TCU
Varsity Equestrian National Championships
No. 8 TCU Advances At National Championships
4/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
April 14, 2011
THURSDAY MORNING RESULTS 
| THURSDAY NIGHT RESULTS
"We rode really well as a team today," said head coach Gary Reynolds. "The Hunt Seat team rode great this morning and I thought the Western team performed really well against Fresno State. Senior Kelsey Huffman has come together at just the right time for us."
The No. 9 seeded Horned Frog Hunt Seat team opened the day downing No. 8 Kansas State, 5-3, at the Extraco Events Center. With the win, TCU has now won its opening round match in English each of the last two years. The Frogs, who outscored the Wildcats, 1,026-977.
The Frogs dominated in Equitation on the Flat Thursday, claiming a 3-1 decision. Jessica Hagen got TCU rolling, upending Larissa Laffey, 132-128, while senior Milana Trimino was also victorious in the event, claiming a 135-121 victory over Meredith Finch. Haley Jacobi tallied the other point for the Purple and White on the Flat, defeating Stephanie Patterson, 127-117.
In Equitation over Fences, Taylor Frederick and Caitlin Ader both scored victories over Catherin Avolese and Sarah Mershon, respectively.
In the night session Thursday, No. 1 Auburn defeated the Horned Frogs, 8-0. The Frogs will now face No. 5 Texas A&M, who fell to No. 4 Oklahoma State Thursday, in the consolation bracket Friday afternoon.
On the Western side, No. 6 TCU opened the 2011 Varsity Equestrian National Championships routing No. 11 Fresno State, 6-1. The Frogs, who outscored FSU, 1,161-1,114, swept the Bulldogs in Horsemanship and claimed a 2-1 decision in Reining. With the win, TCU will now face No. 3 Auburn Friday morning.
In Horsemanship, senior Kelsey Huffman dropped Shauna Woodward, 152.5-142, while fellow senior Ashley Aikman, who was just named an honorable mention All-American, earned a 149-142.5 victory over Christa Beezley. Courtney Chown, a Pilot Point native, continued her dominance in the event this season, upending Madison Silver, 148-134.5. Chown, who was recently named an All-America honoree in Horsemanship, moved to 10-0 on the year with the victory. Finally, freshman Taylor Prince captured her first victory at nationals Thursday, defeating Sammie Jo Stone, 146-142.5.
Huffman was also victorious in Reining Thursday, defeating Sonja Koch, 146.5-133. Devin Spencer tallied the other point for the Frogs, while Kolby Simonson rode Rascal to a 139.5 draw against Jillian Tebbe.
TCU will continue action at the 2011 Varsity Equestrian National Championships on Friday.
Players Mentioned
