Texas A&M
Baylor
Aggie Riders Drop Baylor, 14-6
Feb 03, 2007 | Equestrian
February 03, 2007
The Texas A&M equestrian team earned a 14-6 win over Baylor on a crisp Saturday at the Willis Family Equestrian Center.
The Aggies (4-1) powered their way to a second consecutive win over the Bears (3-4) thanks in large part to a perfect performance by its western squad. A&M won all 10 of its head-to-head match-ups in the western division, five in horsemanship and five in reining.
?I was really proud of how the girls rode completely unfamiliar horses today,? A&M head coach Tana Rawson said. ?We had never competed at Baylor before. The girls also had a little pressure early in the show to make up a small deficit and came through with flying colors.?
The western riders were led again by freshmen Maggie Gratny (Leavenworth, Kan.) and Caroline Gunn (Greensburg, Ind.). Gratny moved her collegiate reining record to 4-0 after posting a score of 77 in the third of the Aggies?™ five go-arounds. The ride also earned her a fourth MVP in four tries. Gunn was equally as impressive, earning an eye-popping score of 80 after another impressive horsemanship ride for A&M. Gunn also earned MVP honors for the second straight show.
Sophomore Tonna Brooks (Newberg, Ore.) kept her seasonal undefeated streak going with wins in both horsemanship and reining. Brooks earned a 74-71.5 over Baylor?™s Amanda Graber in reining while besting Ashleigh Brown, 73-70, in horsemanship.
Senior Sassie Broaddus (El Paso) also earned a sweep in both western events against the Bears. Broaddus beat Baylor?™s Missy Gonzalez 72-70.5 in horsemanship and Lindsey Tonko, 70.5-68.5, in reining.
Sophomore Sibyl Parsons (Combine) earned the second highest horsemanship score of the day with a 77-73 win over Amanda Graber. Senior Christine Sceets (Baytown) also won her horsemanship match-up, a 74-72.5 decision over Allison Orosz.
Freshman Maddi Williams (Valley View) earned the second highest reining score of the day in a 75.5-72 win over the Bears?™ Valtie Riddle. Williams?™ win is her second in three rides this season. Junior transfer Genna Fishgold (Scottsdale, Ariz.) moved her seasonal record to 2-0 in reining with a 73.5-73 win over Maddie Mooney.
The A&M English squad rebounded from a tough fences competition to steal a low-scoring affair in equitation on the flat. The Aggies won the flat competition 3-2 after falling 4-1 over fences.
Junior Ashlie Soderstrom (Lake Oswego, Ore.) was the Aggies?™ highest scorer on the flat against Baylor, topping April Wehle, 69.5-66. Senior Erica Palomo (St. Petersburg, Fla.) squeaked out a 55.5-55 win over Shelby White while sophomore Christina Matz (McKinney) continued her perfect season with a 58.5-53 win over Cara Wilson.
Freshman Lindsey Smith (West Friendship, Md.) was the Aggies?™ lone victor over fences, winning an 80-40 decision over April Wehle.
During the exhibition portion of the show, the English squad managed a sweep of the three equitation on the flat match-ups. Freshman Brittney Dodson (Amarillo), junior Lindsey Lawrence (College Station) and sophomore Tegan Zealy (Tampa, Fla.) all earned victories for the Aggies.
Two-time IHSA national champion Kate Toomey (Lake Oswego, Ore.) posted a stellar score of 78 during the western horsemanship exhibition to grab one of two wins for A&M. Sophomore Renee Dirkse (Rockwall) won her match-up as well to give the Aggies a 2-1 win.
The Aggies will be back in action on Feb. 17 when they travel to California to take on Fresno State. A&M will face New Mexico State in Fresno the following day as well.
