BRYAN, TX -- Trailing by two points heading into the latter part of the meet, the third-ranked Texas A&M equestrian team won seven straight rides to retake the lead en route to a 14-10 win over No. 7 Kansas State Friday afternoon at the Brazos County Expo Complex.
The victory was the 21st in a row at home for the Aggies (8-2), who claimed three of four possible MVP awards and three of four disciplines overall. The Wildcats (5-5), meanwhile, saw their three-meet win streak snapped and lost their 11th in a row to Texas A&M.
The fences team began what would be a strong afternoon for the hunter seat riders with an impressive 4-2 win over K-State, paced by an MVP ride from Leah Chenelle. The freshman, who earned her first career MVP, downed Larissa Laffey 82-72. Also picking up fences wins were fellow freshman Kat Barkema, senior Lia Chafee and junior Kelsi Shevlin.
K-State started its comeback in horsemanship, taking the lead by winning the first four rides in the discipline. A&M got back on the board with a 3-point victory by senior Katie Lisabeth, and tied the score heading into the halfway point of the meet after junior Amanda Brightwell’s 74.5-71 win over KSU’s Amelia Crotes. Brightwell’s victory earned her a second MVP award in as many weeks.
After the Wildcats took an 8-6 lead by winning the first two flat rides, A&M made its move, as consecutive victories by seniors Marisa Bernal and Elizabeth Solch, true freshman Haley Buchmiller and senior Hannah Soibelman put the Aggies on top for good at 10-8.
As the meet moved to reining, victories by freshman Laura Sumrall and junior Becca Murray set the stage for senior Courtney Dawe—who clinched the overall team victory with a 66-62 defeat of Sam Etsell. Senior Abigail Grabein would score Texas A&M’s final point and earn MVP honors two rides later by downing Jordan Cox 73-65.
Overall, the hunter seat riders posted an 8-4 victory over K-State and the Aggie western team matched KSU in points at six but won on raw score.
Texas A&M closes out the regular season and honors its senior class next Saturday, March 10, when the Aggies host rival Baylor at the Expo Complex. Show time is 11 a.m. and admission is free.
Texas A&M 14, Kansas State 10
Friday, March 2, 2012 - Brazos County Expo Complex - Bryan, Texas
Hunter Seat: Texas A&M 8, Kansas State 4
FENCES (A&M 4, KSU 2)
Sarah Mershon, KSU def. Kori Pickett, A&M, 73-50
Leah Chenelle, A&M (MVP) def. Larissa Laffey, KSU, 82-72
Lia Chafee, A&M def. Madison Wayda, KSU, 78-75
Kat Barkema, A&M def. Kate Hennessy, KSU, 70-51
Kelsi Shevlin, A&M def. Cat Avolese, KSU, 77-67
Shana Barnett, KSU def. Emily Williams, A&M, 83-80
FLAT (A&M 4, KSU 2)
Larissa Laffey, KSU (MVP) def. Lia Chafee, A&M, 90-75
Meredith Finch, KSU def. Maggie Earle, A&M, 85-59
Marisa Bernal, A&M def. Rachel Webster, KSU, 68-60
Elizabeth Solch, A&M def. Kali Yates, KSU, 84-72
Haley Buchmiller, A&M def. Madison Wayda, KSU, 69-63
Hannah Soibelman, A&M def. Jacquelyn Bogstad, KSU, 68-63
Western: Texas A&M 6, Kansas State 6 (A&M wins on raw score)
HORSEMANSHIP (KSU 4, A&M 2)
Whitney Unkefer, KSU def. Cassie Mantor, A&M, 73-65.5
Hannah Ribera, KSU def. Carey Nowacek, A&M, 71-69.5
Kelly Bovaird, KSU def. Molli Jacobs, A&M, 73-72
Rachel Wetherell, KSU def. Kelsey Adams, A&M, 73-69
Katie Lisabeth, A&M def. Chayna DiNicolo, KSU, 67.5-64.5
Amanda Brightwell, A&M (MVP) def. Amelia Crotes, KSU, 74.5-71
REINING (A&M 4, KSU 2)
Laura Sumrall, A&M def. Alayna Warner, KSU, 70-0
Becca Murray, A&M def. Savannah Smith, KSU, 70.5-70
Courtney Dawe, A&M def. Sam Etsell, KSU, 66-62
Emily Stockford, KSU def. Emma Myers, A&M, 66.5-65
Abigail Grabein, A&M (MVP) def. Jordan Cox, KSU, 73-65
Jesse Johnson, KSU def. Lindsey Bernbaum, A&M, 73-70.5
