Cowgirl Equestrian Defeats TCU In NCEA National Championship Semifinal

Friday, April 15

Ocala, FL

1 p.m. CDT

Oklahoma State University

TCU

Cowgirl Equestrian Defeats TCU In NCEA National Championship Semifinal

April 15, 2022 | Cowgirl Equestrian

OCALA, Florida - No. 1 Oklahoma State equestrian defeated No. 4 TCU, 13-6, to earn a spot in the NCEA National Championship meet tomorrow at the World Equestrian Center. It marks OSU's first finals appearance since 2013 when the Cowgirls won the Western National Championship.

"The team is riding really well right now and are brought into the process it took to get us here," head coach Larry Sanchez said. "A&M is a very good team, and we are looking forward to riding against them for the Championship tomorrow."

The meet started with Fences, where the Cowgirls took an early 3-2 lead. The only two Horned Frog points came from Isabella Baxter and Ashleigh Scully when they beat their opponents, 253-218 and 240-238, respectively.

Riley Hogan, a freshman, defeated Sydney Berube, 250.5-214. Emma Pacyna continued her successful week and secured a 251-236 win against Raegan Rast. Sydnie Ziegler earned another Cowgirl point after handily beating Emy Lucibello, 262.5-205.

Coinciding with Fences was Horsemanship. JoJo Roberson started the charge by besting Shea Graham, 225-221.5. Natalie Vargo dropped her point to Jessica McAllister, 223-221.5.

Maddie Fussell countered with a score of 215.5-213 to beat Kaitlyn Smith. Next, sophomore Claire McDowall defeated Mattie Dukes, 223-219.5, and to finish the event, Payton Boutelle beat Caroline Nielson, 224-220.

In Flat, the Cowgirls swept the Horned Frogs, 4-0. The event began with captain Abigail Brayman topping Berube, 261.5-239.5. Grace McReynolds bested Jacey Albaugh, 240.5-233, to continue her undefeated season.

The Big 12 Fences Rider of the Year, Hope King, took down Laurel Smith, 226-160.5, and Katie Pelzel tied Wynee Weatherly with two 243.5's for no point. Ziegler provided a needed answer by clinching the meet with a, 215.5-209.5, win over TCU's Scully.

The final event of the day was Reining, where the Cowgirls took the contest, 3-2. The lone TCU points came from McAllister and Graham after besting their opponents, 207.5-0 and 213.5-208, respectively.

A fifth-year senior, Stephanie Helsen defeated Dukes, 206-203. After a re-ride, Molly Mitchell easily beat Maddy Buchanan, 215-186. The final point of the day came from Hannah Lovrien after she topped Bella Andres, 207.5-206.

OSU will be back in action tomorrow at 11 a.m. CT against No. 3 Texas A&M in the NCEA National Championship meet. The Cowgirls will be competing for their first overall NCEA National Championship after earning six Western National Titles and one individual title.

For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State equestrian, visit okstate.com and follow @OSUEquestrian on Twitter and Instagram.