April 18, 2007
WACO, Texas - Baylor's equestrian team advanced through the first round of action at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships hosted by Baylor University at the Heart O' Texas Fair Complex Wed., April 18. The sixth-seeded Hunter Seat team shutout 11th-seeded Stephen F. Austin 8-0 while the BU's eighth-seeded Western team bested ninth-seeded Fresno State 5-3.
The English riders wasted no time in chalking up a strong 4-0 lead over the Ladyjacks blowing out SFA in the Equitation over Fences portion. Analisa Muti tallied the event's high score earning an 83.5 from judge one, a discipline high, and a 78.5 from judge two for a combined score of 162. Also over Fences, Nicole Brown, Mary Smitson and Shelby White defeated their SFA competition.
Brown led Equitation on the Flat rides with her 82- and 83-point scores for a combined 165 points, a discipline-high point total. Additionally, Smitson, Cara Wilson and White earned points in Baylor's 4-0 sweep on the Flat.
The English riders' 8-0 victory over SFA moves them into the second round where the Bears will face third-seeded Georgia, who received a first round bye. The Flat rides will be completed Wednesday night while the Fences rides will take place Thursday morning at 8:30.
Baylor's Western team began championship action defeating Fresno State 3-1 in Horsemanship and tying the Bulldogs 2-2 in Reining. Madelyn Mooney scored 146 points on her Reining ride, the highest score between the two teams, while Valtie Riddle also tallied a Reining point tying the Bulldogs 2-2 in Reining.
In Horsemanship Allison Orosz was the high-point rider with 144 points. Amanda Graber and Ashleigh Brown also outrode their competition to earn points for BU as Baylor defeated FSU 3-1 in Horsemanship.
The 5-3 win over Fresno State placing BU's Western riders against top-seeded Texas A&M in the second round. Baylor and TAMU will complete their Horsemanship rides Wednesday night and will continue action Thursday morning with Reining at 8:30.
In other championship brackets, Fresno State, Texas A&M and Kansas State advanced in Hunter Seat while New Mexico State, Oklahoma State and South Carolina advanced in Western.
Full Baylor and tournament scores are available at www.baylorbears.com.
