Oklahoma State University Athletics
No. 4 Equestrian Opens Season with No. 5 Kansas State
September 25, 2013 | Cowgirl Equestrian
Sept. 25, 2013
STILLWATER, Okla. - The fourth-ranked Oklahoma State equestrian team opens its 2013-14 season this Saturday, Sept. 28, when they take on No. 5 Kansas State (1-1) in Manhattan, Kan., at 10 a.m. at Timbercreek Stables.
The Cowgirls enter the season as the reigning National Collegiate Equestrian Association western national champions and back-to-back Big 12 Champions.
The season opener will be a rematch of last year's NCEA western championship final, when OSU knocked off Kansas State for the 2013 title. The victory gave the Cowgirls their fifth western championship and the first since 2006.
OSU is poised for another stellar season, as they return all six All-Americans from last season's 12-6 squad. All-Americans include seniors Jenna Blumer, Lauren Halvorson and Andrea Robbins, and juniors Katy Krshka, Lindsey McMullen and Allison Joyce. They also return four out of the five riders who helped the Cowgirls capture their fourth NCEA western championship.
Halvorson looks to wrap up her illustrious career by building upon last season's 13-5-1 record. Meanwhile, Krshka looks to continue to be the Cowgirls' dual threat after last season's combined 34-4 record in horsemanship and reining.
In the offseason, the Cowgirls welcomed five newcomers. Freshmen Jorden Davis, Maggie Drysch and Miranda Reed, sophomore Brenna Brawner, and transfer Brooke Klimek, who transferred to OSU after competing in track and field at the University of Central Oklahoma for two years.
The Cowgirls also welcomed new hunter seat coach Stacy Sanderson, who came to OSU after three seasons at Baylor. While there, she coached the hunter seat team to the 2012 NCEA hunter seat title and earned herself the first ever NCEA Coach of the Year award.
Saturday's competition will be the first of four fall dates, including two home meets on Nov. 2 against South Dakota State and Nov. 16 against Texas Christian. Both meets are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at Animal Science Arena.
The 2014 Big 12 Championships will take place March 28 and 29 and the NCEA Championships will take place April 17-19 in Waco, Texas. This will mark the first year one championship will be contested, rather than separate championships by disciplines.
Fans will be able to follow the action on twitter at @OSUEquestrian.
