“The more you practice, the better you’ll get.”
We’ve all heard this phrase.
For First-Years entering the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) there are many unknowns and changes, making the above phrase a little less accurate.
For example, the top five riders per event are selected and named Ariat First-Team All-American. The second set of five individuals is named Ariat Second-Team All-American. The other riders who meet the requirements are named Ariat Honorable Mentions. There is no limit on how many riders can be Ariat All-Americans, however, they must meet the requirements.
The qualifications to be an Ariat All-American include the following:
- The rider must have a 67% or higher winning percentage (excluding ties).
- The rider must compete in a minimum of 67% of their team’s NCEA qualifying regular season meets.
- For Fences, the rider must have an adjusted NRS score of at least 90.
- For Flat, the rider must have an adjusted NRS score of at least 85.
- For Horsemanship, the rider must have an adjusted NRS score of at least 80.
- For Reining, the rider must have an adjusted NRS score of at least 75.
In the 2022-2023 competitive season, the grade with the highest number of Ariat All-Americans tied between the Juniors and Seniors. Each grade accounted for 33.33% of the riders receiving this recognition. First-Years made up only 11.11%. In the 2021-2022 competitive season, the Seniors accounted for the highest percentage of Ariat All-Americans, making up 41.66%. The First-Years counted for 16.66%.
In Fences, several individuals were recurring Ariat All-Americans:
- Ellie Ferrigno – TCU: Ariat First-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat Second-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Ava Stearns – Auburn: Ariat First-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat First-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Isabella Baxter – TCU: Ariat Second-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat First-Team All-American (2021-2022)
Augusta Iwasaki from SMU was the only First-Year named Ariat First-Team All-American in the 2022-2023 competitive season. The only other First-Year recognized for this season was Naomi Dachis from Sweet Briar as an Honorable Mention. In the 2021-2022 competitive season, two First- Years were recognized as Ariat Second-Team All-Americans, Olivia Brown from Delaware State and Elli Yeager from SMU.
In the 2022-2023 competitive season, the top number of Ariat All-Americans were Sophomores and Juniors. Each grade accounted for 31.81% of all Ariat All-American Flat riders. First-Years only made up 4.54%. In the 2021-2022 competitive season, the top number of Ariat All-Americans were Juniors accounting for 41.17% of riders. First-Years totaled only 5.88%.
In the Flat, multiple individuals were recurring Ariat All-Americans:
- Sophia Pilla – Georgia: Ariat First-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat Second-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Sierra Gunderson – UC Davis: Ariat Second-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat Second-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Trinity Hammerschmidt – South Carolina: Ariat Second-Team All-American (2022-2023) &Ariat Second-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Katherine Atherton – Sweet Briar: Honorable Mention (2022-2023) & Honorable Mention (2021-2022)
- Kacie Freeburg – Sweet Briar: Honorable Mention (2022-2023) & Honorable Mention (2021-2022)
Only one First-Year, Wyette Felton from Sweet Briar, was named an Honorable Mention for the 2022-2023 competitive season. In the 2021-2022 season, Katherine Atherton, a First-Year from Sweet Briar, was named an Honorable Mention. No First-Years were named First or Second-Team All-Americans.
In the 2022-2023 competitive season, Seniors held the most Ariat All-Americans accounting for 44.44% of all named riders. First-Years only accounted for 11.11%. In the 2021-2022 competitive season, Sophomores held the most Ariat All-Americans accounting for 35.71% of all recognized riders. The First-Years made up 14.2%.
In Horsemanship, several riders were recurring Ariat All-Americans:
- Nya Kearns – SMU: Ariat First-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat First-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Jessica McAllister – TCU: Ariat First-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat First-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Giorgia Medows – TCU: Ariat First-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Honorable Mention (2021-2022)
- Mallory Vroegh – SMU: Ariat First-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat First-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Mattie Dukes – TCU: Ariat Second-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat Second-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Jojo Roberson – Oklahoma State: Ariat Second-Team All-American (2022-2023) & Ariat Second-Team All-American (2021-2022)
- Shea Graham – TCU: Honorable Mention (2022-2023) & Honorable Mention (2021-2022)
- Jillian Stopperich – Georgia: Honorable Mention (2022-2023) & Ariat Second-Team All-American (2021-2022)
Two First-Years were named Honorable Mentions in the 2022-2023 competitive season, Alexa Black from SMU and Alexia Tordoff from Auburn. In the 2021-2022 competitive season, First-Year Jillian Stopperich from Georgia was named Ariat Second-Team All-American, and First-Year Hanna Olaussen from Texas A&M was named Honorable Mention.
In the 2022-2023 competitive season, the Juniors and Seniors tied for the grade with the most Ariat All-Americans. Each grade accounted for 33.33% of recognized riders. First-Years only made up 6.66%. In the 2021-2022 competitive season, Juniors were the top grade making up 50% of recognized riders. First-Years accounted for 7.14%.
There were no recurring Ariat All-Americans for Reining between the 2022-2023 and 2021-2022 seasons.
In the 2022-2023 competitive season, one First-Year was named an Honorable Mention, Kate Buchanan from Auburn. In the 2021-2022 season, First-Year Jax Bound from Georgia was named Honorable Mention. No First-Years were named Ariat First or Second-Team All-Americans in either of those seasons.
While the number of All-Americans varies yearly depending on how many riders are named Honorable Mention, most Ariat All-Americans are upperclassmen.
This outcome is due to the difference in the competitive scene from high school to collegiate showing—the layout and competition format shifts. Upperclassmen have the upper hand because they know what to expect. While some First-Years come in as outliers, the data shows that riders are expected to improve throughout their collegiate career.
