Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Equestrian Set for Big 12 Home Opener
February 05, 2015 | Cowgirl Equestrian
STILLWATER -
The Basics
The Cowgirl equestrian team will continue its four-meet homestand this Saturday, Feb. 7, when it hosts the 9th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats at Animal Science Arena at 10 a.m.
About the Cowgirls
The Cowgirls (1-4, 0-3 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 12-8 loss to No. 3 South Carolina in Stillwater in November. The Cowgirls are 1-1 at Animal Science Arena this season and will open their home conference schedule this weekend.
About the Wildcats
The Kansas State Widcats (5-6, 1-2 Big 12) are led by sixth-year head coach Casie Maxwell, assistant coach Anna Becker and assistant coach Kate Chesley. The Wildcats have lost six-straight meets since knocking off the Cowgirls in Manhattan, and are coming off a tough road trip to Martin, Tenn., last weekend where the team dropped an 11-9 contest to Tennessee-Martin and lost 14-4 the following day to fifth-ranked Georgia. The Wildcats are 0-6 overall and 0-2 in Big 12 play away from Manhattan this season.
Last Time Out
The Oklahoma State equestrian team fell, 12-8, to third-ranked South Carolina at Animal Science Arena on Friday, Nov. 21.
The meet opened up in equitation over fences, where the Gamecocks edged the Cowgirls, 3-2. Freshman Carly Barrick notched the first point of the meet when she defeated South Carolina's Katherine Schmidt, 81-79. Senior Allie Joyce bumped her record in fences to 4-1 after knocking off Alexa Anthony, 80-79.
Equitation went the same way for the Cowgirls on Friday, with the Gamecocks taking a 3-2 advantage. Junior Amy White came up victorious for the Cowgirls with a 79-77 win over Amber Henter. Sophomore Jorden Davis took a 77-71 victory to score the Cowgirls' other point.
The Cowgirls remained perfect in horsemanship this season with a 3-2 win on Friday. Katy Krshka led the Cowgirls, defeating Samantha Chiodo, 77-74, to earn her second MOP (Most Outstanding Performer) honor in horsemanship this year, and her fifth overall. Lindsey McMullen moved to 5-0 this season with her 75.5-71 triumph over Bailey Mierzejewski. Paris Nottingham sealed the Cowgirl victory in horsemanship after downing Courtney Allen, 72-64, boosting her record to 4-1.
The Gamecocks were too much for the young Cowgirls to handle in reining, defeating the Pokes, 4-1, to clinch the meet victory. Freshman Ebba Lange notched the lone Cowgirl point in the event, defeating Paisley Roberts 71-61.5.
An Oklahoma State Win Would...
• Move the Cowgirls to 2-1 in Stillwater this season.
• Be the first conference win for the Cowgirls this season.
• Be the first Cowgirl win over a ranked opponent this season.
• Move the Cowgirls to 22-10 in the overall series with the Wildcats.
• Be the third Cowgirl victory in the last four meetings with the Wildcats.
• Be the eighth win over Kansas State in Stillwater, moving the Cowgirls' record against the Wildcats in Stillwater to 8-1.
The Series
The Cowgirls currently hold a 21-10 advantage in the overall series with the Wildcats. Kansas State was triumphant in the last meeting between the two teams, however, knocking off the Cowgirls in a 12-8 victory in Manhattan in November. The last Cowgirl victory came in Stillwater during the 2013-14 season. Oklahoma State notched a 13-6 victory in that contest at Animal Science Arena. The Cowgirls are 7-1 at home and 11-6 overall in regular season showdowns against the Wildcats.
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 second of a four-meet homestand in Stillwater for the Cowgirls. After a tough loss to South Carolina to start the homestand, the Cowgirls have a meet with each of the other three Big 12 teams 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 5-0 record. The Oklahoma State horsemanship team is led by senior Lindsey McMullen (5-0), senior Katy Krshka (4-1) and junior Paris Nottingham (4-1).
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 13-2 overall record. McMullen is an undefeated 5-0 in the horsemanship event, while Krshka is an impressive 8-2 overall with a 4-1 record in both horsemanship and reining. Krshka has also picked up three 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.
