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<h1 align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">BAYLOR ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS – July 31, 2024<o:p></o:p></span></b></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">EQ: Get to Know Taylor Smith</span></b><b><span style="font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;background:white">Get to Know Baylor’s Equestrian Student-Athletes<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.5pt;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">For more information contact:
</span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Brent Ingram; 210-845-8651, </span><a href="mailto:brent_ingram@baylor.edu"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">brent_ingram@baylor.edu</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-size:9.0pt">
</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Editor’s Note:
</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">This is the ninth of a Summer series allowing the Baylor fans to get to know some of the elite student-athletes from the equestrian team on BaylorBears.com.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">A native of College Station, Texas, Taylor Smith is entering her second year with the Bears after prepping at A&M Consolidated High School. A member of the 2024 Academic
All-Big 12 Rookie Team, Smith competed in a pair of exhibition rides as a freshman, with each coming against No. 1 TCU.
<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">At what age did you begin competing in equestrian events?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Taylor Smith:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> I got my first competitive horse at 7 but my love for horses started when I had my
first birthday party at a barn where everyone got to ride horses. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Why did you start competing in equestrian?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> My mom grew up horse showing and when I got my first horse I fell in love with the sport.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What is your earliest memory of riding?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> At my first birthday party. There are several pictures of my friends and I riding horses. I
had on pink boots, which I still have sitting in my room today. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Who is your inspiration in sports and why?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> My inspiration is my trainer, Jennifer McGrath. She is constantly pushing me to the best of
my ability and sees the potential in me. Ms. Jennifer is so knowledgeable about the collegiate industry and she inspires me to learn more and push myself every day.</span><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Who is a current/former collegiate or professional athlete whom you admire and why?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> I admire former athlete Alessandra Fratessa (formally) Burkett (currently). Our moms were super
close growing up and Ali always gave me super helpful riding tips and guided me throughout the recruitment process; I would consider Ali an older sister to me. Ali competed for Auburn on the horsemanship and reining team and won several rings during her time
at Auburn. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What family members have made the biggest impact on your life and why?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> Robert Young (step dad), Hayley Young (mom), Samantha Smith (sister, age 16), Laynie Smith (sister,
age 13). My mom got me into horse showing, which has made a huge impact on my show career. She understands the sport and we work really good as a team. My Papa (Robert) has invested so much time and money into understanding this sport and I can proudly say
he is one of the best horse show dads around. I would not be where I am today without my selfless parents and my sisters who have sat through many horseshows.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What are your strengths in your discipline? What are the areas you are currently trying to work on the most?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> Strengths - I analyze everything - in a sport like equestrian I feel like you have to really
read the horse you are riding in order to understand how you are going to plus each maneuver. I will not stop analyzing something until I have it figured out. Working on - I am currently working on adapting to each horse quickly. With our sport we have to
be able to read a horse in a short four minutes. Coming in as a freshman, that is something that is very different from the normal horse show world, where all we had to do was show our one horse.</span><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Why did you decide to attend Baylor?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> Choosing Baylor came with A LOT of prayer. I was honestly really stuck between a couple of schools.
Once I asked God to show me a sign the horsemanship coach at the time, Abbi Demel, texted me and said “It’s a sign, the barista at Dutch Bros was making my drink said they knew you and that you looking at the team here”. I chose to trust God and listen to
his clear sign he gave me. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What is your academic major and why did you select that major?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> I am Pre-Business right now but planning to declare as a marketing major next year. I chose
this major because all throughout high school I was on the Yearbook staff and was blessed to serve as Editor in Chief my senior year. With that role, I learned my loved for “marketing” things to the public eye.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What are your career goals and why do you have an interest in pursuing that particular career?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> I am not exactly sure what I want my final job to be but I want to do something in the marketing
field and get my real estate licenses as my side job. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Have there been any big obstacles that you have had to overcome in your life? How did you overcome them and how did that experience help shape you?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> My parents got a divorce when I was 10 years old. This was a turning point in my life because
I realized life is not perfect. However, when my mom, sisters, and I moved to Salado, Texas, I learned who Jesus was. I had no horses, which at the time was my identity. I found my identity in Jesus and my life has been changed ever since.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What do you enjoy doing outside of equestrian and school?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> I enjoy going to church, country concerts, and babysitting.</span><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What is something most people might not know about you?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">-</span><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">I have a list of random inventions<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">- My favorite color is light blue
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">- My favorite song is Travelin’ Soldier by Cody Johnson<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">- I lived in Salado, Texas, for 1 year<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">- I grew up on a farm
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What would you most like to be known for as a Baylor student-athlete?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> My love for Jesus</span><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What advice would you give to a young girl who would like to one day be in your shoes?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">TS:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> My biggest advice would be to never give up on your dream. If your dream seems unachievable,
work harder. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">- BaylorBears.com -</span></i><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none">-- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#385623;mso-ligatures:none">Brent Ingram</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#385623;mso-ligatures:none"> </span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">|
Assistant AD for Communications</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Men’s Tennis Sport Program Administrator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Department of Athletics | Baylor University</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">C: 210-845-8651</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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