Equestrian - Season opener vs. TCU
Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:51 pmThe SMU Equestrian team begins their regular season this Friday against TCU at BuckBranch Farm. The meet is scheduled to start at 10 in the morning.
The Mustangs hope to bounce back this season after finishing a disappointing 2-10 last year and missing the Varsity Equestrian National Championship for only the second time in the history of the program.
After only graduating three seniors (who only participated in three total rides last season), SMU returns a lot of experience to what is still a relatively young team.
All SMU Equestrian discussions begin with senior Jordyn Pettersen, who had a stellar season last year which culminated in Pettersen being named All-American. Pettersen was 11-1 with 6 MVPs, and led the nation in Adjusted VERS over fences. This season Pettersen will certainly will be counted on to provide a point for SMU in most matches over fences this season as well.
Senior Emily Gardner (4-7), junior Marissa Djernes (4-5-2), sophomore Julianna FIscher (2-3, 1 MVP), and sophomore Ramsay Hanson (2-4) will also likely be counted on to be regular participants over fences for the Mustangs this season. Sophomore Renick Townsend won a point and MVP honors over fences in the Baylor exhibition two weeks ago.
SMU also brings in some freshman riders who have really good pedigrees over fences who may make an impact at some point this season.
On the flat, SMU is led by senior Claire Wenholz (4-8, 1 MVP). Sophomores Renick Townsend (4-5-3, 1 MVP) and Julianna Fischer (3-8, 1 MVP) are the other top returning riders on the flat. Incoming freshman Greer Hindle picked up a point on the flat in the exhibition against Baylor.
A major key to this season is if SMU can start picking up some more points on the flat. Last year SMU was 26-36-3 over fences but only 18-43-4 on the flat.
With twelve meets scheduled this season, SMU will probably need to get at least four or five wins to reach their goal of the national championship bracket. SMU is certainly capable of beating some of the really good programs, it is just a matter of turning some of these meets where SMU wins on raw score but loses 8-4 or 7-5 overall into 7-5 wins for SMU.
The Mustangs hope to bounce back this season after finishing a disappointing 2-10 last year and missing the Varsity Equestrian National Championship for only the second time in the history of the program.
After only graduating three seniors (who only participated in three total rides last season), SMU returns a lot of experience to what is still a relatively young team.
All SMU Equestrian discussions begin with senior Jordyn Pettersen, who had a stellar season last year which culminated in Pettersen being named All-American. Pettersen was 11-1 with 6 MVPs, and led the nation in Adjusted VERS over fences. This season Pettersen will certainly will be counted on to provide a point for SMU in most matches over fences this season as well.
Senior Emily Gardner (4-7), junior Marissa Djernes (4-5-2), sophomore Julianna FIscher (2-3, 1 MVP), and sophomore Ramsay Hanson (2-4) will also likely be counted on to be regular participants over fences for the Mustangs this season. Sophomore Renick Townsend won a point and MVP honors over fences in the Baylor exhibition two weeks ago.
SMU also brings in some freshman riders who have really good pedigrees over fences who may make an impact at some point this season.
On the flat, SMU is led by senior Claire Wenholz (4-8, 1 MVP). Sophomores Renick Townsend (4-5-3, 1 MVP) and Julianna Fischer (3-8, 1 MVP) are the other top returning riders on the flat. Incoming freshman Greer Hindle picked up a point on the flat in the exhibition against Baylor.
A major key to this season is if SMU can start picking up some more points on the flat. Last year SMU was 26-36-3 over fences but only 18-43-4 on the flat.
With twelve meets scheduled this season, SMU will probably need to get at least four or five wins to reach their goal of the national championship bracket. SMU is certainly capable of beating some of the really good programs, it is just a matter of turning some of these meets where SMU wins on raw score but loses 8-4 or 7-5 overall into 7-5 wins for SMU.