Fresno State Athletics
Brown, Williams Named NCEA All-Americans
4/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
April 8, 2015
By Jason Clay
jaclay@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
WACO, Texas - The National Collegiate Equestrian Association announced Wednesday its 2015 All-America teams, which honored Fresno State sophomore Taylor Brown and freshman Rachel Williams on its prestigious lists.
Brown was named to the NCEA second-team for Horsemanship while Williams was an honorable mention honoree also for Horsemanship.
This is Brown's second consecutive season that she has garnered All-America accolades. Last year she was a first-team selection in Reining.
"Taylor has had a strong year right from the start," coach Eric Hubbard said. "She was named the student-athlete of the week coming off a 5-0 streak at the Willis Invitational. She overcame a tough show at New Mexico State to come back in the and not lose a point in the horsemanship since that time. That shows how competitive and hardworking she truly is."
Williams follows in Browns footsteps, collecting All-America accolades as a freshman.
"Rachel came out with a bang," Hubbard said of Williams. "She was named the NCEA Horsemanship Rider of the Month the first month of the season after winning every point at the Willis Invitational. That is very impressive considering she is a freshman and all those wins were on the road. She has worked all year to improve her skills in the format and become more and more comfortable. It is a great honor for her to be amongst the top riders in the country."
Williams was also named the 2014-15 United Equestrian Conference Horsemanship Rider of the Year back on March 28 after helping lead the Bulldogs to the UEC Championship.
The top-four riders per discipline were selected and named first-team All-America by the NCEA Selection Committee. The next four riders per discipline were be named second-teamers while honorable mention All-Americans were be selected via the established criteria below. There is no limit on how many riders receive this award, provided they meet the following criteria:
- Must have a 77 percent or higher winning percentage, excluding ties
- Compete in a minimum of five competitions in the NCEA format
- Have at least an adjusted NRS score of:
85 for flat
90 for fences
80 for reining
80 for horsemanship
Brown and Williams have helped Fresno State rise to No. 5 nationally and lead the Bulldogs into the 2015 NCEA National Championship presented by the City of Waco & McLennan County, which will take place April 16-18 at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas.
Recent Bulldog Equestrian All-Americans
Taylor Brown - Macy Wilson - 2012-13 Honorable Mention All-American, Equitation On the Flat
Macy Wilson - 2011-12 First-Team All-American, Equitation On the Flat
Lauren Crivelli - 2011-12 Honorable Mention All-American, Horsemanship
Kimberly HewsonBudnik - 2011-12 Honorable Mention All-American, Equitation On the Flat
Kimberly HewsonBudnik - 2010-11 Honorable Mention All-American, Equitation Over Fences
Holly Elsbernd - 2010-11 Honorable Mention All-American, Equitation Over Fences
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