Equestrian (W)
3
3 Team Reserve National Championships
5
5 Individual National Champions
9
9 Team Zone / Regional Championships
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AWARDS |
- 2006 National Champion Reining, Sara Weller
- 2006 National Champion Intermediate Horsemanship, Sarah Coomes
- 2003 National Champion Intermediate Horsemanship, Elaine Cobb
- 2003 National Champion Advanced Horsemanship, Kristen Tanney
- 2002 National Champion, Brandi Vogel
Equestrian History
The Kansas State Equestrian Team started out as a club sport in 1999 with Teresa Slough as the sole coach. Although the team had just about 20 members that first year, the Wildcats won their first national title with Kelly Gratny earning the Reserve National Championship in Individual Western Horsemanship. Since becoming a varsity sport on campus in 2000, the team has since earned 9 national titles and sees around 120 girls try out for the team each year.
With the new requirements Title IX placed on schools to ensure equal opportunities for female athletes, K-State added Equestrian as their newest sport in 2000. The agricultural background of the school was a clear influence, as well as a strong interest from club members and other students on campus.
The team started out in a unique position competing in Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) competitions. This format required a team to show riders with all levels of experience, which allowed girls with little or no previous experience to compete as much as those with more knowledgeable backgrounds.
Later, the team competed simultaneously in Varsity competitions where schools showed their best riders against each other. In 2006, however, the NCAA ruled that varsity schools could only compete in one national championship, which meant choosing between IHSA and Varsity. Due to the more competitive nature of the Varsity competitions, this is the format KSU currently competes in.
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2013 RESERVE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS |
WACO, Texas - The No. 2 seed Kansas State equestrian team defeated No. 3 seed Georgia, 5-2 in the semifinals, before falling 6-2 to No. 1 seed Oklahoma State in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) championships on Saturday. By reaching the championship round against the Cowgirls, the Wildcats earned their third Reserve National Championship in school history (2010, 2011).
"Our team rode their hearts out against Georgia this morning to get us into the championship round," said head coachCasie Maxwell. "This afternoon we just had some minor errors that OSU was able to capitalize on, and those are mistakes that you cannot afford to make in the championship round. Our hats are off to OSU on a great season and finishing up with great rides at the championship."
Reining kicked off the semifinal match between K-State and UGA, with the Wildcats taking the discipline, 2-1. Captain Sam Etsell picked up the first point for the Wildcats, carding a 139.5 and taking down McKenzie Lantz. Jesse Johnson tallied an impressive 141.5, on her way to picking up a point and give the Wildcats the early lead.
The momentum continued for K-State into Horsemanship, winning the event 3-1 to set up a rematch with OSU. Rachel Wetherell earned a 146.5 and picked up a point after a video review gave Anna Sasser a 146. Hannah Ribera had the high point total of the match, riding to a 151.5 and another Wildcat point. Kelly Bovaird picked up the final point for K-State, after she scored a 150 to defeat Megan Hawkins.
In the finals, the Wildcats faced a familiar foe in Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State. It was a rematch from the Big 12 championship.
Horsemanship marked the opening discipline of day, with OSU coming out on top, 4-0. K-State posted high marks, but it was not enough to counter the Cowgirl's performances.
In Reining, the two sides tied 2-2. Jordan Cox gave the Wildcats their first point, after she was able to defeat Mackenzie Fugitt, 142.5-140. Johnson picked up the other point for K-State, scoring a 146 and besting Justine Peters. Johnson, a junior from Broken Bow, Neb., completed the weekend undefeated for the Wildcats.
The loss ends a fantastic season for the Western team that earned its third Reserve National Championship in the past four seasons.
"I am incredibly proud of our seniors for bringing their all this week and we are pleased to send them out with three Reserve National Championships under their belt," said Maxwell.
