WACO, Texas (NCEA/SMU) – Nya Kearns has been tabbed as the NCEA Horsemanship Rider of the Year for the third time in her illustrious career, the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) announced on Thursday.
 
Kearns has concluded her career as the All-Time Leader in wins in a single event with 63 and MOPs in a single event with 32.
 
During her 2024-25 season, she posted an unblemished record of 17-0 and claimed 10 MOPs, including the NCEA Championships MOP.
 
The Grayslake, Illinois, native is a five-time First Team All-American, and previously won Horsemanship Rider of the Year in 2021 and 2024. She is the first rider to ever win three ROY awards in the same discipline.
 
Kearns opened her undefeated season with a win on the road against No. 1 TCU, and followed that up with the first MOP of the season the following meet against No. 4 Texas A&M. She proceeded to post her largest win margin of the season, excluding zeros, with a 78-70 victory on the road against No. 6 Georgia.
 
She closed out her fall slate with four consecutive MOPs against No. 1 Auburn, No. 2 TCU, No. 9 Baylor and No. 4 Oklahoma State, two of which coming on the road (AU & OSU).
 
The graduate student picked right back up where she left off in the spring, posting a win against South Dakota State and earning a MOP the following day at home against No. 2 Texas A&M.
 
Kearns tallied her seventh MOP of the season during the win over No. 3 Georgia, and then posted two wins away from home against Delaware State and No. 9 UT-Martin.
 
To conclude the final regular season of her career, Kearns earned home MOPs against No. 3 Oklahoma State and No. 1 Auburn.
 
Her success was a large reason to SMU's success going into nationals, as the team was riding a seven-meet winning streak and earned the No. 1 overall seed for the NCEA Championships.
 
In the first round, Kearns posted a score of 76.8 to earn a victory over eight-ranked UT-Martin's Lexi Bailey in SMU's 18-2 victory. She followed that up in the second round with a 77.2-75 victory over No. 5 South Carolina's Alyssa Jipping to help send the Mustangs to their fourth National Championship appearance in her five seasons.
 
During the National Championship, Kearns posted a 77-72 victory over No. 7 Georgia's Kendall McClintock. After the meet, she was named the NCEA Championships Horsemanship MOP and was added to the All-Championship team.
 
2025 NCEA Yearly Award Winners
Head Coach of the Year Dual Discipline - Meghan Boenig (UGA)
Jumping Seat Coach of the Year Dual Discipline - Anna Becker (UGA)
Western Coach of the Year - McKenzie Lantz (UGA)
Sportsmanship Award - Delaware State
Flat Rider of the Year - Sophia Pilla (UGA)
Fences Rider of the Year - Avery Glynn (Auburn)
Horsemanship Rider of the Year - Nya Kearns (SMU)
Reining Rider of the Year - Shea Graham (TCU)

SMU Rider of the Year Winners
2025 - Nya Kearns - Horsemanship
2024 - Augusta Iwasaki - Fences
2024 - Nya Kearns - Horsemanship
2024 - Taylor Zimmerman - Reining
2023 - Augusta Iwasaki - Fences
2022 - Taylor Madden - Flat
2021 - Nya Kearns - Horsemanship
2021 - Dani Latimer - Reining 
2019 - Nora Gray - Fences
2019 - Madison Steed - Reining
2018 - Holly Lansidel - Reining