New team, new role for Equestrian's Nicole Campbell

FRESNO, Calif. – In a season with a roster that welcomed 14 newcomers to the Fresno State equestrian team, the Bulldogs have felt the growing pains of a young team as well as the sweet successes that came with the victories earned.

The Western style Bulldogs have been led by redshirt sophomore and first-year Bulldog Nicole Campbell in the opening half of the 2018-19 season.

Campbell, a Division I transfer from Oklahoma State, opened the 2018-19 season with a 4-3 Horsemanship record. All four of her points earned her the Horsemanship Most Outstanding Player accolade for the meet.

The Most Outstanding Player (MOP) award is not necessarily always given to the highest scoring ride, but most importantly must be given to the person who earned the point for their team. There is only one award per event per meet in the regular season showings.

The Crete, Ill. native ended the fall season with a 73.5-71 ride over the reigning NCEA and Big 12 Horsemanship Rider of the Month, Abbi Demel of Baylor. Campbell's point helped the Bulldogs to a 10-8 win over No. 4 Baylor.

Campbell earned additional wins over UT-Martin's McAuley Ross (76-74), Delaware State's Samantha Elliot (71-68.5) and South Carolina's Alexa Thorpe (77-67).

Campbell was recognized by the United Equestrian Conference on several occasions in the fall season. After the first three contests of the fall, Campbell was named the UEC Horsemanship Rider of the Month for September. She then earned UEC Horsemanship Rider of the Week honors after a trip to Texas to face then-No. 2 Texas A&M and No. 3 SMU. After the final weekend of the fall, Campbell was named UEC Horsemanship Rider of the Week and UEC November Horsemanship Rider of the Month.

Campbell joins Paige Barton (Reining, 2017-18), Taylor Brown (Horsemanship (2) and Reining (2), 2016-17; Reining, 2015-16) and Randi Pomrehn (Equitation on the Flat, 2014-15) as the only Bulldogs to earn more than one UEC Rider of the Month honor in a single event, in a single season.

GoBulldogs.com sat down with Nicole Campbell ahead of the start of the spring season to see what has driven her successes this fall.

How did you start riding?
Campbell: "I started riding from day one. My mom rode when she was a teenager, so we always had horses in the backyard. I started showing at the local fairs and doing some small open shows. Then in 2009, I started showing on the Quarter Horse Circuit and showing nationally. That was when I became more focused on my show career."

What is the toughest obstacle you have encountered in the sport?
Campbell: "The toughest obstacle has been balancing showing and traveling with school and other obligations. You have to leave a couple of days in advance and you miss things when that's the case, and some people don't recognize equestrian as a sport so it is harder to get them on the same page. It takes a lot to want to stick to the books and school work when you are busy showing and preparing for the next show."

How did your years at Oklahoma State prepare you for this?
Campbell: "I was only on the equestrian team at Oklahoma State for one year and it wasn't a good fit for me. I stayed there for one more year as a regular student. I really liked the aspect of being on a team and having 50 girls you could go to at any time. I missed that, so I decided I wanted to transfer. I came to Fresno State and the program worked really well for me. It is a lot of fun with my teammates and my coaches here. It is a crazy culture shock and so different from everything back home."

Explain the feeling of getting four wins and winning the MOP in all four of those wins…
Campbell: "It is a great feeling but it takes a lot of work. A lot of our meets are doubleheaders since we are traveling from California all the way to places like Texas, so we will hit two schools at once and that is a lot for how long the patterns are. It is a lot of work to remember and practice the patterns but it is very rewarding to first win your point and then have the judge give you the MOP honors. I really like it and it definitely pays off."

What makes a perfect ride?
Campbell: "A perfect ride to me is one in which I out do my last best ride, I always try to beat my own highest score. I am my own worst critic so I continuously rewatch my past rides and find areas that I can improve on and focus on them in practice. Out of college, horse showing is very individualized. So I think one of the best parts about riding on a college team is that it's a group effort. I always thought of the saying that "iron sharpens iron" when it comes to riding as a team. We are always there to support and motivate each other but we're also there to help each other improve."

How does it feel to win rides over nationally recognized opponents?
Campbell: "It felt really good. It builds up my confidence a little. You look at somebody like that and see that they have won all of these awards, they are a big name in the industry and in collegiate riding, so to think that I am at that same caliber is really exciting and rewarding. You don't really see yourself in that light that often."

Who is your biggest inspiration?
Campbell: "My mom because she is a small animal vet and that is what I want to do. She shows horses as well, she was the Congress champion which is a huge show in the Quarter Horse world. She balances work and showing horses and making time for family, and that is really inspirational. It is really what I strive to do and be like when I grow up."

What goes through your mind when performing your routine?
Campbell: "I just think of the next step every time. There is so much to remember in not only focusing on riding the horse, body position, executing the pattern well and making it look easy. On the road, it is the same mindset. There is a nervousness to it and your adrenaline gets going. When you are showing, it is key to put that adrenaline to use and use it to get through maneuvers, learn the horse's buttons in the four minutes you get with it beforehand."

What do you love about Fresno State?
Campbell: "I really like the atmosphere. It is definitely a big change from Illinois or Oklahoma. Overall, it has been very friendly and welcoming. My roommate, Paige Barton, is the same grade and same major as me so she has been really helpful in fitting in or helping me with anything that I need."

What is your favorite class as a Pre-Vet major?
Campbell: "I really like all of the animal production classes. I really loved animal nutrition, I think it is really fascinating. I love the horses we work with on the team. Unfortunately, they do get hurt and sick, and they all have their little downfalls, but caring for them is a big part of the sport and being on the team. Doing that and being around them really does fuel my drive for wanting to be a vet in the long run."

"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.

Follow us on:
Twitter:@FresnoStateEQ
Instagram:fresnostateeq
Facebook:FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:FSAthletics

Fresno State Athletics

New team, new role for Equestrian's Nicole Campbell

Related News

Players Mentioned

Paige Barton

Nicole Campbell

Related Videos