Brown, Williams named NCEA All-Americans

WACO, Texas – Fresno State equestrian senior Taylor Brown and junior Rachel Williams have been named All-Americans by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association, as was announced on Thursday. Brown was named to the first team in reining and second team in horsemanship, while Williams was selected to the second team in horsemanship.

Brown becomes the first Bulldog in program history to earn five career All-American accolades after being named a three-time first-team All-American in reining and two-time second-team All-American in horsemanship. She went 11-4 with six MOPs in reining and 10-5 with six MOPs in horsemanship this year.

This season, Williams went 10-3-1 in horsemanship. She was named honorable mention in horsemanship following her freshman year.

"Taylor has had a great year," Fresno State head coach Eric Hubbard said. "She is so talented on the back of a horse. She works hard every day to be the best she can against whomever and whatever horse she draws. Her work ethic is what has set her apart. It doesn't matter if it is in the practice arena, the gym, or the barn, she just gets it done. She leads her teammates well and shares information on horses she has drawn to help them be successful.

"Rachel has had a great year, too. She scored a lot of points for us throughout the season and against some very good riders. Rachel is focused in practice and that has been one of the keys to her success."

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 named Second-Team All-America, while Honorable Mention All-Americans were selected via the established criteria below. There shall be no limit on how many riders receive this award, provided they meet the following criteria:

Must have a 67 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; 77 for reining; 80 for horsemanship

Auburn collected the most All-America citations with nine, followed by Georgia and Oklahoma State with seven each. Auburn, Georgia and Texas A&M had the most first-team All-America awards with three.

The 2017 NCEA National Championship presented by City of Waco and McLennan County will take place April 13-15 at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas. It marks the 11th consecutive year that the City of Waco and McLennan Country have hosted the national championship.

All-time NCEA Bulldog All-Americans
2016-17 Taylor Brown………………….Reining (First Team)
2016-17 Taylor Brown………………….Horsemanship (Second Team)
2016-17 Rachel Williams………………Horsemanship (Second Team)
2015-16 Taylor Brown......................Reining (First Team)
2015-16 Sierra Swaffar .....................Flat (First Team)
2015-16 Taylor Dixon ........................Horsemanship (Second Team)
2014-15 Taylor Brown...................... Horsemanship (Second Team)
2014-15 Rachel Williams................... Horsemanship (HM)
2013-14 Taylor Brown........................Reining (First Team)
2012-13 Macy Wilson ........................Flat (HM)
2011-12 Macy Wilson ....................... Flat (First Team)
2011-12 Kimberly HewsonBudnik......Flat (HM)
2011-12 Lauren Crivelli ......................Horsemanship (HM)
2010-11 Kimberly HewsonBudnik.......Fences (HM)
2010-11 Holly Elsbernd ......................Fences (HM)

2017 NCEA All-Americans

EQUITATION OVER FENCES

First Team
Madison Brayman, New Mexico State
Ashley Foster, Auburn
Rachael Hake, Texas A&M
Meg O'Mara, Georgia

Second Team
Caitlin Boyle, Auburn
Liza Finsness, Georgia
Alex Ladove, Auburn
Vivian Yowan, SMU

Honorable Mention
Carly Barrick, Oklahoma State
Sylvia de Toledo, SMU
Hannah Janson, Oklahoma State
Jayme Omand, TCU

EQUITATION ON THE FLAT

First Team
Kari Hancock, TCU
Hayley Iannotti, Auburn
Savannah Jenkins, Baylor
Meg O'Mara, Georgia

Second Team
Ashton Alexander, Auburn
Maggie Drysch, Oklahoma State
Alicia Gasser, Baylor
Rachel Van Allen, Baylor

Honorable Mention
Jorden Davis, Oklahoma State
Liza Finsness, Georgia
Tory Hoft, Auburn
Leina King, SMU
Randi LaChance, UT Martin
Chloe Schmidt, South Carolina

HORSEMANSHIP

First Team
Abbi Demel, Baylor
Avery Ellis, Texas A&M
Kaci Fisher, Texas A&M
Kara Kaufmann, Auburn

Second Team
Bailey Anderson, Georgia
Taylor Brown, Fresno State
Hannah Stephens, Auburn
Rachel Williams, Fresno State

Honorable Mention
Megan Rauh, Auburn

REINING

First Team
Taylor Brown, Fresno State
Caroline Gute, South Carolina
Hannah Mitchell, Oklahoma State
Claudia Spreng, Georgia

Second Team
Madison Bohman, Texas A&M
Ebba Lange, Oklahoma State
Keagan Snively, SMU
Graysen Stroud, Georgia

Honorable Mention
Danielle Cohen, Oklahoma State
Kimberly Ferrante, New Mexico State
Haley Franc, Texas A&M
Sarah Kate Grider, Texas A&M
Bridgett White, South Carolina

"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.

Fresno State Athletics

Brown, Williams named NCEA All-Americans

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Players Mentioned

Taylor Brown

Taylor Dixon

Sierra Swaffar

Rachel Williams

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