Week Three Recap of NCEA Competition

WACO, Texas – There were nine competitions for week three of National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) action; read below to see how it all played out.

The Fresno State/South Dakota State meet was the Meet of the Week for Dual Discipline, while the Lynchburg/Sewanee meet was the Meet of the Week for Single Discipline.

There were upsets in the Oklahoma State/SMU meet as well as UC Davis/South Dakota State.

10/9 – No. 5 TCU Perseveres in 11-8 Victory Over No. 8 Baylor
FORT WORTH, Texas – Despite trailing at multiple moments throughout the meet, the fifth-ranked TCU equestrian team battled back and won six of the final seven points to claim an 11-8 victory over No. 8 Baylor on Thursday at KSM Bear Creek Farms.

Baylor (0-3) started the meet out fast, opening up a commanding 4-1 lead in Fences before the Frogs were able to fight back in Reining to make it a one-point deficit heading into halftime.

The Bears took a 7-5 lead after the first few points of the second half, but TCU (2-0) persevered and claimed six of the last seven across Flat and Horsemanship to take an 11-8 victory over its rivals.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After TCU's Lily Muzzy claimed the first point of the event, Baylor proceeded to rattle off the next four to take an early 4-1 lead over the home team.

The Horned Frogs were able to create a response, taking Reining by a score of 3-1 to cut the deficit to just one entering the halftime break. Picking up wins for TCU in the event was Lannie-Jo Lisac, Cassie Hacking and Anna Clausen, with Hacking earning the first MOP of her career.

Baylor claimed two of the first three points on the Flat, but TCU's Victoria Zahorik and Lilly Goldstein each earned a point to give TCU some momentum closing the meet.

In the final event, the Frogs took four of five points in Horsemanship to earn the victory. Picking up wins for TCU in the event was Sydney Feager, Tatum Keller, Piper Keller and Haylee Martin, with Tatum Keller earning the MOP accolade.

FROG FACTS

Julia Nickl and Haylee Martin made their official collegiate debuts for the Horned Frogs on Thursday, and Calla Thomas made her Reining debut.
TCU is now 16-26 all time against Baylor.
TCU has now won 24 consecutive regular season home meets, the longest active streak in the NCEA.
TCU is 2-0 for the third time in the last four seasons.
TCU is 2-0 in the Big 12 for the third consecutive season.
Cassie Hacking earned the first win and MOP of her career in Reining.
Anna Clausen tallied the first victory of her career in Reining.
Haylee Martin and Piper Keller earned their first career victories in Horsemanship, and Tatum Keller earned her first Horsemanship MOP.

10/10 – No. 5 Texas A&M Defeats UC Davis, 11-5
DAVIS, Calif. – The No. 5 Texas A&M equestrian team rolled past UC Davis, 11-5, on the road Friday afternoon in its 2025-26 season opener.

The Maroon & White (1-0) jumped to a 3-0 lead in Fences behind points from Logan Thomas (86), Kate Egan (84) and Grace Shipman (85). Thomas’ ride on Glennis earned her MOP honors, the first of her career.

In Horsemanship, Kendall Dirksen and Kaylynn Heitman both scored tame highs of 74.5. Dirksen’s performance on Penny secured her MOP honors. Kaitlyn Bloom (74) and Meagan Braun (72.5) picked up the other two points to complete a 4-0 sweep.

Following the break, Egan (80), Londyn Samlaska (75) and Shipman (77) picked up points in Flat to extend Texas A&M’s lead to 10-2. The Maroon & White closed out the meet with one more point in Reining from Moriah McQueen (72) on Mr. T.

10/10 – No. 9 Fresno State Opens Season with Dominant Win Over No. 10 South Dakota State
FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 9 Fresno State equestrian team defeated No. 10 South Dakota State 15-4 on Friday afternoon at the Student Horse Center, securing a season-opening win for the second straight year. The win marks Fresno State's largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in program history.

Fresno State swept the Most Outstanding Performer honors on Friday from Brogan Hill (reining), Abby Goddard (horsemanship), Paloma Primavera (fences) and Paris Mahoney (flat).

How it happened
Fresno State opened the meet with a 5-0 sweep in the fences with points from Primavera, Mahoney, Bridey Jones, Molly Stewart and Sage Lindvall. Primavera earned her MOP with a career-high 88 to her opponent's 81. Lindvall also scored a career-high in the event with a 87-84 win. No Bulldog in the fences lineup scored lower than an 80 on Friday.

In the horsemanship, the Bulldogs saw an MOP ride from Goddard with a 76.5-70 showing. Senior Shelby Robinette competed in her first career horsemanship ride, and won her point with a 76.5-73 win. Emma Hanson also won her point for the 'Dogs as Fresno State extended its lead to 8-2 at the intermission.

Fresno State also had the upper hand in reining, defeating the Jackrabbits 3-1-1 with a tie by Adrianna Runzo (69.5). Hill earned the MOP with a 71.5-69.5 ride. Alana Becker and Robinette also picked up points in the event.

In the flat, the Bulldogs picked up four more points to close out the meet. Mahoney earned her fourth career flat MOP with a 88-75 win. Autumn Bradbury, Lindvall and Stewart also picked up wins for the 'Dogs.

10/10 – No. 1 Lynchburg Takes Down No. 5 Sewanee, 7-3
SEWANEE, Tenn. - The University of Lynchburg NCEA equestrian team took a trip to the University of the South to match up against the Tigers and earned a 7-3 victory on Friday afternoon.

The No. 1 Hornets (3-0) remain undefeated in the young season with today's triumph over No. 5 Sewanee (0-1). Lynchburg had its best performance of the season in fences, claiming all five team points, and followed up with two team points in flat to secure the victory.

Mary Katherine Ragsdale earned MOP in fences with a score of 86 riding Tuck. Stella Patenaude was close behind, receiving a score of 85 riding Ben. Madeline Rubin claimed a solid score of 83 riding Pepper, while Rebecca Collier hit a mark of 80 riding Gordy. Amaya Bellfield nipped her opponent by one point with a score of 79 riding Carl.

In flat, Sewanee's Piper Nelson was awarded a score of 87 riding Archie to earn MOP in the event. Abigail Devlin matched her score with an 87 riding Dekkar to earn a team point. Abby Zemp beat out her opponent by two with a score of 76 riding Chip for the team's final point of the competition.

Collier followed up her fences performance with another 80 riding Ben in flat, but was edged out by her foe on the Tigers by one point. Ella Neyland received a score of 78 riding Archie, while Bellfield was given a score of 66 riding Frankie.

10/10 – No. 7 OSU Equestrian Takes Down No. 4 SMU
STILLWATER, Okla. — Oklahoma State's seventh-ranked equestrian team defeated SMU's fourth-ranked squad Friday afternoon at Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center by a score of 12-8.

With the win, the Cowgirls improved to 1-1 on the early season while the Mustangs fell to 0-2. In their history, the Cowgirls now have a 14-9 lead and an 8-1 home advantage.

Cadence Kueker shined for the Cowgirls, earning her first career MOP after an 87.5 score in Flat.

The meet began with Fences and Horsemanship.

The Cowgirl Fences team set the tone for the rest of the day, defeating SMU's squad 4-1. Emma Hechtman, Bella Holway, Blake Rowan and Lauren Gee all secured points for the Pokes while the lone Cowgirl to not earn a win, Ellie DuPuis, finished with an impressive score of an 86. Holway earned her third win in the first two meets with a mark of 87, the highest of any OSU Fences rider on the day and the highest of her career. Hechtman, Rowan and Gee all secured their first points of the season and for the latter two — the first of their career. Hechtman scored an 82.5, Rowan a 76.5 and Gee an 84.5.

In Horsemanship, the unit's captain June Roberson had a stellar day with a score of 78 — narrowly missing her career-high mark of 78.5. The win gives Roberson 29 on her career. Overall, the Cowgirls had a 3-2 advantage over the Mustangs with Alana Tietz and Jalyn McElmurray also getting points. McElmurray's 73.25 was good for her career-best.

The afternoon continued with Flat and Reining.

The Cowgirls lost a tight Flat competition, with SMU taking it 3-2. Kueker and freshman Sophia Tabasso were the point-scorers for OSU — both earning their first career wins. Tabasso nudged out SMU's Caroline Signorino 70.5-69.5, while Kueker won handily, 87.5-79.5. Kueker earned the lone MOP for the Cowgirls on the day.

The Cowgirl Reining squad finished the afternoon withe a 3-2 win over SMU's unit. Ava Bush outscored Addi Schmersal 71.75-68.5, securing her second point of the season. Freshman Ayden Welman also took home her second win in as many competitions, getting off to a great start to her career. Welman won her ride 71-69. Emma Filiatreau rounded out the afternoon with a 71.5-68.75 win. Filiatreau was the recipient of last week's MOP against TCU and has earned a point in four-straight competitions, dating back to last season.

10/11 – No. 1 Georgia Defeats Delaware State, Centenary
FELTON, Del. – The No. 1 University of Georgia equestrian team defeated Delaware State, 11-8, and Centenary, 7-1, on Friday in Felton, Delaware at Red Wood Farm.

Fast Facts

The Bulldogs defeated Delaware State 4-1 in Fences to open up the meet. Tessa Downey rode to an 85 to win her point, leading Georgia in scoring for the event.
Delaware State edged out Georgia 3-2 in Horsemanship. Abbey Zawisza secured a score of 78 to win her point, receiving her first Most Outstanding Performer honor.
Delaware State outscored the Bulldogs in Flat 3-1. Tessa Brown earned the point for Georgia with a 69.

The Mane Dogs overtook the Hornets 4-1 in Reining. Raegan Shepherd earned the highest score of the day, with a 70.5.
Five Bulldogs were recognized with Most Outstanding Performer honors. Abbey Zawisza, Liza Cram, Raegan Shepherd and Maggie Bresch earned MOP nods, while Tessa Downey earned her third career accolade in Fences.
Georgia swept the Fences event against Centenary, 4-0, in a Jumping Seat only meet. Liza Cram and Madison Nadolenco added scores of 84 to lead the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs secured the win against Centenary with a 3-1 victory in the Flat event. Senior Maggie Bresch rode to a score of 78, leading Georgia in scoring.

10/11 – UC Davis Collects First Win Of The Season; Knocks Off No. 10 South Dakota State
DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis equestrian bounced back to wrap up its season opening weekend with a victory, taking down No. 10 South Dakota State 12-7 for the first win of new year.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Fences went 4-1 against the Jackrabbits, led by sophomore Anna Donovan and Glennis' top score in the event, securing herself the MOP award for the second meet in a row.

Junior Lauren Kolbe initially battled SDSU's Rudolf while riding Tony, but after losing a shoe a re-ride was called with Ronan, where Kolbe doubled her opponents score, securing her an 82 and gaining a point for the Aggies. Freshman Lily Grosz and sophomore Sabine Close then closed the event by securing 2 more points.

On flat the Aggies went 4-1 again with sophomore Carmen Gonzalez on Otis and Kolbe on Cassie earning the Ags two more points with the highest scores of the event, both a 78. Followed by sophomore Sophia Blake and Cavan Smith ringing in another two points to end the Jumping Seat.

Senior Katya Dundas earned the highest score during Horsemanship while riding Chip, earning a 73.5. Junior Kylie Jacobson and junior Laura Kate Holliday then closed the event by adding another two points to the Aggie scoreboard. Ending the event with a 3-2 score in favor of the Aggies.

In reining senior Mya Clader saddled herself an MOP award and a point for the Aggies with the help of Vinny. Senior Nicole Shroyer while riding GT drew in her event to help the Aggies defend the title.

About the NCEA
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing collegiate equestrian, an emerging NCAA sport for women. In partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the NCEA provides opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level while achieving excellence in academics and athletics.

To stay up to date all year long on all things NCEA Equestrian, follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NCEA_Equestrian and @ncea_eq.

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