Equestrian Announces 2006 Recruiting Class
5/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
May 31, 2006
WACO, Texas - Prepping for its second season, Baylor's equestrian team has signed 16 riders who will join the program this fall, announced head coach Ellen White. The group includes nine additions to the English roster and seven additions to the Western roster. All riders have signed a National Letter of Intent with Baylor.
Signees for the English team include Kelly Albury, Elizabeth Banister, Kelsey Ehlers, Katherine Hartson, Heather Healy, Ashley Hyten, Analisa Muti, Mary Smitson, and April Wehle. The Western signees include Lindsey Douglas, Melissa Gonzalez, Amanda Graber, Allison Orosz, Brittani Purnell, Valtie Riddle, and Lindsey Tomko.
Filling out the English roster, Banister (Brighton, Colo.) brings awards such as the World Champion Youth Jumping, Reserve World Champion Youth Jumping, CHJA Medal Finals Reserve Champion, Colonel Robertson Medal Champion, and Regional Children's Medal Champion. Smitson (Zionsville, Ind.) rode all four years of high school and claimed many championships at "A" horse shows. Wehle (Wellington, Fla.) most recently placed first at the WIHS and has qualified for the past three years for the USEF Medal Finals.
Some of the Western signees that bring honors to the program include Douglas (Issaquah, Wash.), who was the 2005 Tall Timber Circuit Reserve Champion. Gonzalez (Harlington, Texas) has ridden in many A.Q.H.A. shows and in 2005 placed 12th in the nation in Western riding. Graber (Alexis, N.C.) is a six-time World and Reserve World Champion and has three top five and three top ten world placings. Orosz (Salem, Ohio) finished top ten at the All American Quarter Horse Congress three times in Ohio and was also a Youth World Champion Show semifinalist in Texas; she also ranked as top in Ohio in Horsemanship, Equitation, and Hunter Under Saddle. Riddle (Tucumcari, N.M.) competed at the American Quarter Horse Youth World in Working Cowhorse and placed 20th. Finally Tomko (Canfield, Ohio) in 2002 was an All American Quarter Horse Congress top 10 rider.
"We're excited about the signees. We're thinking this is going to be a solid group for our program. We have outstanding talent from last year, and with the new riders, we've added depth to our roster in both disciplines. This year's team will be a solid contender," said White.
