Cowgirl Equestrian Set To Compete At NCEA National Championships

Updated Rider Statistics

The Basics

Oklahoma State's second-ranked equestrian team is set to compete at the NCEA Equestrian National Championships this weekend at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas. The Cowgirls open with semifinal action Thursday at 10 a.m. against Fresno State.

OSU is 8-1 all-time against Fresno State, including a 2-0 mark at neutral sites.

The Cowgirls (6-1 overall, 6-1 Big 12) enter the event fresh off their victory at the Big 12 Championship and with only No. 1 Auburn seeded ahead of them. Georgia follows OSU at No. 3. The SMU Mustangs remained at No. 4 after taking the inaugural ECAC title.

Texas A&M stands at No. 5 with the TCU jumping up to No. 6 after claiming Big 12 runner-up honors. Closing out the top eight are Fresno State at No. 7 and Baylor at No. 8.

Outside of the top eight, four teams are designated as replacement teams for the championship. If a team has to withdraw from championship play due to COVID-19 related issues, a replacement team will fill their spot in the bracket. The deadline for teams to be replaced is April 6. After April 6, if a team is unable to play, the competition will be counted as a "no contest" and the opponent will automatically advance.

The Cowgirls at the NCEA Championships

OSU is on a quest for the program's sixth national title and first since the 2013 season. Last season, the NCEA Championship was canceled due to COVID-19. The last time OSU competed for a national title was the 2018-19 season when the Cowgirls were 8-7 on the year and defeated SMU, 8-6, before losing in the quarterfinals meet to Auburn, 11-5.

About the Cowgirls

The Cowgirls are led by 22nd-year head coach Larry Sanchez, second-year assistants Laura Brainard and Olivia Dorey and graduate assistant Caroline Becker.

Who to Watch

"I could not be more excited about the depth and maturity of our team this year," head coach Larry Sanchez said. "Our senior class has shown great leadership throughout this year, and the entire team cannot wait to compete this weekend."

Katie Schell earned All-American honors in Fences this season after going 6-1 on the year. She opened the season with MOP honors at TCU followed by finishing the regular season undefeated in Fences before going 1-1 at the Big 12 Championships. In Flat, Schell heads into the NCEA Championships with a 4-2-1 record.

Team Captain and three-time NCEA All-American Abigail Brayman enters the NCEA Championships 5-2 in Flat after going undefeated in March and claiming MOP honors against Fresno State. Brayman is 4-3 on the season in Fences. She claimed Fences MOP honors at the Big 12 Championship after a pair of wins.

Harley Huff looks to complete a storied OSU career after being named a four-time NCEA All-American and four-time Big 12 Horsemanship Rider of the Year. Huff is 6-1 on the season, with her lone loss coming at the hands of a narrow defeat against Fresno State.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

Cowgirl Equestrian Set To Compete At NCEA National Championships

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