Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State Equestrian Signs Five for 2009-10
December 01, 2008 | Cowgirl Equestrian
Oklahoma State Equestrian Signs Five for 2009-10
The Oklahoma State Equestrian team signed five student-athletes that will join the team next fall in their 2009 recruiting class. The Cowgirls look to add talent and experience, while increasing their depth to compete at the highest level. The class consists of four Western riders and one English rider.Â
"We are very excited about these five young ladies,” said OSU Coach Larry Sanchez. “They have had very successful youth careers and understand what teamwork is all about. They are exactly what we are looking for as the future of our team."
Marissa Dalton- Wooster, Ohio (Horsemanship)
Joining the Cowgirls next fall is Wooster, Ohio native Marissa Dalton.  Dalton was a member of the 2008 World Cup team, representing the United States in London, Ontario, Canada last July, and brought home Gold Medals in Horsemanship and Showmanship.  Marissa has multiple All-American Quarter Horse Congress Championships and Reserve Championships, winning in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and placed in the Top Ten in all events shown at the 2008 Congress.  Dalton also has multiple Top 10 placings at the AQHYA World Championships, where she competed from 2004- 2007. She's won multiple Futurity Championships and numerous All-Around Championships within the American Quarter Horse Association. Marissa is the daughter of David and Pamela Dalton.
Lauren Halvorson- Guthrie, Okla. (Horsemanship)
Lauren Halvorson, the reigning 2008 All-American Quarter Horse Congress 15-18 All-Around Champion, will be joining the Cowgirls next season. Â She achieved the All-Around by placing third in Hunt Seat Equitation, fourth in Western Horsemanship and fifth in Hunter Under Saddle. Â Halvorson also had success this year by leading the Congress Grand Champion Youth Mare and rode Good Investing to the NSBA Reserve World Championship in Youth Hunter-Under Saddle.
Halvorson has been competitive nationally for many years, making the finals at the American Quarter Horse Youth World Championships and earning multiple Top 10 finishes at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress. Â She has earned Superiors in Western Horsemanship and Western Riding on two different horses, as well as a Superior in Showmanship.
Lauren is from Guthrie, Oklahoma, and is the daughter of Wayne and Rebecca Halvorson, who are both judges within the American Quarter Horse Association.
Christy McElreath-Â Prosper, Texas (Reiner)
The 2008 Southwest Reining Horse Association Youth Futurity Champion, Christy McElreath, will be joining the Cowgirl roster in August of 2009. McElreath brings a wealth of experience to Oklahoma State Equestrian as she has competed on a National level for many years. She placed third at the AQHYA World Championships in 2007 and 2008. She also was the 2006 and 2007 Year End High Point Reining Champion for the AQHA. The Prosper, Texas native has also been successful within the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA). Christy was Co-Champion at the 2008 NRHA Derby and was the NRHA Derby Youth Champion in 2007. She was also champion at the 2007 Rocky Mountain Reining Horse Association Summer-Slide and 2007 Southwest Reining Horse Association Futurity. She has won numerous Circuit Championships in Reining and showed her diversity by also competing in All-Around events during her youth career. Christy is a Board Member of the Texas Quarter Horse Youth Association and is the daughter of John and Druann McElreath.
Taylor New- Anna, Texas (Reiner)
Taylor New from Anna, Texas will graduate at the top of her class in the spring of 2009. She has competed in reining for six years, qualified for the AQHYA World Show the past three years and placed fifth at the '07 world show. She is a two-time Texas State 4-H reining champion, and won the 2008 high point for the South West Reining Horse Association. She is president of her Senior Class, president of AHS Beta Club, runs cross country and track and plays flute in the band. She has been an active member of 4-H for seven years and is currently serving as President of District IV on the Texas State 4-H Council. Her parents are Rick and Rosie New.
Ellie Sparks- Winnetka, Ill. (Hunter Seat)
Joining the Cowgirls this fall for the hunt seat team is Illinois native Ellie Sparks. Sparks brings extensive experience in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings to the OSU roster. After a very successful start in her early years in the medium ponies, Sparks moved through the Children's Hunter ranks and then onto the Junior Jumpers and the Equitation Medals. She has competed at USEF Pony Finals, the Washington International Horse Show, USEF Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Finals. She has earned numerous titles within the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association, including year end awards and several top finishes in the equitation medals. Ellie earned prestigious wins at Ledges Horse Show in Rosco, Illinois, in the ASPCA Maclay and the USEF Pessoa Medal, as well as several top-five finishes at The Kentucky Spring Horse Show in Lexington, Kentucky, and Traders Point Horse Show in Zionsville, Indiana. Ellie is the daughter of Virginia and Tom Sparks and will graduate from New Trier High School this spring.
