Fresno State Athletics
Equestrian opens NCEA Championships Thursday
4/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Thursday, April 14
Round 1: (12) Fresno State vs. (5) Texas A&M - 6:30 a.m. (PT)
Location: Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas
Updates: Fresno State Twitter, Texas A&M Twitter, NCEA
Friday, April 15
Quarterfinals: (4) Oklahoma State vs. 5/12 Winner - 6:30 a.m.
Location: Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas
Saturday, April 16
Semifinals - 6:30 a.m. (PT)
Championship Final - 12:00 p.m. (PT)
FRESNO, Calif. - The ninth-ranked Fresno State equestrian team will take on No. 4 Texas A&M on Thursday in the opening meet of the first round at the National Collegiate Equestrian Association 2016 National Championship. Competition is set to get underway at 6:30 a.m., at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas.
Over a three-day span (April 14-16), the nation's top-12 teams (Western and Hunt Seat combined) are invited to compete for the national title.
The Bulldogs are seeded 12th headed into the National Championship event, meanwhile the Aggie equestrian team was named the No. 5 seed. The NCEA Selection Committee determines and invites programs based on a number of factors throughout the season.
"Our goal is always to be seeded headed into the National Championship," head coach Eric Hubbard said. "The team had a rough spring but it made us stronger. We have intently put ourselves into different situations to prepare to be successful at championships this week."
The top-four seeds in the NCEA Championship each receive first-round byes in the 12-team format, therefore the winner of Thursday's meet will take on (4) Oklahoma State in the quarterfinal round on Friday. The national semifinals and championship final will take place Saturday, April 16, beginning at 12 p.m. PT.
The ‘Dogs head to Waco seeking their first-ever national title, as South Carolina is the defending NCEA Champion. Texas A&M has claimed two Overall Championships (2002 and 2012) and seven in the Western division (2002, '05, '07, '09-'12) prior to the NCEA beginning to crown only one titleholder in 2014. Oklahoma State is also no stranger to national accreditation as the Western team sports four titles between 2003 and 2013.
Fresno State is 4-9 overall and 4-2 in United Equestrian Conference action with victories over No. 10 Delaware State (Oct. 2), Tennessee-Martin (Oct. 9), New Mexico State (Oct. 23) and South Dakota State (March 19).
The 2015 UEC champion Bulldogs capped the regular season positioned third in the five-team league behind SMU (4-2) and Delaware State (4-2).
FACING TEXAS A&M
The Aggies are 9-6 while currently riding a four-meet losing streak against the nation's top two elite equestrian programs - Auburn (10-10) and Georgia (13-7) - along with defeding national champion South Carolina (11-8) and No. 7 SMU (10-9).
Texas A&M finished fourth within the five-team Southeastern Conference with a 3-3 league record and two deficits at the SEC Championship last month. The Aggies have collected 10 or more points in all but one of their nine victories this year, outscoring their opponents by a 104-52 margin.
The Bulldogs will face a trio of veteran Reining All-Americans on Thursday including first-team pick Hannah Jechow, along with second-team members Ashley Dotson and Logan Pluhar.
Fresno State is 0-8 all-time with Texas A&M since the series began in 2007. Thursday's action will be the second time the two programs have met during the 2015-16 season as the ‘Dogs were previously edged 9-9 in a raw-score (1412.5-1383) decision at home on Oct. 24. Sophomores Kylina Chalack (over Fences) and Taylor Dixon (Horsemanship) earned Most Outstanding Player honors over Fences and in Horsemanship, respectively.
POTENTIAL OPPONENT, OSU
If Fresno State upsets five-seed Texas A&M on Thursday, the next opponent in line is (4) Oklahoma State as one of four programs that secured a first-round bye. OSU owns an 8-5 overall record with just one blemish over six Big-12 contests.
The Bulldogs and Cowgirls would meet in the quarterfinal round on Friday morning, as OSU holds a 5-1 all-time series advantage dating back to the first matchup in 2007. Fresno State last edged Oklahoma State, 10-9, at home in 2008.
The 2016 Big-12 Championship team showcases two All-Americans including Reining first-team selection Jorden Davis and second-team honoree Ebba Lange on the Flat.
2016 STANDOUTS
Sophomore Sierra Swaffar was named an NCEA first-team All-American on the Flat, along with junior Taylor Brown (Reining) as the lone Bulldog in program history to land three-straight All-American honors. In addition sophomore Taylor Dixon was among the nation's top eight listed on the Horsemanship second-team.
In order to earn first-team, second-team or honorable mention, each rider must meet the specific criteria including a minimum 67 percent winning percentage (excluding ties), to have competed in five or more NCEA meets and have at least an adjusted National Ranking Score (NRS) of 85 on the flat, 90 over fences, 77 in reining or 80 for horsemanship.
Last month, the UEC announced the 2015-16 season awards as the ‘Dogs outstanding trio - Swaffar, Dixon and Brown - were named the league's Rider of the Year in their respective events.
Rookie student-athlete Taeya Harle earned Horsemanship Freshman of the Year and the squad garnered five combined all-conference accolades – Swaffar and Kylina Chalack on the flat, Dixon and Rachel Williams in Horsemanship and Brown in Reining.
Bulldog equestrian features eight all-time All-Americans, seven combined NCEA Rider of the Month accolades, four UEC Riders of the Year and the squad has garnered 13 monthly conference honors since joining the league in 2014.
ACADEMIC HONORS
The ‘Dogs dedication in the classroom was also recognized as seven Bulldogs – Savannah Bernard, Kelley Couch, Calle Hinkle, Lauren Kovanda, Madison Robinson and Allie Tamouzian – were named Academic All-Americans by the NCEA after maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or better.
Qualifying student-athletes must uphold full-time enrollment in the spring and fall semesters however, there is no competition requirement.
NCEA Championship Seeding
1. Auburn
2. Georgia
3. Baylor
4. Oklahoma State
5. Texas A&M
6. TCU
7. South Carolina
8. Kansas State
9. Delaware State
10. SMU
11. New Mexico State
12. Fresno State
Final NCEA Team Rankings (March 22, 2016)
1. Auburn (11-1)
2. Georgia (10-2)
3. Baylor (11-3)
4. Texas A&M (9-4)
5. Oklahoma State (6-5)
6. TCU (5-7)
7. SMU (6-7)
8. Kansas State (4-8)
9. Fresno State (4-9)
10. Delaware State (5-5)
"Be Bold!" - For the latest on Fresno State equestrian, follow @FresnoStateEQ on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/fresnostateequestrianteam.
Players Mentioned
