POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE - REINING | REINING CHAMPIONSHIP - FINAL SCORE SHEET

ALL REINING EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP SCORE SHEETS: Round 1, Quarterfinal, Semifinal, Final

WACO, Texas (SMU) – For the first time in school history, SMU Equestrian eclipsed their opponents to earn a spot in the NCEA Tournament Event Finals, where the Mustangs were crowned National Championship Runner Ups in Reining, after a hard-fought battle with the Georgia Bulldogs.

    On Championship Saturday (April 20), No. 4-seed SMU went 2-2 (845.5-841.5) with No. 3-seed Georgia in the final round of competition. Although the Mustangs' defeated the Bulldogs in Dallas earlier this season, the meet fell in favor of Georgia, by a mere four points in Waco, as determined by raw scores.

    Inside the Extraco Events Center, the Mustangs' historic 2018-19 tournament was highlighted by more firsts for the program, as well, including a trip to the Semifinals in three events (Equitation on the Flat, Reining, Equitation Over Fences). The trip culminated in bringing back significant hardware to the Hilltop, too.

    Team captain Madison Steed earned Most Outstanding Rider in the Event Championship, upon winning three of her rides in the event championship to propel the Mustangs to victory. This was her second MOP of the year, fourth in her collegiate career. The Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, native, also earned the event-high in the NCEA Championship event finals, after riding Dixie to a score of 212.5.

    Steed and Savannah Ostner captured their points vs. Georgia, while Steed and Holly Lansidel added points to the Mustangs' overall team meet on Thursday against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls.  

    The Mustangs' reining squad traversed through the 13-team National Championship event bracket, battling their way to an opportunity to play on Championship Saturday. Their efforts were rewarded when the team topped South Carolina in the Semifinal to advance to the final round of competition.

    Starting out with a strong 3-1 (818-795.5) event finish in the first round against South Dakota State, Aubrey Alderman defeated Jackrabbit Jordan Gates 206.5-202.5 on Sparky, and Lansidel rode Nike to a 203-187 victory over SDSU's Rylee Streit. Steed also garnered glory by clinching her point, 208-203, over Cassidy Gardiner.

    Next up, SMU defeated Texas A&M, 2-2 (793-610), in scoring totals during Quarterfinal action. Ostner emerged victoriously, with a 203.5-0.0 conquest, riding Cherry to defeat Aggie adversary Ashton Dunkel. Lansidel on Odie, tallied a 200-196 win to take down Texas A&M's Kalee McCann and keep the Mustangs advancing into Semis later that day.

    Against South Carolina, SMU combined for 2-2 (809-606.5) victory over the Gamecocks on Friday, decided by raw scores. Lansidel outscored opponent Caroline Glute, 209-196, with an exciting performance, while Steed defeated South Carolina's Madison Thiel, 204.5-0.0, riding Diesel to send SMU to the school's first equestrian National Championship Final in program history.

    SMU was a force to be reckoned with in the finals, as each rider gave it their all. Ostner won her point, 212-211, over Georgia's Annabeth Payne on Cooper, as Steed earned a 212.5-209.5 triumph over Bulldog opponent Courtney Blumer.

    The Mustangs' reining squad compiled 10-5-2 record on the season, and together SMU reiners won a total of nine MOPs in 2018-19 action: Steed (Auburn & NCEA Event National Championship), Alderman (DSU & UEC Championship), Lansidel (Fresno State, Texas A&M, OSU & UC Davis), Brecken Schaefer (Baylor exhibition meet).

    The Mustangs spent substantial time ranked at No. 2 in the nation, went undefeated against conference opponents, won the UEC Championship for the second year in a row, and finished the season by making history for the Mustangs, as the first SMU crew to ever reach the National Championship Finals.