western Riding at NSBA World in 2020 … Top 10 finish in L1 Showmanship and L1 Equitation at AQHA Youth World in 2020.
Personal: Daughter of Jay and Cheri Dirksen … Has one brother, Colin, one sister, Claire … Is a member of National Honors Society, Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Youth Association, Interscholastic Equestrian Association and is a high school cheerleader while serving on her high school yearbook committee and as an FFA officer … Plans to major in Agricultural Science … She enjoys snow skiing, diamond art & crafts, watching movies and hanging with friends.
Kate Egan | Jumping Seat | Glen Gardner, New Jersey
Previous Athletic Experience: Finished third at the 2022 USEF Medal Finals National Final … Finished 10th at the 2022 Maclay Finals National Final … Earned a second-place finish at the 2022 Zone 2 Maclay Region Finals … Crowned champion at the 2021 HITS Equitation Championship.
Personal: Daughter of Sarah and Richard Egan, has one older sister, Caroline … Honor Roll student at Voorhees High School, while working part time as a hostess at a local restaurant … Plans to major in marketing and hopes to pursue a job as a professional in the riding world or a marketing career … Enjoys traveling and trying new coffee shops … Once cooked lunch in a natural hot spring in Iceland when she was 13.
Isabelle Gonzalez | Reining | Lafayette, Louisiana
Previous Athletic Experience: Was a 2021 NRCHA Novice NonPro Futurity Finalist, 2021 AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Youth All Around Bronze Champion, 2020 AQHYA Level 3 Ranch Riding Bronze Champion and 2020 AQHYA Level 2 Ranch Riding World Champion
Personal: Daughter of Judith Bott-Gonzalez and Gabriel Gonzalez … 2022-23 Student of the Year Nominee and Finalist at David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy … Student Council Senior Vice President … 2019-22 Principles List … 2019-21 Citizenship Award Recipient … Plans to major in Agricultural Business … After college she plans to get a real estate license in the state of Texas with hopes of opening her own firm … Enjoys to spend time with loved ones and work on her family ranch … She has been to more countries than states, both of her parents are immigrants from Germany and Columbia, making her a first generation American.
Anna Harris | Reining | Sheridan, Arkansas
Previous Athletic Experience: 2022 World Youth Cup fourth place in Brazil … 2021 National Reining Breeders Classic Level 1 Non-Pro Champion.
Personal: Daughter of DeLaina and Shane Harris … Member of National Honor Society and President of Students for Christ … Plans to major in animal science and wants to own a veterinary business … Enjoys riding horses and hunting … Was chosen to be varsity cheer captain her senior year at Sheridan High School … Favorite Food is crab legs, has an Australian Shepard named Howie and still has her first horse that she got when she was three.
Kaylynn Heitmann | Horsemanship | Marengo, Iowa
Previous Athletic Experience: Three-time world champion…3-time reserve world champion and 13 & under All Around award at the APHA World Show in 2019…Fourth place finish in the 13 & under Hunter Under Saddle at the AQHYA World Show in 2019…Won the Novice Youth Hunt Seat Equitation 13 & under at the NSBA World Show and AGHA Congress in 2019…Won the Novice Youth Western Riding on Monie Man and the 18 & under Hunt Seat Equitation on Lazy Cowboy at the APHA World Show in 2020…Won Color Youth Showmanship at the NSBA World Show in 202…Garnered Reserve World Champion in Youth Trail 18 & Under and Reserve Champion in Youth Western Riding 18 & Under at the APHA World Show in 2021…Top 5 finishes in Level 3 14-18 Trail and Level 1 Western Riding 14-18 along with Reserve World Champion in Level 2 Trail and Level 1 Horsemanship 14-18 at the AQHYA World Championship in 2021…Picked up World Championships in Youth Western Riding 14-18 and Color Youth Showmanship as well as Reserve Championships in Color Youth Western Riding and Novice Youth Western Riding at the 2021 NSBA World Show…Gathered wins in the 18& under Trail, Pleasure, and Hunt Seat Equitation along with Reserve World Champion in 18 & under Horsemanship at the APHA World Show in 2022…Also awarded All Around Youth at the APHA World Show in 2022.
Personal: Daughter of Jeana and Arec Heitman, has three brothers, Royce, Ryland and Ryker … Active member of FFA and 4-H … Plans to major in agricultural economic or business … Plans are to help with the future of agriculture … Mom played basketball at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa … In her free time she likes to rodeo and ride young horses at home, also enjoys hanging with friends and driving around.
Karsen Kadien | Jumping Seat | Rancho Murieta, California
Previous Athletic Experience: Fifth place finish at the 2022 NORCAL 3’6” Junior Medal Finals … Was the 2022 High Scoring Junior at the Open National Hunter Derby Sacramento International Horse Show … Third place finish at the 2019 USHJA Horse of the Year Award, Zone 9 … Equitation and Hunter Championships at Top AA Shows on the West Coast … Top placings in several National Hunter Derbies … Qualified for regional and national medal finals … Qualified for USEF Junior Hunter Finals.
Personal: Daughter of Christy and Brian Kadien … Member of National Honor Society … President of Spanish Honor Society … Earned the Outstanding Female Leader Award … Plans to major in Animal Science … She has a passion for helping all equine athletes and her goal is to become an Equine Sports Medicine Vet … Currently works as an intern vet tech for a sports medicine and reproduction vet in the Sacramento Valley … In her free time, she enjoys skiing, photography, baking, reading and helping out at the barn.
Nicole McMillion | Jumping Seat | Huntington Beach, California
Previous Athletic Experience: 10th place finish in 2022 WIHS Equitation Finals … Top 25 USEF Medal Finals in 2022 … Fourth place finish at the 2022 North American Equitation Challenge …Third place finish at the USEF Talent Search Finals-West in 2022 … Named Champion Whitethorne Equitation Challenge in 2022 … Top 10 finishes at Maclay Regionals, Gladstone Cup and the California Finals in 2022 … 2021 and 2020 top 10 finishes in the California Finals … 2019 Champion USHJA Jumping Seat Finals-West.
Personal: Daughter of Janine and Lee McMillion … Member of National Honors Society and Honor Roll at Laurel Springs High School … Plans to major in business with aspirations to become a professional in equestrian following graduation … In her spare time she enjoys going to the beach and spending time with friends and family.
Moriah McQueen | Reining | Berthoud, Colorado
Previous Athletic Experience: Top 15 Levels 1-3 AGHYA World Championship Show … Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association year end high point and L1 Ranch Riding … Rocky Mountain Quarter Horse Association Mitzi Powers Rookie of the Year and 14-18 Sportsmanship award … Multiple high point and circuit awards at NRHA/AQHA sanctioned shows … Interscholastic Equestrian Association top three varsity reining … Interscholastic Equestrian Association highest scoring reining rider in the region.
Personal: Daughter of Lynn and Lenay McQueen … Has three sisters, Madelyn, Mallory, Mattea, and two brothers, Benton and Will … Plans to major in pre-law and has aspirations to be a successful prosecuting attorney, specifically to help clients who do not have endless financial resources … In her free time she enjoys horse judging, participating with mock trial and debate teams and spending time with family and friends … She is a die hard Denver Broncos fan and one of her greatest fears is chickens.
Lilian Reynolds | Jumping Seat | Indian Springs, Alabama
Previous Athletic Experience: Brought a 5-year-old gelding to the Equitation World and qualified for USEF Medal Finals and Maclay Finals … Qualified and competed in NHS 3’3” Equitation Medal Final.
Personal: Daughter of Amanda and Brad Reynolds, has one brother, Garrett, and one sister, Molly … Member of the Homeschool Honor Society … Plans to major in Agribusiness and has goals to work in the equine industry … Lilian is very passionate about horses as well as the equestrian sport and would love to move forward in molding that into a career.
Ella Roberts | Horsemanship | San Marcos, Texas
Previous Athletic Experience: Won third in the trail at both the youth world and congress competitions, which was very exciting for her as she was happy to accomplish goals that she had set for years.
Personal: Daughter of Ashley and Jason Roberts … Has four siblings, Lenora, Bennet, Rye and Maggie … Cousin, Alle Potts, lettered for the Aggie Equestrian in 2018 … Aunts, Stephanee Potts ‘00 and Allee Houston ’20, Uncle, Zach Potts ‘00, and cousins, Jadon Potts ’22 and Ana Potts ‘22, are Aggies … Plans to major in communications and to become a successful real estate agent with hopes to work and travel … Active member of Leo Club and is involved in her church’s youth group and Young Life … When she was 12 she came up with a dog breeding business and made a successful business breeding bernedoodles. To get the money for the first dog she made and sold baked goods around the horse shows to raise enough money … She has also traveled the world and has seen parts of Italy and the Bahamas … She loves to travel and hopes to study abroad at some point in her life.
Dylanne Rodriguez | Reining | Cumming, Georgia
Previous Athletic Experience: Earned a spot on the 2022 IEA National Championship Team … 2022 Varsity Open Horsemanship National Champion … 2022 ARAH World Youth Working Cow Horse Reserve Champion … 2022 ARHA World Top 4 Youth Reining
Personal: Daughter of Angel Foster and William Childs … Plans to major in Animal Science and wants to become a large animal vet specializing in equine surgery … Enjoys reading, poetry, hiking and likes to ski when visiting family out west … She has bareboat sailed the British Virgin Islands with her family and has hiked National Geographic hikes, as well as explored crystal caves in Belize.
Alida Treuting | Jumping Seat | Selden, New York
Previous Athletic Experience: Finished top 24 at both Medal and Maclay finals … Won presidents cup at the Saratoga Horse Show … Earned an eighth place finish at the New England finals … Third place finish at the 2022 Maclay regionals.
Personal: Daughter of Myrna and Waldo Treuting … Member of honor roll at Newfield High School … Plans to major in applied mathematics and hopes to work in the field of mathematics, while continuing a riding career and working with young horses … Enjoys running, painting and most of all spending time with her pets, friends and family.
