Texas A&M
OKLAHOMA STATE
Aggie Riders Drop Nail-Biter to Rival Cowgirls
Nov 05, 2006 | Equestrian
November 05, 2006
The Texas A&M equestrian team came up on the wrong end of a 16-16 tie against Big 12 rival Oklahoma State at N.W. ?'Dick?™ Freeman Arena on Sunday afternoon.
After riding to a draw in both equitation over fences and horsemanship, Oklahoma State (4-1) opened up a 14-10 lead heading into reining, the final event. The Aggie reiners put up a valiant fight, winning six of the eight head-to-head matches to tie the show, but were unable to overcome a 29.5-point deficit on the judges?™ scorecards. The scorecards are only consulted if there is a tie in the final score. A&M (2-1) dropped the match to OSU by virtue of the tiebreaker by a mere 11.5 points (2,329 to 2,317.5).
?We knew going in that it would be close,? A&M head coach Tana Rawson said. ?We always seem to go down to the wire against OSU. Today showed the strength of both programs. We both had good recruiting classes last season and I thought that was pretty evident as day went on.?
A&M?™s reiners proved to be the stars of the show Sunday, winning all but two matches. Freshman Maggie Gratny (Leavenworth, Kan.), the first rider to saddle up in the class, put on an awesome display in her round, recording the highest reining score of the competition at 73.5. Gratny was named the reining MVP for the second straight show as well.
?Maggie rode the best that I?™ve seen her ride so far this year, even in practice,? Rawson said. ?She stepped up to the plate and executed nicely for us.?
Junior transfer Genna Fishgold (Scottsdale, Ariz.) won the highest scoring reining battle of the day in her maroon and white debut. The Colorado State transfer won a tight 71-70.5 contest over OSU?™s Molly Morrison. Other reiners earning wins were senior Sassie Broaddus (El Paso), sophomores Tonna Brooks (Newberg, Ore.) and Amanda Ryan (Ramona, Calif.), and freshman Maddi Williams (Valley View).
?I thought (the reiners) definitely out-rode the Cowgirls today,? Rawson said. ?We?™ve practiced really hard for the last month. Some of them have made some significant changes since the start of the semester. We rode like we have been practicing which is really, really well. I was proud of them today.?
The Aggies battled to a 4-4 draw with OSU in equitation over fences. A&M junior Katie Henion was named the fences MVP after recording an 82-70 win over last year?™s Intercollegiate Horse Show Association high point rider Bailey Mahoney. Sophomores Christina Heine (Toledo, Ohio) and Erin Ivy (Cypress), and freshman Kristi Waldal (Battle Ground, Wash.) all recorded wins over fences as well.
A&M?™s youth in the horsemanship division stepped to the forefront as the Aggies battled to a 4-4 tie in that event. Freshman Caroline Gunn turned in the second highest horsemanship score of the day in a 73-69 win over OSU?™s Kilee Stewart. Gratny, the reining MVP, earned a 71.5-69 win over the Cowgirls?™ Amanda Yancey. Sophomores Tonna Brooks and Amanda Ryan both also earned wins prior to their reining wins to come later in the day.
Two A&M riders were able to record head-to-head wins in equitation on the flat against OSU. Junior co-captain Viviana Cordero (Sunland, Calif.) squeaked out a 73-70 win while sophomore Christina Matz (McKinney) came out on top 78-76 to halt a six-match winning streak by the Cowgirls in the English flat division.
Following the primary show, A&M was dominant in several exhibition head-to-head matches against OSU in gymnastics and trail. The Aggie trail riders swept OSU 3-0 with freshmen Amanda Cushman (Huntsville), Gunn, and Jenna Pine (Alamo, Calif.) doing the sweeping. A&M also won two of three gymnastics exhibitions. Senior Erica Palomo (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and sophomore Erin Ivy both grabbed wins to close out the day?™s action.
The Aggies will spend the week getting ready to host Baylor, who upset OSU 11-9 in Waco yesterday, on Sunday, Nov. 12, at noon.
