Iwasaki, Kearns, Zimmerman Claim NCEA Rider Of The Year Hono

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Iwasaki, Kearns, Zimmerman Claim NCEA Rider Of The Year Honors

DALLAS (SMU)– SMU's Augusta Iwasaki, Nya Kearns and Taylor Zimmerman were named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association's Rider of the Year in their respective events, the organization announced Tuesday.

Iwasaki earns her second consecutive Rider of the Year honor in Fences after compiling a 11-5 record, five regular season Most Outstanding Performer awards and two NCEA Rider of the Month selections. The Sophomore also took home the Nationals MOP in Fences and was named an NCEA First Team All-American.

Kearns collected three NCEA Rider of the Month awards and First Team All-American honors on her way to being named the Horsemanship Rider of the Year. Kearns went 14-2 on the season, tying the program record for career Horsemanship victories. The senior also earned nine MOPs to become SMU's all-time career leader with 22 Most Outstanding Performer accolades.

Zimmerman went 12-1-3 with four MOPs to earn her first NCEA Reining Rider of the Year honor. The graduate student was the NCEA's Reining Rider of the Month in February and a First Team All-American, and was named to the All-Championship Team by notching a perfect 3-0 record at Nationals.