Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Equestrian Hosts Third-Ranked Horned Frogs
February 19, 2015 | Cowgirl Equestrian
STILLWATER -
The Basics
The Cowgirl equestrian team will continue its four-meet homestand this Saturday, Feb. 21, when it hosts the third-ranked TCU Horned Frogs at 10 a.m.
About the Cowgirls
The Cowgirls (2-4, 1-3 Big 12) are led by 16th-year head coach Larry Sanchez, eighth year assistant coach Kayla Hrencher and second year assistant coach Stacy Sanderson. The Cowgirls are coming off a tough 13-7 win over then-No. 9 Kansas State in Stillwater earlier this month. The Cowgirls are 2-1 at Animal Science Arena this season and will be competing in the third meet of a four-meet homestand this weekend.
About the Horned Frogs
The TCU Horned Frogs (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) are led my second-year director of equestrian Haley Schoolfield, fourth-year hunt seat head coach Logan Fiorentino and sixth-yeah western head coach Kindel Walter. The Horned Frogs enter the weekend coming off an 11-9 home loss to top-ranked Baylor in Fort Worth last weekend. TCU will travel to Manhattan, Kan., on Friday to take on Kansas State before making the trek to Stillwater for Saturday morning's meet. The Horned Frogs are 3-1 in meets away from Fort Worth this season.
Last Time Out
The Oklahoma State equestrian team snagged its first Big 12 win of the season on Saturday, Feb. 7, defeating ninth-ranked Kansas State, 13-7.
The Cowgirls (2-4, 1-3 Big 12) rolled over the Wildcats in equitation over fences to start the day, taking the event, 4-1. Cowgirl sophomore Maggie Drysch picked up MOP (Most Outstanding Performer) honors in her second competition of the season with an 86-82 victory over Kansas State's Henley Adkins. Maggie Gampfer, Jorden Davis and Carly Barrick each came up with wins for the Cowgirls as well. Gampfer and Barrick each edged their respective opponents, 84-83. Davis took the 82-80 win over Kansas State's Madison Wayda.
In equitation, Cowgirls Kendall Pedigo, Amy White and Katie Jones were triumphant, leading Oklahoma State to a 3-2 in the event. Pedigo downed Kansas State's Gretchen Koenen, 87-81. White scored an 87 on her ride as well, besting Henley Adkins's 82-point score. Jones sealed the victory in equitation for the Cowgirls, defeating Madison Wayda, 85-82. Kansas State's Taylor Schmidt took home MOP honors after defeating Cowgirl Jorden Davis, 86-74.
The Cowgirl horsemanship team moved to a perfect 6-0 on the season on Saturday after taking the event, 3-2. Senior Lindsey McMullen won MOP honors for the event and remained perfect on the season as well. McMullen handled Kansas State's Alyssa Lombardi, 75-66, to capture her sixth win of the season. Cowgirl Katy Krshka defeated Kelsey Sousa, 74.5-70, before Miranda Reed clinched the event for Oklahoma State in a 71.5-65 triumph.
In reining, Krshka earned her sixth-overall MOP honor of the season with a 72-71.5 win over Brynn Critcher to clinch the 3-2 win in the event for the Cowgirls. Cowgirl Danielle Cohen picked up her third win of the season with a 72-69 victory over Nicholle Hatton. Justine Peters edged Kansas State's Jessica Johns, 68-67.5 in her first action of the season.
In the Rankings
The Oklahoma State equestrian team remained slotted at No. 9 in this week's team rankings released by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association on Tuesday.
The Big 12 is strongly represented in this week's rankings, with three of the conference's four teams appearing in the poll. Baylor once again holds the top spot in the rankings, while TCU dropped one spot to No. 3 this week.
An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Move the Cowgirls to 3-1 in Stillwater this season.
• Be the second-straight conference win for the Cowgirls.
• Be the first Cowgirl win over a top-five opponent this season.
• Move the Cowgirls to 6-7 in the overall series with the Horned Frogs.
• Be the fourth win over TCU in Stillwater, moving the Cowgirls' record against the Horned Frogs in Stillwater to 4-1.
The Series
The Horned Frogs currently hold a 7-5 advantage in the overall series between these two programs. TCU took the last meeting, 11-7, in Fort Worth. The last Cowgirl win came in a 2013 matchup in Stillwater, where the Cowgirls took the meet handily, 14-5. The Cowgirls are 3-1 against the Horned Frogs in Stillwater.
Riders of the Month
Oklahoma State equestrian senior Katy Krshka was named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Rider of the Month in horsemanship and the Big 12 Conference Rider of the Month in horsemanship for the month of November.
Krshka was impressive in horsemanship in the month of November, racking up a 3-0 record in the discipline while averaging a score of 74.7 points and picking up one Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) honor. Krshka defeated TCU's Rylee Morgan, 72.5-71, to pick up her first win of the month before knocking off Kirsten Chamberland, 74.5-71.5, in the Cowgirls' meet against Kansas State.
Krshka had her best showing in horsemanship yet this season in the Pokes' matchup with South Carolina on Nov. 21, posting a score of 77 in her ride against Samantha Chiodo to pick up MOP honors and help the Cowgirls notch a 3-2 win in the event.
Home, Sweet Home
Saturday's meet will be the third contest of a four-meet homestand in Stillwater for the Cowgirls. After a tough loss to South Carolina to start the homestand, followed by a win over No. 9 Kansas State, the Cowgirls have a meet with conference foes TCU and Baylor remaining. The Cowgirls won't go on the road again until March 8, 2015, when they take on SMU in Dallas, Texas.
Success in Horsemanship
The Cowgirls have yet to be beaten in the horsemanship event this season, tallying an undefeated 6-0 record. The Oklahoma State horsemanship team is led by senior Lindsey McMullen (6-0) and senior Katy Krshka (5-1).
Super Seniors
Western riders Katy Krshka and Lindsey McMullen have been big for the Cowgirls so far this year. The two seniors have notched a combined 15-2 overall record. McMullen is an undefeated 6-0 in the horsemanship event, while Krshka is an impressive 10-2 overall with a 5-1 record in both horsemanship and reining. Krshka has also picked up six total MOP honors this season.
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.
