MANHATTAN, Kan. The Kansas State equestrian team looks to pick up another home varsity win as it faces a talented Georgia squad this Sunday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Fox Creek Farm.

Kansas State brings an overall record of 5-5 to the competition and is fresh off a win against Oklahoma State last Friday, 10-9. Georgia enters the competition with an overall record of 9-2, but travels to Auburn on Friday before taking on the Wildcats on Sunday.

“We are looking forward to hosting UGA this weekend,” English head coach Ashley Foster said. “Georgia is a fantastic team. We have been working hard to prepare ourselves. In order to pull out a win, we will need to put in some perfect rides. We plan to ride consistently and hopefully come out on top.”

The Wildcats will send 25 riders to face the lady bulldogs, on the English side, K-State’s squad in Equitation over Fences will consist of senior Whitney Snyder, who is 12-6-2 on the season and leads the Wildcats in individual wins, junior Leslie Yates, who is coming off two wins against Oklahoma State last week, sophomore Kendall Marvin, who also picked up two wins last week, sophomore Ashley Collett, who is 6-1 on the year, and sophomore Paige Sullivan.

In Equitation on the Flat the Wildcats will feature Snyder, Yates, Marvin, freshman Julie Wolfert and junior Jennifer Giraldin.

“I expect this weekend to be a great test before our Central Championships and the Varsity Equestrian National Championship competitions,” Western head coach Casie Williamson said.  “Georgia is a very experienced team. They have a strong tradition of riding confident and aggressive not only at home but on the road as well. Every rider on our team is going to have to be as mistake-free as possible in order to pull out a win this weekend.” 

In Western, K-State’s Horsemanship team which is coming off a 3-2 win over Oklahoma State last Friday will include sophomore Laura Browne, who is 6-2-2 on the season, sophomore Courtney Watters, sophomore Mikaela Sundgren, junior Alyssa Freeman, who is looking to keep her momentum going as she picked up an MVP award against Oklahoma State, and senior Lindsey Salsbury who is 7-2 on the season.

K-State’s Reining squad will send a young squad of sophomore Morgan Campbell, sporting a 6-4 mark, sophomore Kaylee Stout, freshman Alecia Zimbelman, who holds a record of 6-3-1, sophomore Tara Hallan, who took home her second varsity win as a Wildcat against Oklahoma State, and Freeman.

Sunday’s show will also feature nine K-State riders performing in J.V. competition, including freshman Sierra Frederick and sophomore Alise Dykstra in Horsemanship. In the Reining portion of the show, K-State will send sophomore Dani Pettera. J.V. Equitation over Fences will feature freshman Jen Rawle, junior Katie Mellon and freshman Soffia Farral da Cruz. J.V. Equitation on the Flat will send junior Dresden Sommer, sophomore Jessica Hensley and senior Lindsay Cook.

“I feel that everybody has worked really hard and knows how to do their job,” Williamson said. “We just need to stay mentally focused through each and every ride.”

Results from the show will be available online at kstatesports.com as they become available.

- kstatesports.com -