Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Baylor
Cowgirl Equestrian At VENC, Recap Day Three
April 16, 2011 | Cowgirl Equestrian
April 16, 2011
WACO, Texas -- The Oklahoma State equestrian team wrapped up the 2011 Varsity Equestrian National Championships with a fourth place finish in the hunter seat and a fifth place finish in western competition at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas Saturday.
The western team defeated South Carolina on the western side, 4-3, in the fifth-place consolation bracket matchup. The reining team earned a 2-1 victory over the Gamecocks, thanks to a pair of clutch performances by Rachel Houchin and Bri Parnell. Houchin earned the highest score of the day for the Cowgirls in the discipline, winning her head-to-head matchup 141-138.5. The win was her second in three tries at VENC this year. Parnell earned a 139.5-132 victory for the Pokes to secure the win.
On the horsemanship side Courtney Whitacre and Marissa Dalton earned the two head-to-head wins needed to secure the overall victory. Whitacre's 145.5-137 win was her second of the week, while Dalton capped off a perfect 3-0 VENC record by outdoing her opponent 155.5-144.
"I'm proud of the way the girls rode this week," coach Larry Sanchez said. "I'm happy to leave nationals with a 2-1 record and go out on a win."
The hunter seat team fell to the Baylor Bears, 6-1, in the third-place consolation bracket matchup, finishing the week with a fourth place finish. Jordan White picked up the lone victory for the Cowgirls in equitation on the flat, winning 160-155.
"We are really pleased with the fourth place finish," hunter seat coach Suzanne Flaig said. "It's been difficult to break that threshold into the top four so that is definitely an accomplishment and something that is a result of not just this weekend but of the entire season."
This year's team will return 11 of this year's 15 VENC starters next season.
"We are very young this year and will be returning several starters," Sanchez said. "Our girls are already looking forward to next season and are hungry to improve on their successes of this season."
Players Mentioned
