WACO, Texas – The Texas A&M equestrian team’s 2012-13 campaign came to an end in the NCEA quarterfinal round on Friday as the No. 6 seed western squad and the 10th-seeded hunter seat team fell at the Extraco Events Center.
A 5-2 loss to No. 3 seed Georgia ended the western team’s reign as National Champions and cut the team’s national title streak at four. The hunt seat squad dropped a 6-2 decision to second-seeded South Carolina.
“Our team fought hard,” Head Coach Tana McKay said. “These girls have shown a lot of determination and character this season and I am very proud of them.”
Seniors Carey Nowacek (horsemanship) and Kori Pickett (over fences) each ended their A&M careers with victories today.
Junior Lindsey Bernbaum scored a point in reining, with a 138-137 win, and sophomore Ashley Skold tied with her opponent. The western team entered the horsemanship portion of the competition with UGA trailing the Bulldogs by one at 2-1. Senior Carey Nowacek rode to a 149-146 win for the Aggies, and two A&M rides were bested by just 1.5 points as UGA took the 5-2 win to advance to the NCEA semifinal round.
A&M secured two wins in hunt seat as Pickett trounced her opponent by 53 points in equitation over fences and freshman Marlena Parker added a 20-point victory in equitation on the flat. The two wins weren’t enough, though, as South Carolina took a 6-2 win to advance to the semis.
The 2012 western and overall National Champions end the 2012-13 season with a 7-8 record after their run in the NCEA Championships. The team will return to action in the fall.
(#2) South Carolina 6, (# 10) Texas A&M 2
NCEA Championship – Hunter Seat, Quarterfinal Round
Friday, April 19, 2013 – Extraco Events Center – Waco, Texas
Equitation on the Flat (USC 3, A&M 1)
Kimberly McCormack, USC def. Paige Russell, A&M, 170-150
Marlena Parker, A&M def. Samantha Smith, USC, 145-125
Samantha Kraus, USC def. Hannah Williams, A&M, 181-156
Katherine Schmidt, USC def. Haley Buchmiller, A&M, 167-163
Equitation over Fences (USC 3, A&M 1)
Amber Henter, USC def. Marlena Parker, A&M, 170-168
Katherine Schmidt, USC def. Haley Buchmiller, A&M, 156-0
Kimberly McCormack, USC def. Emily Williams, A&M, 180-167
Kori Pickett, A&M def. Samantha Smith, USC, 163-110
(#3) Georgia 5, (#6) Texas A&M 2
NCEA Championship – Western, Quarterfinal Round
Friday, April 19, 2013 – Extraco Events Center – Waco, Texas
Reining (UGA 2, A&M 1)
Lindsey Bernbaum, A&M def. Lauren Tieche, UGA, 138-137
Becca Haaland, UGA def. Becca Murray, A&M, 142.5-139
Ashley Skold, A&M tied McKenzie Lantz, UGA, 133-133
Sami Belcher, UGA def. Laura Sumrall, A&M, 136-131
Horsemaship (UGA 3, A&M 1)
Paige Stawicki, UGA def. Cassie Mantor, A&M, 151-146.5
Anna Sasser, UGA def. Amanda Brightwell, A&M, 150-148.5
Carey Nowacek, A&M def. Maria Salazar, UGA, 149-146
Megan Hawkins, UGA def. Molli Jacobs, A&M, 146-144.5
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics