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2024-25 Equestrian Roster

Nya Kearns

  • Event Western
  • Class GS
  • Hometown Grayslake, Ill.
  • Previous School Warren Township HS

Biography

2024-25 (Graduate Student): Went an unblemished 17-0 in Horsemanship during her final season ... earned the MOP along with a spot on the All-Championship Team at nationals (4/15-17) earned another MOP during the regular season finale win over No. 1 Auburn (3/7) ... picked up the MOP in Horsemanship during the victory over No. 3 Oklahoma State (3/1) ... garnered the MOP after putting up a 79.5 during the win against No. 3 Georgia (2/15) ... tallied MOP accolades during the win over No. 2 Texas A&M (2/1) ... earned a MOP during the win against No. 9 Baylor (11/9) ... picked up a MOP in the home-opening victory against No. 2 TCU (10/25) ... earned a MOP honor on the road against Auburn (10/19) - also eclipsed 50 victories and 25 MOPs against the Tigers ... tallied the MOP against No. 4 Texas A&M (10/3) ... AWARDS: NCEA Ariat First Team All-American (Horsemanship) ... NCEA Championships Most Outstanding Performer (Horsemanship) ... NCEA All-Championship Team (Horsemanship) ... APHA All-Academic Second Team ... NCEA Academic Honor Roll ... NCEA Arion Sellier Horsemanship Rider of the Month (October).

2023-24 (Senior): Broke own record of Horsemanship wins in a season with 14-2 record ... earned nine MOPs against Oklahoma State (10/14), Texas A&M (10/26), Auburn (11/11), at UC Davis (11/18), against Delaware State (1/26), Fresno State (2/3), at Texas A&M (2/24), Auburn (3/2) and against TCU (3/8) ... became SMU's all-time leader in career MOP honors (22) ... tied program record for most career Horsemanship wins (46) ... tied program Horsemanship high score of 81.5 ... went 2-1 at Nationals ... AWARDS: NCEA Horsemanship Rider of the Year ... NCEA First Team All-American (Horsemanship) ... three-time NCEA Rider of the Month (Jan., Feb., Mar.) ... NCEA Academic All-American Honorable Mention. 

2022-23 (Junior):  Finished the season with a 12-2 mark, including an unblemished 3-0 at the National Championships ... earned three MOP honors: vs. Baylor (11/4), at South Carolina (2/23), vs. Texas A&M (3/11) ... AWARDS: NCEA First-Team Horsemanship All-American ... NCEA Horsemanship All-Championship Team ... NCEA March Horsemanship Rider of the Month.

2021-22 (Sophomore): Went 10-2-1 in Horsemanship, including four MOP awards … scored four of the Mustangs’ top-10 Horsemanship scores on the season – 78.0 vs. UTM (10/2), 78.0 at TCU (10/8), 78.0 at Georgia (10/30), and 77 at UC Davis (11/4) … won back-to-back outings and MOPs in the ECAC Tournament … AWARDS: 2022 Ariat All-American (Horsemanship) ... ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Year … ECAC All-Horsemanship Team … two-time ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Week (Feb. 9, March 8) … NCEA All-Academic Honorable Mention.

2020-21 (Freshman): Horsemanship Record: 10-1 … earned MOP with a 77.5 in first collegiate meet against South Dakota State (1/29) … named MOP at TCU (2/3) with a score of 75.5 … earned back-to-back MOP honors against Fresno State (3/6) with a 77.5 and Baylor (3/13) with a 77.0 … was one of only two Mustangs to earn 10 points in one event during the season … won two points at NCEA Nationals with scores of 224.0 and 230.0 … AWARDS: NCEA Horsemanship Rider of the Year … NCEA All-Championship Horsemanship … NCEA Horsemanship First Team All-American … ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Year … ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Year … All-ECAC Horsemanship … NCEA Shorty's Horsemanship Rider of the Month (March) … three-time ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Week (Feb. 2, Feb. 9, March 16) … ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Month (February).

Prep: Rode in both Jumping Seat and Western disciplines … three-time AQHA World Champion … won multiple Congress and Reserve championships … trains under her parents … started riding at 1 because her parents and grandparents are trainers

Personal: Born October of 2001 … daughter of Valerie and Brad Kearns … plans to major in Business on a Pre-Law track … chose SMU because she immediately fell in love with the team atmosphere, felt the team and coaches were inviting and was drawn to the balance between athletics and the incredible academics

Historical Player Information

  • 2020-21FR

    Western
  • 2021-22SO

    Western
  • 2022-23JR

    Western
  • 2023-24SR

    Western
  • 2024-25GS

    Western