Mary Elizabeth Cordia is the third athlete in SMU Equestrian's 2020 Senior Spotlight series. Cordia came to SMU from Alexandria, Va. This season, she has earned three points in Flat competition for the Mustangs, helping SMU to wins all three times. During her sophomore and junior years, Cordia earned many academic honors including NCEA Farnam All-Academic First Team, All-UEC Academic Team and APHA NCEA Academic Honor Roll.

Do you have any superstitions or pre-meet rituals?
I have to wear Nora Gray's old show coat when I show (it was the first thing I found before the season started), I always have to take five minutes to myself to think about the pattern and horse I have and before I go in the ring and I touch the back of my helmet that has my grandfather's name on it. 

Is there a nickname you have on the team?
Everyone calls me 'MEC' so often that sometimes people don't know my real name, but Jill can call me Mary. 
 
What's your go-to pump up song?
Last year it was definitely "Llama Llama" by Ludacris but now it's probably "Can't Hold Us" by Macklemore. If I am just listening to music, about 99% of the time it's George Strait.
 
Fun Fact
I love Buc-ee's.
 
How did you get into equestrian?
I fell in love with horses at my grandfather's ranch and never shut up about them when I was home, so he blessed me with my first riding lesson and the obsession hasn't stopped since. I also thought it was the coolest idea to be a cowgirl!

Which SMU horse is your favorite and why?
Shirley - she's the queen. It's that simple and no one can change me or Mallory's minds. I also have to say my boy Clover who was here my sophomore and junior years. He thinks he is a lap-sized dog who loves donuts and had 2chainz stylist ride him while he was here, so that's pretty cool.
 
What's your favorite memory from SMU?
Probably when Holly laughed when I called her after getting in a hit in run in her car. Full disclosure, I warned her of my bad luck and she still let me use it.  
 
What are your plans after graduation?
In a perfect world I would like to stay down here to work on the brand side in a sports related market.
 
What's one thing you want to say to the SMU family?
I will miss each and every one of y'all. I can't think about leaving yet because I consider this team my family and would do anything for any one of y'all. We have been through hard times and fought through them together and I know we can get through this last piece of the season and show everyone else the team we truly are. We just have to keep hunting our elephants and don't get distracted by chasing rabbits.