Thursday, September 17
Waco, Texas
11 AM
Baylor
8
vs
12
South Dakota State
No. 9 EQ Drops Season Opener to South Dakota State, 12-8
9/17/2026 3:28:00 PM | Equestrian
Bears earn three MOP nods on the afternoon
WACO, Texas – The ninth-ranked Baylor equestrian team dropped its season opener to South Dakota State, 12-8, at the Willis Family Equestrian Center in Waco on Thursday afternoon.
The Bears (0-1) earned an event win in Reining, but it wasn't enough to defeat the Jackrabbits (1-0). Freshman Paulina Bradley (Reining), sophomore Morgan McCarthy (Flat), and junior Nicolette Perry (Fences) all earned Most Outstanding Performer honors, the first of their careers.
THE RUNDOWN
To start the meet, the Bears picked up two points in Flat thanks to junior Grace O'Connell and MOP McCarthy. BU took Reining 3-2 with points being scored by junior Isabelle Hildebrandt, freshman Addison Coats, and MOP Bradley.
At halftime, both teams had five points each heading into Fences and Horsemanship. After the half, MOP Perry and senior Caroline Muth both posted their career highs to each score a point in Fences.
Finishing in Horsemanship, senior Carley Rutledge scored the Bears' sole point in the event. The Jackrabbits won the meet 12-8.
NOTABLES
STAT OF THE MEET
3 - Freshman Paulina Bradley (Reining), sophomore Morgan McCarthy (Flat), and junior Nicolette Perry (Fences) all earned Most Outstanding Performer honors, the first of their careers.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Casie Maxwell
On today's meet…
"I think overall, from a win-loss standpoint, disappointing. It was great to be back and have a home opener that we haven't had in years. We were really excited about that and were looking forward to that opportunity. There's some things that went really well today, but there were definitely some holes that can show this early in the season. With us having a young roster, a third of the team being new and being freshmen, we just had some more holes in what we were doing than what we expected today. Our team will learn from this. They will be fine. We will recover and we will bounce back quickly."
On earning three MOPs of the day…
""I think that's incredible for them. I think that it demonstrates three individuals who rode without fear today and put it on the line. They're each just good horsewomen and demonstrated confidence, especially being at home. So I'm incredibly proud of them and excited to see how they are able to build on that this season."
On Paulina Bradley's phenomenal collegiate debut…
"She did exactly what she was asked to do and exactly what she knows how to do. We added her to the competitive roster late. I told her on Monday that she was competing, so as a freshman, that's mind blowing in itself. She drew a new horse today, so we had no idea what to expect from him. Just a lot of challenges right there, but mentally she was prepared. She trusted her skill set. She was coachable today. She did exactly what she was supposed to do, so we're really excited for her future."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Bears will travel east to Dover, Del. to take on Delaware State and UT Martin on Friday, Oct. 2 in a doubleheader. First rides will start at 7:30 a.m. CT at the Redstone Ranch.
For more information on Baylor Equestrian, follow @BaylorEQ on X, Instagram and Facebook.
The Bears (0-1) earned an event win in Reining, but it wasn't enough to defeat the Jackrabbits (1-0). Freshman Paulina Bradley (Reining), sophomore Morgan McCarthy (Flat), and junior Nicolette Perry (Fences) all earned Most Outstanding Performer honors, the first of their careers.
THE RUNDOWN
To start the meet, the Bears picked up two points in Flat thanks to junior Grace O'Connell and MOP McCarthy. BU took Reining 3-2 with points being scored by junior Isabelle Hildebrandt, freshman Addison Coats, and MOP Bradley.
At halftime, both teams had five points each heading into Fences and Horsemanship. After the half, MOP Perry and senior Caroline Muth both posted their career highs to each score a point in Fences.
Finishing in Horsemanship, senior Carley Rutledge scored the Bears' sole point in the event. The Jackrabbits won the meet 12-8.
NOTABLES
- Eight Bears made their first career start, five of those being freshman.
- Reining junior Isabelle Hildebrant tied her career high of 72 and earned her first career point.
- Jumping Seat senior Caroline Muth scored a career high of 83.5 in Fences and earned her first career point.
- Jumping Seat junior Nicolette Perry collected her first career MOP honor.
- Perry scored a career high of 84.5 and earned her first career point in Fences.
- Jumping Seat sophomore Morgan McCarthy earned her first career MOP honor.
- Reining freshman Paulina Bradley collected her first career MOP.
STAT OF THE MEET
3 - Freshman Paulina Bradley (Reining), sophomore Morgan McCarthy (Flat), and junior Nicolette Perry (Fences) all earned Most Outstanding Performer honors, the first of their careers.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Casie Maxwell
On today's meet…
"I think overall, from a win-loss standpoint, disappointing. It was great to be back and have a home opener that we haven't had in years. We were really excited about that and were looking forward to that opportunity. There's some things that went really well today, but there were definitely some holes that can show this early in the season. With us having a young roster, a third of the team being new and being freshmen, we just had some more holes in what we were doing than what we expected today. Our team will learn from this. They will be fine. We will recover and we will bounce back quickly."
On earning three MOPs of the day…
""I think that's incredible for them. I think that it demonstrates three individuals who rode without fear today and put it on the line. They're each just good horsewomen and demonstrated confidence, especially being at home. So I'm incredibly proud of them and excited to see how they are able to build on that this season."
On Paulina Bradley's phenomenal collegiate debut…
"She did exactly what she was asked to do and exactly what she knows how to do. We added her to the competitive roster late. I told her on Monday that she was competing, so as a freshman, that's mind blowing in itself. She drew a new horse today, so we had no idea what to expect from him. Just a lot of challenges right there, but mentally she was prepared. She trusted her skill set. She was coachable today. She did exactly what she was supposed to do, so we're really excited for her future."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Bears will travel east to Dover, Del. to take on Delaware State and UT Martin on Friday, Oct. 2 in a doubleheader. First rides will start at 7:30 a.m. CT at the Redstone Ranch.
For more information on Baylor Equestrian, follow @BaylorEQ on X, Instagram and Facebook.
- BaylorBears.com -
Players Mentioned
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