Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 1999)
e Battalion Sports Page 7 • Tuesday, November 9, 1999 Ready to ride Story by Breanne Hicks Photos by JP Beato The Texas A&M Equestrian Team is one of two new varsity teams at A&M. The Aggies have won seven of the nine shows they have partici- sated in this season and will host ;hree shows Nov. 13-14 at Dick Teeman Arena. r ake University Drive west and head one mile north on FM 2818 to experience a world away from campus and its crowded sidewalks, students sporting cell phones and frenzied schedules. Down the dusty road you will find a place where an Aggie can be, well just an Aggie. Listed above are the di rections to Dick Freeman Arena, the site where the Texas A&M Equestri an Team practices. This year, A&M added the eques trian team to its list of varsity sports. Coached by graduate assistants/ stu dents Tana Buckner and Meghan Nolan, the team is looking to start a new Aggie tradition that encourages some female students to get “back in the saddle again." This sport, although newly recog nized as a varsity sport at A&M, has been an active student organization within the Horseman’s Association for many years. The team presently leases its hors es from the animal science depart ment, and its members range from experienced riders to beginners. “There are different classes, rang ing from people who have never rid den before to those who have ridden all their life and even have shown in the World Quarter Horse Shows,” Buckner said. Sophomore Brenda Farias is a be ginner rider who said she joined the — team for the chance to experience a new activity, and riding was a sport she wanted to try. “I was born around ranches, r but l was never able to ride hors es," Farias said. “Then 1 found out about the team and decided to give it a try.” Buckner said joining the ■ equestrian team provides an op portunity for students like Farias who have an interest in horses ■ and want to pursue that interest to a higher level. “The greatest thing about the program is that people who don’t have their own horses can come, get show experience and get in volved with the animals without having to worry about covering the expenses,” she said. In past years, the riders were re sponsible for expenses, which in cluded traveling costs, entry fees for the competitions and membership dues to the Horseman’s Association and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association. But since the organiza tion has been recognized as an NCAA team, the University will now allow the team a small budget, which will help cover many of the costs and — in the future — the opportunity to buy more horses and arena time. Senior Jamie Wells said she is pleased the University has officially recognized the team and provided it with a budget. “It is a lot better this year since we do not have to pay for everything out of our own pockets,” Wells said. “A&M is recognizing that we are ath letes affiliated with the university, and we’re not just an extracurricular activity.” Sophomore Quincy Cahill brings experience to the team after begin ning her successful riding career showing quarter horses. Cahill and Wells both said they have been rid ing since they could walk. They compete in the most advanced class, called Open, and their current perfor mances exhibit their tal- 'ent and dedication to the sport. Cahill earned high point status, with Wells close behind as reserve in several shows throughout October. Buckner said team members are excited about the recognition they are receiving, and their attitudes concerning their # progress and season * are optimistic. “It’s a big deal now that people are coming up to the riders and con gratulating them,” Buckner said. “Before, no one really knew or was aware of the equestrian pro gram.” The team competes in two separate divi sions, English and Western. include discipline I and jumping con tests, while Western • shows embody disci- X pline and reigning com- % ' « * ! petitions. The riders said their goals are to accumulate enough points either individu ally or as a team throughout the various shows in order to qualify for the regional show at the end of the year. The Aggies will be competing for this opportunity along with riders from all the schools governed by the Intercollegiate Horse Show Associa tion in Texas, Kansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. At regional competition, the top placers advance to zones, then na tionals, where the winners not only receive saddles, but recognition at the national level. The Aggies are making progress toward their goal of reaching nation als. At their last show, hosted by Ok lahoma State University, the Aggies captured two first-place ribbons in the Hunt Seat competition and a first and second place finish in the West ern competition. The Aggies have captured seven out of nine total shows they have participated in this season. In the Western division they won four out of five shows, and in the Eng lish division they won three out of four shows. The Aggies will resume action when they host three Western shows on Nov. 13-14 at Dick Freeman Arena. V < '-r / "" in i iii>- mm ~ ... • Win *25,000 for grad school! Win $25,000 toward law, business, graduate or medical school with our “Kaplan gets you in...and pays your way” sweepstakes! es How do I enter? Who wins? When is the drawing? Complete an official entry form online at www.kaptest.com, at your local Kaplan center, or by mailing to: “Kaplan gets you in...and pays your way” sweepstakes P.O. Box 9107, Medford, NY 11763-9107. One lucky person will win $25,000 toward the first year of graduate school. The contest runs from August 15 to November 30, 1999. The winning name will be drawn in January, 2000. The winner will be notified by mail immediately following the drawing. KAPLAN Wor/t/L 1-800-KAP-TEST kaptest.com AOL keyword: kaplan er 2. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. m. VOID IN PUERTO RICO. i ; 1999, who Is a lega? resident of the United States Entrants must be present In the United States at the time that they enter the Sweepstakes fo enter, simply f . pny participating Kaplan Educational Center or Kaplan on-campu* site in the United States and either (a) drop the completed entry form off at any Kaplan Educalipnal Center or Kaplan < ^ampus site; or (b) mall your completed entry form with first class postage to: "Kaplan gets you in and pays your way" sweepstakes. P.O Box 9107 Medford, NY 11763-9107 You can also nter by visiting the Kaplan website at www kaptest.com and by following the instructions to complete and submit an official entry form. You may also obtain an official entry form by calling us t 1-800-KAP-TEST or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to “Kaplan gets you In and pays your way” sweepstakes, P.O. Box 9107 Medford, NY 11763-9107 (WA and VT residents nay omit return postage). As part of your entry, you will be asked to provide your first and last name, permanent address and phone number (or campus address and phone number, if applicable. ‘ » dates during which your campus address and phone number are valid), email address (if available), the name of the school you are currently attending (or the name of your employer, t currently enrolled in school), the year that you will graduate from college or have graduated, the graduate school entrance exams you plan to take, and dates you plan to lake . — • • - • • — ...... ... ... , tiling the postcard with first class postage affixed to the ;:lt you j . exams Acceptance of prize constitutes permission to use winner's name, likeness and other information for promotional purposes 5. You may also enter by hand printing on a S’* x 5" postcard your name, address, city, state, zip code, and home phone number, and mail I printing on a 3” x 5“ postca hbove address Only one entry per person, regardless of method of entry. “•I; 6. All completed official entry forms deposited at Kaplan Educational Canters or Kaplan on-campus sites must be deposited by November 30, 1999. All mail-in entries (completed official entry ®^forma and postcards) must be postmarked by November 30. 1 999 and received by December 7, 1 999 All online entries must be received by November 30. 1999 at 11:59 p.m. EST. While there . are 150,000 pre-pnnted entry forms, postcards and online entries will also be accepted. The odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible entries received. |(*7. ONE GRAND PRIZE. One winner will receive $25,000 toward tuition for the first year at a U S graduate school (law school, medical school, business school, dental school or other masters g|(fer Ph D programs provided that they have not started the graduate program). Within two (2) years of the date that prize notification is sent to the address on the potential winner's entry, the potential winner must notify us of the graduate school program that the potential winner has chosen to attend We will then make payment directly to the designated school. All lederal. state end local taxes are the winner's sole responsibility. The winner may elect to receive a portion of the pnze award in cash to cover payment of taxes on the prize. The prize may not be transferred , end may only be used to cover payment of winner's tuition and any applicable taxes in connection with the prize lp|i. Officers, directors, representatives and employees of Sponsor, its parent, affiliates or subsidiaries or their respective advertising, promotion, publicity, production, and judging agencies and their immediate families and household members are not eligible to enter i f. Copies of the Official Rules may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address above (WA and VT residents may omit return postage) Requests for additional r forms and Official Rule ‘ ‘ “ ‘ ''' entry forms and Official Rules must be received by November 16. 1999 10. the Sponsor of this Sweepstakes is; Kaplan Educational Centers. Inc.. 888 Seventh Avenue. New York, New York 10106 ‘NOVEMBER 9TH ‘TUESDAY NIGHT -7:00PM ‘MSC 206 'SPONSORED BY. MULTICULTURAL ASSN. OF PREHEALTH AGGIES • ALPHA EPSILON DELTA (AED) And ^ College Bowl Do you enjoy Jeopardy! and Trivial Pursuit? Then sign up for the MSC Academic League’s intramural tournament. Applications are available at the glass island in the SPO on the 2nd floor of the MSC. Cost: $5 per person $20 for independent team $15 for organization team Due by: Friday, November 12 For further information, visit our webpage: http://academicleague.tamu.edu