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It has been awhile since we talked about the Equestrian team, and I found this over at Go Jacks.com.
http://www.gojacks.com/
South Dakota State University sports fans will be introduced to a whole new breed of competition this fall, when the Jackrabbit women's equestrian program makes its debut.
Considered an emerging sport by the NCAA, equestrian is the 21st varsity sport -- the 11th for women -- offered at SDSU. Once 40 schools in divisions I and II elevate equestrian to varsity status the NCAA will begin to sponsor a national championship. Until that happens, SDSU will be part of a federation of 21 schools that compete under the Varsity Equestrian banner, joining other first-year programs Baylor, Stephen F. Austin (Texas), Tennessee-Martin and Texas Christian.
"I'm very confident South Dakota State, whether it be individually or as a team, will be represented at the national championships next year," said head coach Megan McGee.
Since being named head coach last August, McGee has faced the challenges of assembling a roster, converting the Pegasus Equine Center from a breeding facility into a competition training facility, training horses and handling numerous small details associated with a start-up program.
With all that has gone into building a program from the ground up, McGee said recruiting has been the easiest part.
"(Recruits) literally have been knocking down our doors," said McGee, who previously served as head coach at Fresno State (Calif.) for seven years. "There’s really been no problem of filling our roster with qualified student-athletes."
McGee expects to welcome 30 riders when the team reports to campus Aug. 28. The roster is expected to grow to 60 riders with a full allotment of 15 scholarships by the 2009-10 season. . . .
Early on, McGee expects Allison Carie, Kaylee DeVries and Katie Morris to be among the team leaders in the English events, while South Dakota riders Kate Gunderson (Canton), Katie Hendrickson (Lennox) and Hillary Siebels (Britton) will be counted on to pace SDSU in the Western competitions.
Although the start of competition is only about six weeks away, McGee said the Jackrabbits' inaugural schedule is still in a fluid state as meet formats and dates are still being finalized. The Jackrabbits have received commitments from Baylor, Georgia and South Carolina for home-and-home series, and will travel to Auburn as part of their 15-meet schedule, which will be split between fall and spring seasons. SDSU will host home events at the Swiftel Center in Brookings and is exploring the possibility of holding one event in Sioux Falls this season.
McGee said the tentative schedule includes a meet the last week in September, followed by two to three meets in both October and November. Competition resumes in February with a couple dates, followed by a pair of meets in March and ending with the Varsity Equestrian Championships in New Mexico in April.
The Jackrabbits already have national championship experience in their program with the addition of Joe Humphrey as assistant coach. Humphrey spent the past four seasons at the South Carolina, where he helped lead the Gamecocks to the Varsity Equestrian national title. . . .
SDSU will train at the Pegasus Equine Center with 30 to 35 horses, a herd that was jump-started with the donation of 16 horses by SDSU alumnus Warren Hammerback, who operates a ranch near Greeley, Colo. Other horses are being loaned or leased to the program, and some team members will bring their own horses. More horses will be brought in for SDSU's home competitions on an as-needed basis because the host school supplies all horses for the competition.
My hat is off to Dr. Oien and all involved with bringing the sport of Equestrian to SDSU it is such a great fit for a Land Grant School like ours. It also is a sport with lots of participants a must for Title IX compliance. It is easy to see that it is a good idea when looking at some of our peer group Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Georgia, etc. All schools that play football and have an ag background. Great move glad to see SDSU is expanding opportunities for all students rather then limiting opportunities for male students. Best of luck to Coach McGee and the SDSU Equestrian team!
Go State! ;D
http://www.gojacks.com/
South Dakota State University sports fans will be introduced to a whole new breed of competition this fall, when the Jackrabbit women's equestrian program makes its debut.
Considered an emerging sport by the NCAA, equestrian is the 21st varsity sport -- the 11th for women -- offered at SDSU. Once 40 schools in divisions I and II elevate equestrian to varsity status the NCAA will begin to sponsor a national championship. Until that happens, SDSU will be part of a federation of 21 schools that compete under the Varsity Equestrian banner, joining other first-year programs Baylor, Stephen F. Austin (Texas), Tennessee-Martin and Texas Christian.
"I'm very confident South Dakota State, whether it be individually or as a team, will be represented at the national championships next year," said head coach Megan McGee.
Since being named head coach last August, McGee has faced the challenges of assembling a roster, converting the Pegasus Equine Center from a breeding facility into a competition training facility, training horses and handling numerous small details associated with a start-up program.
With all that has gone into building a program from the ground up, McGee said recruiting has been the easiest part.
"(Recruits) literally have been knocking down our doors," said McGee, who previously served as head coach at Fresno State (Calif.) for seven years. "There’s really been no problem of filling our roster with qualified student-athletes."
McGee expects to welcome 30 riders when the team reports to campus Aug. 28. The roster is expected to grow to 60 riders with a full allotment of 15 scholarships by the 2009-10 season. . . .
Early on, McGee expects Allison Carie, Kaylee DeVries and Katie Morris to be among the team leaders in the English events, while South Dakota riders Kate Gunderson (Canton), Katie Hendrickson (Lennox) and Hillary Siebels (Britton) will be counted on to pace SDSU in the Western competitions.
Although the start of competition is only about six weeks away, McGee said the Jackrabbits' inaugural schedule is still in a fluid state as meet formats and dates are still being finalized. The Jackrabbits have received commitments from Baylor, Georgia and South Carolina for home-and-home series, and will travel to Auburn as part of their 15-meet schedule, which will be split between fall and spring seasons. SDSU will host home events at the Swiftel Center in Brookings and is exploring the possibility of holding one event in Sioux Falls this season.
McGee said the tentative schedule includes a meet the last week in September, followed by two to three meets in both October and November. Competition resumes in February with a couple dates, followed by a pair of meets in March and ending with the Varsity Equestrian Championships in New Mexico in April.
The Jackrabbits already have national championship experience in their program with the addition of Joe Humphrey as assistant coach. Humphrey spent the past four seasons at the South Carolina, where he helped lead the Gamecocks to the Varsity Equestrian national title. . . .
SDSU will train at the Pegasus Equine Center with 30 to 35 horses, a herd that was jump-started with the donation of 16 horses by SDSU alumnus Warren Hammerback, who operates a ranch near Greeley, Colo. Other horses are being loaned or leased to the program, and some team members will bring their own horses. More horses will be brought in for SDSU's home competitions on an as-needed basis because the host school supplies all horses for the competition.
My hat is off to Dr. Oien and all involved with bringing the sport of Equestrian to SDSU it is such a great fit for a Land Grant School like ours. It also is a sport with lots of participants a must for Title IX compliance. It is easy to see that it is a good idea when looking at some of our peer group Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Georgia, etc. All schools that play football and have an ag background. Great move glad to see SDSU is expanding opportunities for all students rather then limiting opportunities for male students. Best of luck to Coach McGee and the SDSU Equestrian team!
Go State! ;D
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