Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
TCU
Cowgirls Set to Kickoff New Season Against Top-Ranked TCU
October 03, 2023 | Cowgirl Equestrian
Â
The Basics
The No. 5 Oklahoma State Equestrian will host No. 1 TCU in the first matchup of the season. It will be each team's first Big 12 meet of the year. OSU is coming off another successful season, winning its third-straight Big 12 title and fourth consecutive semifinals appearance in the national tournament. TCU is 1-0 with after an upset win against No. 1 SMU in its season opener. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. CT and Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center.
Â
About the Cowgirls                                                                                                                       Â
The Cowgirls are led by 25th-year head coach Larry Sanchez, fifth-year assistant Laura Brainard, second-year assistant Carter Anderson, first-year assistant Alle Durkin and consultant Jody Brainard.
Â
Fresh Faces on Staff                                                                                                                       Â
Alle Durkin and Jody Brainard enter their first year with the Cowgirls. Durkin, a former rider at Texas A&M joins Carter Anderson as OSU's second assistant Jumping Seat coach. Prior to her time at Texas A&M, Durkin trained under the tutelage of several leaders in the equestrian world, such as Kevin Babington and Kenny and Linda Langmeier. While working with Babington as a student worker, she developed skills in training and caring for top-level horses, along with gaining experience in business and equine management activities. Brainard, uncle of OSU Western assistant coach Laura Brainard, joins OSU as a consultant in the Reining event. Brainard brings over 40 years of experience to OSU's team, highlighted by his time spent as a professional horseman and his established credibility in training horses.  He's held titles such as official, researcher, monitor and mentor to go along with his status as a professional.
Â
Conference Leaders                                                                                                                   Â
The Cowgirls went 6-2 against Big 12 opponents last season, including two wins on their way to the program's second conference championship three-peat, something no team in the Big 12 has done.
Â
An Oklahoma State Win Would...                                                                                    Â
- Make it 11-straight wins against TCU at home, dating back to 2014.
- Be the 17th home-opening victory in 18 years, dating to 2007.
- Improve its overall record to 28-13 against TCU.
- Would be the first time OSU took down the top-ranked team in the NCEA since 2022.
Â
Who to Watch                                                                                                            Â
"We are really looking forward to getting our season started this Thursday afternoon," head coach Larry Sanchez said. "It is going to be a great meet as our girls are riding really well and we have a great opponent in TCU who ranked first in the polls."
Â
Cowgirl MOPs
·      Junior Riley Hogan is coming off a breakthrough sophomore campaign, which culminated in her first All-American selection. She went 13-3 in Fences in 2022-23 and earned four MOPs, two of which coming against Lynchburg as she rode both Fences and Flat.
·      Claire McDowall looks to emerge as one of the top Horsemanship riders in the country this season. The senior has compiled a career record of 19-4-1 in two seasons, and is coming off her first All-American selection.
·      Sydney North returned to OSU for her graduate year. North has been a four-year starter and looks to compile one of the highest win totals in a Cowgirl career in program history.
·      Quincee Clark came away with many crucial points for the Cowgirls in the 2022-23 season. The junior already has two years of experience under her belt and almost 20 career wins to her name.
·      Second-year captain Grace McReynolds enters her senior season as one of the most complete Jumping Seat riders on the OSU roster. Specializing primarily in Flat, McReynolds is a capable competitor in Fences as well.
Players Mentioned
