Fresno State Athletics
Pair of Bulldogs Earn NCEA Rider of the Month
11/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - As announced by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association on Tuesday, the Fresno State equestrian team remains ranked No. 8 on a national platform while picking up a pair of NCEA Rider of the Month accolades.
For their performance during the month of October, junior Taylor Brown and sophomore Sierra Swaffar were joined by two additional riders hailing from TCU and Texas A&M, that were honored at the conclusion of the second month of collegiate action.
As a Western rider, Brown was named the Reining Rider of the Month after going undefeated during seven matchups and logging a total of five victories, with one coming on the Bulldogs' home dirt. The Strathmore, Calif., native was recognized as the Most Outstanding Player on three occasions in October with two coming against New Mexico State (Oct. 9, Oct. 23) and one versus UT-Martin (Oct. 10), with an average score of 68.1 over seven meets.
Representing the Bulldog Hunt Seat team, Swaffar earned her first collegiate monthly accolade in Equitation on the Flat after defeating her opponent by an average of 6.86 points in all seven matches. The sophomore from Ventura, Calif., garnered a team-high of four MOP honors and six total victories last month.
The duo has helped Fresno State to an overall record of 3-4 with victories over Delaware State (9-7), No. 10 UT-Martin (12-3) and No. 9 New Mexico State (12-8). In seven total matches, the ‘Dogs have faced six nationally ranked opponents and suffered the largest deficit of only four points against No. 1 Georgia during the 2015-16 opening weekend.
NCEA Riders of the Month (Oct. 2015)
Equitation Over Fences: Molly Peddicord, TCU
Equitation On The Flat: Sierra Swaffar, Fresno State
Horsemanship: Rachel Lucht, Texas A&M
Reining: Taylor Brown, Fresno State
NCEA National Team Rankings (Nov. 3, 2015)
1. Georgia (4-0)
2. Auburn (3-0)
3. Baylor (5-1)
4. Oklahoma State (3-2)
5. Texas A&M (3-1)
6. South Carolina (2-2)
7. TCU (3-2)
8. Fresno State (3-4)
9. New Mexico State (2-5)
10. UT-Martin (1-3)
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