The air held a cool edge and the sun was shining on the K-State equestrian team as they competed in the last home meet of the fall against No. 6 TCU on Friday.
As the temperature warmed up, the Wildcats heated up as well, edging past the Horned Frogs 10-9. The win marked K-State’s first at Timbercreek Stables this season.
“I think the girls performed very well today,” head coach Casie Maxwell said to K-State Sports. “We have been building on this confidence for the last couple of meets and it was nice to be able to finish it today.”
TCU started the meet off strong in Hunt Seat Arena.
The Horned Frogs got the win in Equitation over Fences with a 3-2 win over K-State. Junior Taylor Schmidt earned a point for K-State with an 87-79 win over TCU’s Emery Hanson. Junior Henley Adkins added another point with an 83-72 victory over Carley Barnett.
K-State fell to TCU again in Equitation on the Flat 3-2, but not without two solid rides from juniors Gretchen Koenen and Christina Martinelli. Koenen earned a score of 88 to take down TCU’s Kari Hancock, 88-80. Martinelli added another point for the Wildcats with a 91-80 score over TCU’s Nikki Diamantis. Martinelli also took home the Most Outstanding Performer honor in Equitation on the Flat.
K-State was down going into the Western Arena, but with a solid crowd on hand at Timbercreek Stables cheering them on, the Wildcats weren’t going down without a fight.
With their backs against the wall, K-State put up a 3-1 win over TCU in Horsemanship. Juniors Sydney Anson, Alyssa Lombardi and senior Danielle Kemper all carded scoring rides for K-State. Anson earned a score of 71, slipping past TCU’s Erin Gillette 71-70. Lombardi remained undefeated this season after earning a win over Rylee Morgan, 70.5-68.5. Kemper defeated TCU’s Colby Plott, 72-71.5.
The match was tied at 7-7 going into Reining.
“Being tied going into Reining puts a lot of pressure on them,” Maxwell said to K-State Sports. “This was just like the competition we had on Oct. 30 against Baylor, just back and forth.”
The Wildcats rode strong and managed to hold TCU for a 3-2 win in Reining. Junior Kara Guy added a point after excelling over Carley Montemuro, 69.5-68. Sophomore Brynn Critcher earned a win over Brooke Boyle, 70.5-68. Critcher also earned an MOP honor in Reining. Senior Nicholle Hatton now has a win streak of four after riding past Hunter DeJane 70-69.5.
K-State will return to Timbercreek Stables in the spring on March 12 when they take on Auburn for the final meet of the season after five other spring meets. Until then, K-State will close out their fall schedule on the road in Dover, Delaware. The Wildcats will face Texas A&M on Friday and Delaware State on Saturday.
