Letchworth, Schmidt, Avolese, and Wilson Named NCEA Riders of the Month

NCEA press release by: Cory Burkarth

Waco, Texas – The National Collegiate Equestrian Association on Friday announced its September Riders of the Month, recognizing outstanding performances from the first month of the 2013-14 collegiate equestrian season.

South Carolina’s Katherine Schmidt was named the September Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Month. She has competed in two meets, boasting a 2-0 record in the event with one MVP honor. She posted an event-high score of 87 in a win vs. No. 5 Kansas State and then tallied an event-high score of 89 vs. Fresno State, defeating her opponent by 21 points. Schmidt was the MVP in Equitation Over Fences against Fresno State, a meet in which she won both hunt seat MVP honors. She has helped South Carolina to a 4-0 record on the season.

Kansas State’s Cat Avolese was named the September Equitation On The Flat Rider of the Month. In her first year ever competing in the event, she went 3-0 in the month of September, with two of those wins coming against NCEA teams. Two of those victories came away from home and one earned her MVP honors.

South Carolina’s Johnna Letchworth was named the September Horsemanship Rider of the Month, posting a 2-0 record in the event with an MVP honor each time she has competed this year. She charted an event-high score of 78 vs. No. 5 Kansas State, defeating her opponent by 9.5 points, the largest margin of victory in both western events. She tied an event-high score of 77 vs. Fresno State, defeating her opponent by five points. Letchworth has helped South Carolina to a 4-0 record on the season.

New Mexico State’s Tara Wilson was named the September Reining Rider of the Month. She is currently 4-0 on the season with each of her wins coming on the road. She picked up wins against SMU (66.5-66), Baylor (73-30), SDSU (77-76) and UTM (72-71). Wilson earned MVP honors in her competitions against Baylor and South Dakota State. She has an average season score of 72 in the event.

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