The West Texas A&M University Equestrian Team traveled to Springfield, Mass. April 30 through May 3 for the IHSA National Championship. After clinching its third-straight Western Semi-Finals Championship in March, the team qualified to compete at the National Championship – where it has won three previous National titles.

The WT Equestrian Team finished third in the nation in Western competition. Two riders – Angela Bradley and Maggie Lanham – were crowned National Champions in individual events, and one rider – Cana Fitzgerald – earned a Reserve National Championship in two individual events.

“The team has worked hard to not only insure its own individual successes, but the success of others,” Cana Fitzgerald, sophomore Equine Industry and Business major, said. “Not many other teams can say we all have a part in each other’s achievements and genuinely rejoice when a teammate wins.”

Lanham earned her National Championship in Team Advanced Horsemanship. Other placings in team competition include Will Wright finishing third in Team Reining, Madison Heacock placing third in Team Beginner Horsemanship, Kayla Reeves placing fourth in Team Novice Horsemanship, Jori Wendt finishing ninth in Team Intermediate Horsemanship and Kinzee Shull finishing ninth in Team Open Horsemanship.

The WT equestrian team finished third overall in the Western standings with 18 points. Berry College was crowned as the National Champion team with 22 points.

“It means so much to me to have won a National Championship for my team,” Maggie Lanham, junior Equine Industry and Business major, said. “We have all worked so hard to get where we are and I’m so proud of each and every one of my teammate’s rides this weekend!”

Many riders found individual success, as well. Bradley earned her National Championship in Individual Advanced Horsemanship, and Fitzgerald won one of her Reserve National Champion titles in Individual Beginner Horsemanship and, as the team’s only rider to compete at Nationals in both Western and Hunt Seat events, in Beginner Walk/Trot. In Individual Open Horsemanship, Mandie House was fourth and Will Wright was sixth. Wright was also seventh in IHSA Reining and finished fourteenth in the prestigious AQHA cup. Kinzee Shull was fourth in Advanced Horsemanship.

“Winning a National Championship means a lot of hard work, focus, and passion coming together when it means the most,” Angela Bradley, senior Equine Industry and Business major, said. “As a senior at WT, it took four years of hard work and dedication for me to achieve this accomplishment. I couldn’t be more humble or fortunate to be a part of this team and program, let alone a National Champion leaving a legacy.”