EQ Announces Eight Signees for 2026-27
11/13/2025 11:12:00 AM | Equestrian
Bears add new riders on Signing Day
WACO, Texas – The Baylor equestrian program has signed eight new Bears for the 2026-27 roster, announced Wednesday.
Head Coach Casie Maxwell brings on four Jumping Seat riders along with four for Western, including one Reiner and three for Horsemanship.
"We are very excited about the 2026 recruiting class and what they will bring to our program," said Maxwell. "These ladies bring great energy and experiences with them that can really help enhance our program. They found their 'home' in the Baylor community and we can't wait to help them grow during their time with us."
Jumping Seat
Ava Berman – Baltimore, Md. – Garrison Forest
2025 National Horse Show Reserve Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunters 16-17 … 2025 Devon Horse Show Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunters … 2024 Pennslyvania National Horse Show Reserve Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under … 2024 Capital Challenge Reserve Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under … 2024 Junior Hunter Finals Reserve Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under … 2022 American Gold Cup 3'3 Junior Hunter Classic Winner … 2021 NAL Children's Hunter Finals Winner … 2020 Capital Challenge Champion Children's Hunters … Volunteers as a camp helper and at blood drives … Intends to major in Interior Design at Baylor … Related to Jason Berman, president of A/Vantage Pictures and a movie producer … Daughter to Heidi Kenny-Berman and Steven Berman … Has three older siblings, Jason Berman, Erin Berman-Welsh and Ben Berman.
Scarlett Heller – Westlake Village, Calif. – Greenways Academy
Earned third place at the 2025 SCHSA Challenge Medal Finals … Earbed third place at the 2025 USHJA 3'3 Jumping Seat Finals … Multiple top finishes at major USEF rated shows … Outside of equestrian, plays tennis … Volunteers with the Cancer Cartel Foundation by offering riding lesson experience for charity … Intends to major in Apparel Merchandising at Baylor … Related to Heather Heller, Grammy and MTV VMA award-winning producer … Daughter to Heather and Terry Heller … Has two older siblings, Julian and Ashley Heller.
Lily Stewart – Carbondale, Colo. – ICL Academy
2024 USHJA Hunt Seat Finals Top 15 … 2024 Vegas National Horse Show Reserve Champion Large Junior Hunters 15 & Under … 2024 Desert International Horse Park Circuit Champion Large Junior Hunters 15 & Under … 2023 Recipient USHJA Emerging Athletes Program … Volunteers at Angel Tree and CWHJA Horse Shows … Intends to major in Business at Baylor … Related to Jackson Stewart, golfer at Rollins College … Her grandfather played golf at the University of Miami and her uncle played golf at Rollins College … Daughter to Cresta and Travis Stewart … Has an older brother, Jackson Stewart.
Xia Tabanou – Rosehill, Texas – Rosehill Christian School
2025 Hamel Foundation NHS 3'3 Region 4 Champion … 2025 National Horse Show Reserve Champion 16-17 Age Equitation … 2022 USHJA Zone 7 Children's Jumpers Reserve Champion … Most accumulated points for the 2025 $50,000 Cherry Capital Equitation Championship … Ran track and field for her high school … Member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and National Athletic Honor Society … Intends to major in Business at Baylor … Daughter to Cristina Payan and Eric Tabanou … Has an older brother, Xavier.
Western
HORSEMANSHIP
Delaney Good – Boone, Iowa – Boone High School
Earned ninth in L1 Horsemanship at the AQHA Congress … Multiple top 10 finishes in Horsemanship and Showmanship at AQHA major shows … Played volleyball and soccer in high school … Earned Honorable Mention for both varsity soccer and volleyball … Member of the National Honor Society … Intends to major in Business at Baylor … Daughter to Wendy and Scott Good … Has a younger brother, Andrew.
Chalen Leibold – Franklin, Pa. – Commonwealth Charter Academy
Three-time YEDA Reserve Nation Champions in Horsemanship … Multiple AQHA Youth All-Around and Reserve high points … Outside of equestrian, she participates in dirt track racing and works for her family business … Volunteers at the Humane Society … Daughter to Chanda and Curtis Bish … Has two older brothers, Kolton and Lenny.
Ava Pope – Wauconda, Ill. – Wauconda High School
2025 NSBA World Champion Novice Youth and Youth 14-18 Showmanship, Reserve World Champion Novice Youth Horsemanship … 2025 AQHYA World Show top 5 finishes in L2 and L3 Showmanship, 10 finish in L1 Horsemanship, top 20 finish in L2 Horsemanship … Several top 10 and Finalist finishes in Horsemanship and Showmanship at the AQHA Level 1 Championship … Two-time YEDA National Champion … Member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America and Student Society … Earned two top five finishes in FBLA contests … Intends to major in Finance and Economics at Baylor … Daughter to Arhlene and Anthony Pope.
REINING
Addison Coats – Smithfield, N.C. – Greenfield School
Multiple NRHA top 10 finishes … 2023 SERHA Main Event Youth Derby Champion … 2023 Florida Reining Classic Derby Champion … 2025 NRHA Derby 14-18 – Top Three … Outside of equestrian, played volleyball for two years in high school … Earned most improved player in Volleyball her freshman year … Related to Mary Margret Coats, reining rider at the University of South Carolina … Her grandfather played baseball at East Carolina University and her great grandfather played baseball at the University of North Caroline … Daughter to Kelly and Stanley Coats … Has three sisters, Mary Margret, Lauren and Avery Coats.
For more information on Baylor Equestrian, follow @BaylorEQ on X, Instagram and Facebook.
Head Coach Casie Maxwell brings on four Jumping Seat riders along with four for Western, including one Reiner and three for Horsemanship.
"We are very excited about the 2026 recruiting class and what they will bring to our program," said Maxwell. "These ladies bring great energy and experiences with them that can really help enhance our program. They found their 'home' in the Baylor community and we can't wait to help them grow during their time with us."
Jumping Seat
Ava Berman – Baltimore, Md. – Garrison Forest
2025 National Horse Show Reserve Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunters 16-17 … 2025 Devon Horse Show Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunters … 2024 Pennslyvania National Horse Show Reserve Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under … 2024 Capital Challenge Reserve Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under … 2024 Junior Hunter Finals Reserve Champion 3'3 Large Junior Hunter 15 & Under … 2022 American Gold Cup 3'3 Junior Hunter Classic Winner … 2021 NAL Children's Hunter Finals Winner … 2020 Capital Challenge Champion Children's Hunters … Volunteers as a camp helper and at blood drives … Intends to major in Interior Design at Baylor … Related to Jason Berman, president of A/Vantage Pictures and a movie producer … Daughter to Heidi Kenny-Berman and Steven Berman … Has three older siblings, Jason Berman, Erin Berman-Welsh and Ben Berman.
Scarlett Heller – Westlake Village, Calif. – Greenways Academy
Earned third place at the 2025 SCHSA Challenge Medal Finals … Earbed third place at the 2025 USHJA 3'3 Jumping Seat Finals … Multiple top finishes at major USEF rated shows … Outside of equestrian, plays tennis … Volunteers with the Cancer Cartel Foundation by offering riding lesson experience for charity … Intends to major in Apparel Merchandising at Baylor … Related to Heather Heller, Grammy and MTV VMA award-winning producer … Daughter to Heather and Terry Heller … Has two older siblings, Julian and Ashley Heller.
Lily Stewart – Carbondale, Colo. – ICL Academy
2024 USHJA Hunt Seat Finals Top 15 … 2024 Vegas National Horse Show Reserve Champion Large Junior Hunters 15 & Under … 2024 Desert International Horse Park Circuit Champion Large Junior Hunters 15 & Under … 2023 Recipient USHJA Emerging Athletes Program … Volunteers at Angel Tree and CWHJA Horse Shows … Intends to major in Business at Baylor … Related to Jackson Stewart, golfer at Rollins College … Her grandfather played golf at the University of Miami and her uncle played golf at Rollins College … Daughter to Cresta and Travis Stewart … Has an older brother, Jackson Stewart.
Xia Tabanou – Rosehill, Texas – Rosehill Christian School
2025 Hamel Foundation NHS 3'3 Region 4 Champion … 2025 National Horse Show Reserve Champion 16-17 Age Equitation … 2022 USHJA Zone 7 Children's Jumpers Reserve Champion … Most accumulated points for the 2025 $50,000 Cherry Capital Equitation Championship … Ran track and field for her high school … Member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society and National Athletic Honor Society … Intends to major in Business at Baylor … Daughter to Cristina Payan and Eric Tabanou … Has an older brother, Xavier.
Western
HORSEMANSHIP
Delaney Good – Boone, Iowa – Boone High School
Earned ninth in L1 Horsemanship at the AQHA Congress … Multiple top 10 finishes in Horsemanship and Showmanship at AQHA major shows … Played volleyball and soccer in high school … Earned Honorable Mention for both varsity soccer and volleyball … Member of the National Honor Society … Intends to major in Business at Baylor … Daughter to Wendy and Scott Good … Has a younger brother, Andrew.
Chalen Leibold – Franklin, Pa. – Commonwealth Charter Academy
Three-time YEDA Reserve Nation Champions in Horsemanship … Multiple AQHA Youth All-Around and Reserve high points … Outside of equestrian, she participates in dirt track racing and works for her family business … Volunteers at the Humane Society … Daughter to Chanda and Curtis Bish … Has two older brothers, Kolton and Lenny.
Ava Pope – Wauconda, Ill. – Wauconda High School
2025 NSBA World Champion Novice Youth and Youth 14-18 Showmanship, Reserve World Champion Novice Youth Horsemanship … 2025 AQHYA World Show top 5 finishes in L2 and L3 Showmanship, 10 finish in L1 Horsemanship, top 20 finish in L2 Horsemanship … Several top 10 and Finalist finishes in Horsemanship and Showmanship at the AQHA Level 1 Championship … Two-time YEDA National Champion … Member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America and Student Society … Earned two top five finishes in FBLA contests … Intends to major in Finance and Economics at Baylor … Daughter to Arhlene and Anthony Pope.
REINING
Addison Coats – Smithfield, N.C. – Greenfield School
Multiple NRHA top 10 finishes … 2023 SERHA Main Event Youth Derby Champion … 2023 Florida Reining Classic Derby Champion … 2025 NRHA Derby 14-18 – Top Three … Outside of equestrian, played volleyball for two years in high school … Earned most improved player in Volleyball her freshman year … Related to Mary Margret Coats, reining rider at the University of South Carolina … Her grandfather played baseball at East Carolina University and her great grandfather played baseball at the University of North Caroline … Daughter to Kelly and Stanley Coats … Has three sisters, Mary Margret, Lauren and Avery Coats.
For more information on Baylor Equestrian, follow @BaylorEQ on X, Instagram and Facebook.
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