For the third consecutive year, the West Texas A&M University Equestrian Team clinched the Western Semi-Finals when it was crowned the champion team this past weekend in El Reno, Okla. The team has therefore qualified for the IHSA National Championship in West Springfield, Mass. April 30 through May 3.

The western team gained the opportunity to compete in the Semi-Finals when it won its ninth-straight Western Regional Championship title March 11 at North Central Texas College in Gainesville, Texas. At the regional championships, senior Will Wright was named Regional High Point Rider. Wright, along with 10 other WT riders, qualified for Semi-Finals as a result of their success at Regionals.

WT riders dominated the team competition at Semi-Finals. Senior Kayla Reeves was named Team Novice Horsemanship Champion, junior Jori Wendt was honored as the Team Intermediate Horsemanship Champion, junior Maggie Lanham was the Team Advanced Horsemanship Champion, senior Wright was the Team Reining Champion and senior Kinzee Shull was the Team Open Horsemanship Champion.

Members of the equestrian team found great success as individuals as well. In the Advanced Horsemanship Semi-Finals, Shull was named Champion and Angela Bradley was Reserve Champion. Cana Fitzgerald earned the championship in Individual Beginning Horsemanship. In Individual Open Horsemanship, Mandie House was crowned the Champion and Wright was named Reserve Champion. Wright was also the Individual Reining Champion.

“It is an amazing feeling to see all my hard work pay off and make it to Nationals as an individual and as a team member,” Shull, senior Equine Industry and Business major and captain of the Western team, said. “It never would have been possible without this amazing team, our phenomenal coach Amanda Love and all the support from our families and friends. I am proud to be a part of WT Equestrian.”

With their Semi-Finals win, the western team will move on to compete at the National Championships. Riders who have also qualified to compete nationally as individuals include Bradley, Fitzgerald, House, Shull and Wright.

“It’s definitely been a crazy ride,” House, junior Equine Industry and Business major, said. “And to qualify for Nationals means a lot to me. Knowing that you’re competing against 16 other riders who are just as good and want to make that top four spot and then winning the class really has been a blessing. The team has practiced two times a day so all our hard work has paid off.”

Sharing pride in the equestrian team’s noteworthy achievements is the team’s head coach, Amanda Love, who will continue to push the team as they head toward Nationals.

“Championships are never won by a single person or stand-alone program,” Coach Love said. “Success in this team means to be your best daily and encourage those around you to do the same. That is exactly what this team did this past weekend.”