Feb. 24, 2002

CANYON, Texas - The Kansas State western equestrian team conclude its regular season with a third-place finish at West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas on Sunday afternoon . The Wildcats posted 23 points, while Texas A&M won the show with 31 points, Oklahoma State came in a second with 24.

Wildcat, senior Kelly Gratny brought home two first-place trophies for K-State, one in open reining and the other in open horsemanship. Meanwhile, freshman Erin Rees (intermediate II horsemanship) captured her third first-place finish of the season.

Senior Kara Nielsen and freshman Natalie Poholsky posted second-place finishes in advanced II horsemanship and advanced I horsemanship, respectively.

With today?s effort, junior Darcy Ferguson was able to move up from advanced I to advanced II horsemanship.

Four Wildcats will conintue their season at Regional Competition in Canyon, Texas on March 9th. Junior Amber Everhart (beginner horsemanship), sophomore Jessica Gittleman (beginning horsemanship), Gratny (open reining and open horsemanship) and freshman Brandi Vogel (advanced II horsemanship) will be representing the western team. The top three individuals in each class at Regionals will move on to Zone Competition on April 6th in Stillwater, Okla.