Equestrian - Season opener vs. TCU

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

The SMU Equestrian team begins their regular season this Friday against TCU at BuckBranch Farm. The meet is scheduled to start at 10 in the morning.

The Mustangs hope to bounce back this season after finishing a disappointing 2-10 last year and missing the Varsity Equestrian National Championship for only the second time in the history of the program.

After only graduating three seniors (who only participated in three total rides last season), SMU returns a lot of experience to what is still a relatively young team.

All SMU Equestrian discussions begin with senior Jordyn Pettersen, who had a stellar season last year which culminated in Pettersen being named All-American. Pettersen was 11-1 with 6 MVPs, and led the nation in Adjusted VERS over fences. This season Pettersen will certainly will be counted on to provide a point for SMU in most matches over fences this season as well.

Senior Emily Gardner (4-7), junior Marissa Djernes (4-5-2), sophomore Julianna FIscher (2-3, 1 MVP), and sophomore Ramsay Hanson (2-4) will also likely be counted on to be regular participants over fences for the Mustangs this season. Sophomore Renick Townsend won a point and MVP honors over fences in the Baylor exhibition two weeks ago.

SMU also brings in some freshman riders who have really good pedigrees over fences who may make an impact at some point this season.

On the flat, SMU is led by senior Claire Wenholz (4-8, 1 MVP). Sophomores Renick Townsend (4-5-3, 1 MVP) and Julianna Fischer (3-8, 1 MVP) are the other top returning riders on the flat. Incoming freshman Greer Hindle picked up a point on the flat in the exhibition against Baylor.

A major key to this season is if SMU can start picking up some more points on the flat. Last year SMU was 26-36-3 over fences but only 18-43-4 on the flat.

With twelve meets scheduled this season, SMU will probably need to get at least four or five wins to reach their goal of the national championship bracket. SMU is certainly capable of beating some of the really good programs, it is just a matter of turning some of these meets where SMU wins on raw score but loses 8-4 or 7-5 overall into 7-5 wins for SMU.

[Soccer15]

Mustangs beat TCU 6-4 in season opener! Julianna Fischer got MVP over fences.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

What a HUGE start to the season! Congratulations!

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

No box score yet but there is some good information on the SMU website:

http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/w-equest/recaps/092311aab.html

SMU won on raw score 965-943.

As mentioned, Julianna Fischer picked up a point over fences with the MVP-winning score of 88. Jordyn Pettersen picked up her point with an 82. Freshman Emma Roberts won a point over fences as well with a score of 87 (nice debut!). SMU picked up a fourth point over fences with a 65 from Laura Hogan.

Note - this is exactly the kind of thing that seemed to always go against the Mustangs last season. We would have one girl lose something like 85-83, Jordyn would be matched up against somebody who scored in the 50s, and then we would have somebody else lose 67-64. So SMU would score more points but be 1-2 where a bit more luck on the draw would have SMU at 3-0 or 2-1 easily.

On the flat, SMU picked up points from Claire Wenholz (89!) and Renick Townsend (78).

What a fantastic start to the season...

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

There is a little more information in the TCU release.

Over fences, Emily Gardner lost her point 82-78 and Kendall Skreden salvaged an 85-85 draw.

On the flat, Molly Osier battled to an 82-82 draw against Callie Selchau who was Honorable Mention All-American on the flat last season.

So it looks like the Mustangs have really stepped it up this year. Way to go!