Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Open Season Against South Dakota State
September 25, 2014 | Cowgirl Equestrian
Sept. 25, 2014
STILLWATER -
The Basics
The Cowgirl equestrian team will open the 2014-15 season when they host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Animal Science Arena in Stillwater this Saturday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m.
About the Cowgirls
The Cowgirls are led by 16th-year head coach Larry Sanchez, eighth year assistant coach Kayla Hrencher and second year assistant coach Stacy Sanderson. This season, the team returns 21 riders from last season, including four All-Americans (Jorden Davis, Katy Krshka, Lindsey McMullen and Justine Peters) and three All-Big 12 recipients (Davis, Krshka, McMullen). The Cowgirls look to match a successful 2013-14 campaign that saw the team notch a 10-4 overall record and take home its fourth Big 12 Conference championship.
About the Jackrabbits
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are led by fourth-year head coach Megan Rossiter and first year assistant coach Ellie Wilkins. The Jackrabbits will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2013-14 season in which the squad posted a 3-9 overall record. Last season, South Dakota State was winless in matches played away from the DeHaan Equestrian Center, tallying an 0-7 record. The Jackrabbits return 35 riders from last season.
In the NCEA Rankings
The Oklahoma State Equestrian team will kick off the 2014-15 season as the second-ranked team in the nation, according to the National Collegiate Equestrian Association rankings released on Tuesday.
All four Big 12 teams make an appearance in the initial rankings. Oklahoma State leads the pack (No. 3), followed by Kansas State (No. 5), Baylor (No. 6) and TCU (No. 7). The Cowgirls will also face ranked squads South Carolina (No. 4) and SMU (No. 10) in nonconference action during the team's 2014-15 campaign.
Last Time Out
The Cowgirls wrapped up their 2013-14 season last April with a tough, 8-6 loss against the third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs in the semifinals of the NCEA Championships in Waco, Texas. The Cowgirls defeated Georgia, 5-2, in the Western events behind wins from Jenna Blumer, Lauren Halvorson, Katy Krshka, Lindsey McMullen and Justine Peters, but the Bulldogs were too much to handle in the hunter seat discipline, shutting out the Cowgirls in equitation over fences and taking a 3-1 victory in equitation on the flat.
An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Push the Cowgirls to their first 1-0 start since the 2011-12 season.
• Improve the Cowgirls' record in home openers since the 2006-07 season to 8-0.
• Mark the Cowgirls' third-straight win over the Jackrabbits, pushing the squad's record against South Dakota State to 3-0.
• Be the Cowgirls' 12th-straight win in Stillwater.
• Push the Cowgirls' record in season openers since the 2006-07 season to 7-2.
The Series
The Cowgirls are 2-0 in meets agaist South Dakota State, and 1-0 in meets taking place in Stillwater. Last season when the Cowgirls and Jackrabbits clashed, Oklahoma State came out with the 15-3 win. Cowgirls Sammy Elser, Lindsey McMullen and Katy Krshka each garnered Most Outstanding Performer honors in the victory.
2013-14 Wrap-Up
The Cowgirls are coming off a successful 2013-14 season that saw the team take home its third-straight Big 12 championship with a win over Baylor in the conference championship match in Waco, Texas. The 2013-14 roster boasted seven All-Americans, five All-Big 12 recipients and four riders on the All-NCEA Championship Team.
Cowgirls in Season Openers
The Cowgirls have been impressive in season openers over the last several seasons. Since the 2006-07 season the team has posted a 6-2 record in season openers. Oklahoma State has not lost a home opener during that time span, going 8-0 in those meets.
On Saturday, the Cowgirls will be looking to start their season 1-0 for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
Cowgirls at Home
The Cowgirls are currently riding an impressive 11-meet winning streak in Stillwater. The last time the Cowgirls lost within the confines of Animal Science Arena was Nov. 3, 2012, in a 10-9 loss to TCU.
Oklahoma State currently holds the second-longest active home winning streak in the nation with 11 wins. Kansas State's victory over No. 2 South Carolina last weekend gave the Wildcats their 12th-straight victory at home.
Lucky Number Three
The Cowgirls' win over Baylor in last season's Big 12 Championship brought the team its third-consecutive Big 12 Championship. With the win, the squad became the first team in Big 12 history to win three-straight equestrian titles.
The championship was the program's fourth overall, with the first coming in 2009.
