Equestrian recruits.

[jackmd]

Hurley Native Part Of First Equestrian Recruiting Class For Jackrabbits

BROOKINGS -- Three standout riders, including two from South Dakota, make up the initial list of recruits for the South Dakota State University women's equestrian program.
Signing national letters of intent Wednesday were Brianna Grohs, Hurley; Abby Knobbe, Dodge, Neb., and Molly Seidel, Sioux Falls.

"I'm excited about the caliber of student-athlete in this first recruiting class," said SDSU head coach Megan McGee. "I think this group will help us get off to a good start as we put together a competitive team in our very first year."

Grohs has won numerous Grand and Reserve Champion titles in both the Western and English disciplines at the county and state 4-H level in South Dakota, including the Turner Country all-around championship this past summer. She currently serves as president of her FFA chapter at Lennox High School and plans to pursue an agriculture-related major at SDSU.

Knobbe brings extensive Western and reining experience at the state 4-H level in Nebraska. She will graduate this spring from West Point-Beemer High School and plans to major in music education with an agriculture-related minor at SDSU.

Seidel is a five-time state Grand and Reserve Champion in horsemanship events at the 4-H level in South Dakota. Her extensive experience in both the English and Western disciplines includes a top-10 finish in the Morgan World Finals. After graduating from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls this spring, she plans to major in nursing at SDSU.

SDSU will begin varsity equestrian competition this fall, with the second half of the season taking place during the spring of 2006......

[89rabbit]

Re: Equestrian recruits.

A little note from the Yankton paper:

http://www.yankton.net/stories/05060...50506029.shtml

Friday, May 6, 2005
Story last updated at 12:50 AM on May 6, 2005
As We See It

. . . .THUMBS UP to Brianna Grohs of Hurley who signed a letter of intent recently to ride with the South Dakota State University's first-ever varsity equestrian program. With a strong competition record and experience in many different disciplines, Grohs is a great addition to the horse-riding team. She may be just the key to bump the university up the list of the nation's strongest riders. . . .

Go State! ;D

[JBNJBQ]

Re: Equestrian recruits.

http://www.yankton.net/stories/05100...50510008.shtml



Area Senior Recruited For SDSU's First-Ever Varsity Equestrian Team

By: By Rita Brhel
rita.brhel@yankton.net


HURLEY -- Brianna Grohs began riding horses when her peers were still learning what animal says "neigh." And she'll still be riding horses when her fellow riders are giving up the hobby for college.
The Hurley native and Lennox High School senior recently signed a letter of intent to ride with South Dakota State University's first-ever varsity equestrian team, set to begin fall 2005. While the university has been competing in the intercollegiate system for a decade, the upcoming season will be the first time the equestrian team is recognized at the NCAA level.

"I've been looking for riders with good work ethic and enthusiasm for this program," said SDSU equestrian team coach Megan McGee. "Both of these are very positive in Brianna's favor. I think she will be a good competitor for the team, and I anticipate that she will be seeing ring time right from the beginning."

What makes Grohs so attractive is her flexibility, McGee said. Grohs, who has been riding since she was 2, has competed successfully with multiple horses through the years. She has received top honors throughout the 4-H horse show network, and is well versed in both the Western and English riding disciplines.

"Not only does Brianna have a great riding and competition record, but she has also been strong on several horses, compared to those who have been riding only one horse all their life," McGee said. "I want riders who are riders, those who are able to ride horses because they're good at it, not because they're horse is well trained."

The reason being, collegiate riders won't be showing their own horses, she said. Instead, riders draw for an unfamiliar horse and depend on the notes scribbled by its owner as to how well the animal performs. The riders who are more accustomed to working with a variety of horses will be more competitive, McGee said.

"Sometimes you're lucky, and sometimes you draw one that isn't so easy to work with," she added. "But everyone is in the same boat."

Grohs said she's looking forward to the challenge of competing with the draw system. She said competing at the collegiate level should test her horsemanship skills. While she regularly rides three horses at home, this is very different from getting on the back of a unknown horse at each show.

"You have to adapt yourself to the horse," Grohs said. "Every horse has different buttons, just like people. You can't explain something to a group of people and have everyone understand it."

Other reasons McGee decided to include Grohs on the equestrian team is because of her school involvement and academic record. As with all sports teams, practice and team meetings can take their toll on athletes' studying time. The 25-member SDSU equestrian team will meet a minimum of three times per week for practice from October through April to prepare to compete in an average of 15 shows. If team members choose to ride outside the designated practice sessions, the time commitment can consume up to 20 hours per week. McGee's riders must be able to effectively balance their lives in and out of the horse barn.

Grohs is used to juggling several activities, as well her grades. She has spent the past four years participating in school plays, FFA, Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and as a football manager, as well as 4-H horse shows.

"Brianna's a good student and should have a good transition," McGee said. "I expect her to be a great student athlete all around. She will be a good representative of SDSU, on and off the back of a horse."

More than the annual $4,000 equestrian team scholarship, Grohs said she is looking forward to simply continuing her hobby. Her team involvement will also fit in well with her schoolwork; while undecided on her major, Grohs is pursuing a career in Cooperative Extension.

"I'm excited," she said. "I've been looking for somewhere to show horses after high school. I've worked hard. It should be challenging but fun."