Oklahoma State University Athletics
Hunt Seat And Western Equestrian Teams Advance To Nationals
April 01, 2000 | Cowgirl Equestrian
April 1, 2000
CANYON, Texas - Nine members of Oklahoma State's Cowgirl equestrian team qualified for nationals as individuals, and both the hunt seat and the western teams also advanced to the national show by winning the zone show in Canyon, Texas this afternoon.
This is the second time that Oklahoma State has qualified a western team for nationals and the first time that a hunt seat team will compete in the national show in the two-year history of the varsity program.
The top two riders in each class in the individual competition will also qualify to compete in the national show, which will be held May 12-14 in Atlanta, Ga.
"Going into this year, our goal was to take both teams to nationals," head coach Larry Sanchez said. "Accomplishing this goal is a great feeling. It's not common for schools to take both a western and a hunt seat team.
"We're thrilled with what the girls have done this year."
In the western team competition, Oklahoma State scored 27 points, earning a first place finish. Texas A&M finished second with 26 points, and New Mexico State and Colorado State were tied for third with 21.
In the western show, a representative from OSU won every class in the individual competition. Allysa Allen placed first in open western horsemanship, and Trista Armstrong was the individual champion in the reining competition. In advanced western horsemanship, Megan Walentine placed first and Stephanie Hefley placed second. Amy Eastty placed first in intermediate western horsemanship, and Amy Allen took top honors in the beginning western horsemanship competition. Casie Cavanaugh also won the beginning horsemanship class in the team competition.
In the individual hunt seat competition, three riders will advance to nationals. Audrey Buck placed second in the open fences class, and Jackie Skibicki finished second in the open flat class. Jennifer Baughman also placed second in the walk-trot-canter class.
In the team hunt seat competition, the Cowgirls competed head-to-head with Colorado State, who placed second in the national show last year. Oklahoma State won six of the eight classes in the show. Audrey Buck finished first in the open fences class, Jackie Skibicki placed first in the intermediate fences class, and Amber Burnett won the novice fences class. Kristen Thomas won the intermediate flat class, Amy Eastty placed first in the novice flat class, and Amber Higgins took top honors in the walk-trot-canter class.
