Fresno State Athletics
Brown, Chalack named NCEA Riders of the Month, ’Dogs rise to No. 5
10/12/2016 2:07:00 PM | Equestrian
Both senior Taylor Brown and junior Kylina Chalack of the Fresno State equestrian team went undefeated in Reining and Equitation on the Flat, respectively, during the month of September; the ’Dogs also rose to No. 5 in NCEA rankings
WACO, Texas – Senior Taylor Brown and junior Kylina Chalack of the No. 5 Fresno State equestrian team have been named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) Riders of the Month for September, as announced on Wednesday. Both Brown and Chalack went undefeated in Reining and Equitation on the Flat, respectively, last month.
The Bulldog riders are joined by Karianna Knezevich of New Mexico State for Equitation Over Fences and Kaylee Mellott of Baylor for Horsemanship.
This is the fifth time that Brown has been named an NCEA Rider of the Month for Reining and this is Chalack's first such honor.
Last month, Brown went 3-0 in Reining against then-No. 5 Baylor, No. 10 New Mexico State and South Dakota State, averaging 70 points and earning three Most Outstanding Player accolades. She defeated her opponents by an average of six points. This season, the Strathmore, Calif. native is 10-0 in Reining and Horsemanship and has earned nine MOP awards.
In September, Chalack went 2-0-1 in Equitation on the Flat, including wins over No. 10 New Mexico State and South Dakota State and a tie against then-No. 5 Baylor, averaging 78.67 points and earning a Most Outstanding Player honor in her 79-76 victory against NMSU. She defeated her opponents by an average margin of four points in her two wins. This season, the junior from Calgary, Alberta, Canada is 7-2-1 in Equitation on the Flat and Equitation Over Fences.
Fresno State (4-1) also rose four spots in the NCEA rankings to No. 5 in the country after defeating then-No. 1 Auburn and Delaware State last weekend. The Bulldogs own the most wins among Top 10 teams and have matched their highest ranking ever.
In 2015, the 'Dogs were ranked No. 5 in five consecutive polls from March 10-Oct. 6. Fresno State has ranked in the Top 10 for 27 consecutive polls and 35 overall, dating back to September 2012.
The Bulldogs next host No. 7 TCU (1-1) on Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. PT at the Student Horse Center. The competition will be streamed live and for free on the Mountain West Network.
Fresno State all-time NCEA Riders of the Month
September 2014 – Rachel Williams, Horsemanship
September 2014 – Taylor Brown, Reining
October 2015 – Sierra Swaffar, Equitation on the Flat
October 2015 – Taylor Brown, Reining
February 2016 – Taylor Brown, Reining
September 2016 – Kylina Chalack, Equitation on the Flat
September 2016 – Taylor Brown, Reining
NCEA National Team Rankings (Oct. 12, 2016)
1. Texas A&M (2-0)
2. Auburn (2-1)
3. Georgia (0-1)
4. Baylor (3-1)
5. Fresno State (4-1)
6. SMU (1-0)
7. TCU (1-1)
8. South Carolina (2-1)
9. Oklahoma State (1-0)
10. New Mexico State (1-2)
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
The Bulldog riders are joined by Karianna Knezevich of New Mexico State for Equitation Over Fences and Kaylee Mellott of Baylor for Horsemanship.
This is the fifth time that Brown has been named an NCEA Rider of the Month for Reining and this is Chalack's first such honor.
Last month, Brown went 3-0 in Reining against then-No. 5 Baylor, No. 10 New Mexico State and South Dakota State, averaging 70 points and earning three Most Outstanding Player accolades. She defeated her opponents by an average of six points. This season, the Strathmore, Calif. native is 10-0 in Reining and Horsemanship and has earned nine MOP awards.
In September, Chalack went 2-0-1 in Equitation on the Flat, including wins over No. 10 New Mexico State and South Dakota State and a tie against then-No. 5 Baylor, averaging 78.67 points and earning a Most Outstanding Player honor in her 79-76 victory against NMSU. She defeated her opponents by an average margin of four points in her two wins. This season, the junior from Calgary, Alberta, Canada is 7-2-1 in Equitation on the Flat and Equitation Over Fences.
Fresno State (4-1) also rose four spots in the NCEA rankings to No. 5 in the country after defeating then-No. 1 Auburn and Delaware State last weekend. The Bulldogs own the most wins among Top 10 teams and have matched their highest ranking ever.
In 2015, the 'Dogs were ranked No. 5 in five consecutive polls from March 10-Oct. 6. Fresno State has ranked in the Top 10 for 27 consecutive polls and 35 overall, dating back to September 2012.
The Bulldogs next host No. 7 TCU (1-1) on Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. PT at the Student Horse Center. The competition will be streamed live and for free on the Mountain West Network.
Fresno State all-time NCEA Riders of the Month
September 2014 – Rachel Williams, Horsemanship
September 2014 – Taylor Brown, Reining
October 2015 – Sierra Swaffar, Equitation on the Flat
October 2015 – Taylor Brown, Reining
February 2016 – Taylor Brown, Reining
September 2016 – Kylina Chalack, Equitation on the Flat
September 2016 – Taylor Brown, Reining
NCEA National Team Rankings (Oct. 12, 2016)
1. Texas A&M (2-0)
2. Auburn (2-1)
3. Georgia (0-1)
4. Baylor (3-1)
5. Fresno State (4-1)
6. SMU (1-0)
7. TCU (1-1)
8. South Carolina (2-1)
9. Oklahoma State (1-0)
10. New Mexico State (1-2)
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
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