No. 8 Baylor Equestrian Jumps Over Jackrabbits, 17-3

[Calderone, Max]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – Jan. 28, 2023

No. 8 Baylor Equestrian Jumps Over Jackrabbits, 17-3
32 points marks a program record for back-to-back meets
For more information contact: Max Calderone, 254-265-1639, Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu<mailto:Max_Calderone at Baylor.edu>

WACO, Texas – No. 8 Baylor equestrian (4-4, 2-1) won its third-consecutive meet on Saturday with a 17-3 victory over South Dakota State (1-6, 1-2) at the Willis Family Equestrian Center in Waco.

The Bears improved to 4-0 at home on the season behind their second four-event sweep in as many meets. For the second day in a row, Fences got it started with a 5-0 sweep. Then, Flat and Horsemanship each claimed 4-1 event victories. Reining rounded it out with a 4-1 win of its own.

Senior Dominika Silvestri was named Most Outstanding Performer in Fences with an 84 on Petey, marking the third-consecutive meet that she has picked up MOP honors. She became just the second Bear all-time with at least five career Fences MOP’s, joining Savannah Jenkins (2013-17).

Additionally, Annie Vorhies earned her second Most Outstanding Performer award of the year in Flat with an 85 on Capi. In Horsemanship, Alexis Rutledge collected her second MOP of the year and Shelby Clausen picked up the fourth MOP of her career in Reining.

THE RUNDOWN
Silvestri led the way in Fences to start the day, as the Bears got out to a 5-0 lead over the Jackrabbits. Lauren Reid (85) tallied the highest score of the event, while Maddie Vorhies (82), Madison Mitchell (81) and Molly Canfield (79) helped complete the sweep.

Flat and Horsemanship kept up with event wins of their own, behind point-winning scores from Maddie Vorhies (88), Annie Vorhies (85), Mitchell (83) and Silvestri (82) on the Jumping Seat side and Rutledge (78), Nadalee Vasquez (76), Bella Rosa (74) and Elsie Naruszewicz (70) in the Western ring.

To finish it out, Madaline Callaway (76) put down her career-best ride that was just half a point shy of BU’s program record. Clausen (75.5), Daisy Kaufman (74.5) and Jenna Meimerstorf (70) collected the remaining points.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor’s 32 points are its most scored in back-to-back meets in program history.
• BU’s Jumping Seat team scored a season-high nine points, its most since at least 2017-18.
• This is the first time since at least the 2017-18 season that Baylor’s Fences squad has recorded back-to-back sweeps.
• Horsemanship and Reining each matched season-highs with four points.
• Senior Dominika Silvestri was named Most Outstanding Performer for the eighth time in her career and fifth time in Fences.
• This is Silvestri’s fourth MOP of the season, and second in Fences.
• Silvestri became just the second Bear all-time to collect five Fences MOP’s.
• Silvestri also extended her Flat winning streak to seven meets.
• Senior Maddie Vorhies extended her Fences win streak to five meets.
• Vorhies also scored a season-high 88 in Flat.
• Junior Madison Mitchell recorded a season-high 81 with her first win of the year in Fences.
• Mitchell also matched her season high with an 83 in Flat.
• Freshman Lauren Reid tied her career high with an 85 in her fourth-straight Fences win.
• Sophomore Alexis Rutledge scored a season-high 78 to match her career high in Horsemanship.
• Rutledge also earned her second-career MOP award.
• Fifth-year senior Madaline Callaway scored a career-high 76 in Reining, just half a point shy of Baylor’s program record.
• Junior Shelby Clausen recorded a career-high 75.5 in Reining.
• Clausen also earned her fourth-career MOP award, and first of this season.
• Senior Daisy Kaufman scored a career-high with a 74.5 in Reining.

STAT OF THE MEET
32 – Baylor’s 32 points in back-to-back meets are its most in program history.

QUOTABLE
Head coach Casie Maxwell
On her team’s performances the last two days…
“They were great. We told them yesterday to come back out and do the same thing. Make some small adjustments and the task today was to not get tired, to not let day two wear on them. I thought their enthusiasm was great, their confidence was great and they put down the same, if not better performances today, which is all we could ask.”

On the support from the home crowd…
“I think it might have been the biggest crowd I’ve seen since I’ve been here. It was great to have so many Baylor supporters, people who aren’t necessarily equestrian enthusiasts or parents, come out to a meet and learn about the sport. Lots of kids came out today for Cub Club day, which was great too. We really appreciate them coming to show their support for us.”

Jumping Seat senior Dominika Silvestri
On Jumping Seat’s nine points and her fifth-career Fences MOP…
“It’s really cool. I love this team and it’s great to be consistent. We’ve been harping on that lately. Everyone came out swinging no matter who we were facing and rode their personal best. That’s been one of our biggest goals and it’s written in our locker room, to ‘PR’, so we’re working on it.”

Horsemanship sophomore Alexis Rutledge
On matching her career-best score…
“I got a horse that I had never gone in the show pen with before and I was super excited about it because I really like him. I just had a lot of confidence going in and was super excited, so went out and did my best.”

WHAT’S NEXT
No. 8 Baylor (4-4, 2-1) is off to Fresno, Calif. to face Minnesota Crookston (0-3) and Fresno State (0-6, 0-3) on back-to-back days. The meet against the Golden Eagles will begin on Friday, Feb. 3 and resume on Saturday, Feb. 4, while the Bears will also take on the Bulldogs on Saturday, Feb. 4. First ride times are still to be determined.

To stay up to date on all things Baylor equestrian, follow the team on its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorEQ.

-BaylorBears.com-


__________________________________

Max Calderone | Associate Director of Athletics Communications (BSB, FB, EQ)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
C: 254-265-1639

[signature_2334776079]<http://baylorbears.com/>

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