TCU Equestrian: Last Of The Breed
Despite a valiant effort, No. 3 TCU suffered a 12-8 heartbreaker at the hands of No. 5 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Saturday.
TCU held a 6-4 lead at the intermission, easily vanquishing their competition 4-1 in Horsemanship, with an additional two points for their performance in Fences. However, upon review, one of the winning scores was overturned, resulting in a 5-5 gridlock. Thereafter, the Cowgirls managed a 4-1 victory in Flat and sealed the deal in a Reining competition that saw numerous score reviews, two of which fell against TCU.
Nevertheless, TCU's galloping ladies have much to be proud of, with a 12-3 season record, 8 of which were earned at the expense of NCEA top-10 opponents, and 5 against their Big 12 peers.
In Fences, TCU fell behind, 2-0, after Oklahoma State's Sydney North earned a meet-high score of 265 against Jordyn Scelssa's 213. Ella Bostwick likewise fell, 257-249.
By a cruel twist of fate, TCU seemed to halve the deficit, with Isabella Baxter's 255-250 win over Grace McReynolds, a score that was overturned during the intermission and altered to 247.
Had All-American star Baxter's score stood, TCU would have led Oklahoma State 3-2, by virtue of great performances from Giorgia Medows and Mattie Dukes, who each knotted a 226.
The Cowgirls proved relentless and ultimately won the event by taking down Sydney Berube by a score of 255-238.
Ashleigh Scully, who boasts more wins (24) of any Horned Frog of the 2022-23 season, earned a sweet vengeance to even the scoreboard at 4-4 after a 247-238 victory over Riley Hogan.
Shea Graham and Jessica McAllister followed up with twin scores of 220.4, which seemed to give TCU the advantage at the half.
The Cowgirls launched a counterattack during Flat to gain an 8-5 advantage. Berube narrowly fell, 241-235, to her opponent, a fate that similarly haunted Scully, who suffered a 237-220 upset. Oklahoma State's Riley Hogan won a coin-flip duel against Laurel Smith, 205-200.
Wynne Weatherly, a graduate student, gave the Frogs a breath of hope, bringing TCU within two points of the Cowgirls after taking down McReynolds 249-245. Weatherly garnered her first All-Big 12 rider honor in Flat following the meet. The Cowgirls' Elizabeth Carter, the event's leading scorer at 254, made the score 10-6 shortly thereafter. Jojo Roberson scored 209.5 points in Reining at the expense of Graham, who did not receive a score, clinching the meet. By a score of 208.5-203.5 Dukes notched her second win of the afternoon following a lengthy review. McAllister received a team-leading score of 214.5 to account for TCU's final point.
TCU Wins Multiple Postseason Equestrian Awards
Following the competition, the Big 12 announced its postseason Equestrian awards. TCU was well represented in the selections.
Wynne Weatherly won the Most Outstanding Performer Award for Flat. Mattie Dukes won the Most Outstanding Performer Award for Horsemanship as well as Reigning Rider of the Year. Head coach Haley Schoolfield was selected as the Big 12 Coach of the Year. Isabella Baxter was selected Fences Rider of the Year. Jessica McAllister won the Horsemanship Rider of the Year.
The All-Big 12 Fences team included Baxter, Sydney Berube, and Ashleigh Scully. The All-Big 12 Flat team included Scully and Weatherly. The All-Big 12 Horsemanship team included Dukes, McAllister, and Giorgia Meadows. The All-Big 12 Reigning team included Dukes, McAllister, and Meadows.
Next up: TCU has been determined the No. 4 seed by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association and will face No. 5 Texas A & M in the quarterfinals April 13-15 in Ocala, Florida.
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