Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Best in the West Tournament
Dogs Win Best in West
2/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
Feb. 21, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - In a day of sweeps, the Fresno State equestrian team wrapped up the title in the Fourth Annual Best in the West Tournament by defeated Sacred Heart 9-3 and finished with a tournament record of 3-0. Among the victims in the tournament were the TCU Horned Frogs, who came into the weekend ranked No. 7 in the nation. The Dogs are 10th in the most recent national equestrian coaches poll.
The Dogs have now won five straight matches heading into next weekend's dual match at WAC rival New Mexico State.
The Bulldogs also swept all four MVP award in each of the four disciplines. Senior Lisa Wells took honors in Equitation over Fences, freshman Lisa Beach in the Flat, Madison Silver in Western Horsemanship and senior Keri Blackledge in reining.
"We were very pleased for the weekend," said head coach Dr. Becky Malmo. "The ladies did a wonderful job not only in the competition, but for everything else it takes to put on an event of this magnitude. They were focused and one top of things. We are thrilled with the number of wins and especially the MVP awards."
Equitation over Fences
Lisa Wells won MVP honors for the second straight day and led Fresno State to a 2-1 win over Sacred Heart. Wells had an 87 and won her ninth match of the season in 10 matches. She's become the top-ranked rider in the nation with her performances this season. Freshman Marisa Mohn earned her second straight victory.
TCU defeated UTM 2-1 and UTM defeated Sacred Heart in the other matches.
Equitation on the Flat
The Bulldogs took two of three matches against the Pioneers, led by freshman Lisa Beach with a high score of 89. She won MVP honors for the second time in her career. Bulldog Caitlin Marshall earned a win with a score of 84.
UTM defeated Sacred Heart 2-1 while TCU edged UTM 2-1.
Western Horsemanship
For the second straight day Madison Silver won MVP honors by scoring a 75 as the Dogs swept Sacred Heart 3-0. Ally Warkentin (72.5) and Christa Beezley (69) also won their matches.
For Silver, it was his seventh win of the season, as she continue to be of the nation's top riders in horsemanship.
UTM defeated Sacred Heart 2-1 and TCU blanked UTM 3-0.
Reining
Senior captain Keri Blackledge capped the day with the fourth Fresno State MVP award as the Dogs took two of three matches in reining. Blackledge posted a score of 72, winner her second MVP award in her last three matches. She's won six of her eight matches this season, one of them being a tie.
Jill Tebbe picked up a win with a score of 69.5.
Sacred Heart edged UTM 2-1 and TCU swept the Skyhawks 3-0 in the other matches.
"We Are Your Team!" -The Dogs return to action on Saturday, Feb. 27, at New Mexico State. For more information follow gobulldogs.com.
Players Mentioned
