For Immediate Release | Date | Contact: Sebastian Manzanares (sebastian.manzanares@okstate.edu) 

 

Cowgirls Prepped for Final Home Matchup of Fall Season 

 

The Basics 

The sixth-ranked Oklahoma State equestrian team is set to compete against Big 12 opponent Fresno State in the final home meet of the fall season on Friday at Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center. The Cowgirls are 1-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play while the Bulldogs are 0-3 overall and 0-1 against Big 12 foes. The Cowgirls look to improve their conference record to 2-1 and inch closer to an even record going into the spring season. OSU is 13-3 all-time against Fresno State and has never lost to the Bulldogs at home. The meet is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. 

 

About the Cowgirls                                                                                                                          

The Cowgirls are led by 25th-year head coach Larry Sanchez, fifth-year assistant Laura Brainard, second-year assistant Carter Anderson, first-year assistant Alle Durkin and consultant Jody Brainard. 

 

Fresh Faces on Staff                                                                                                                          

Alle Durkin and Jody Brainard enter their first year with the Cowgirls. Durkin, a former rider at Texas A&M joins Carter Anderson as OSU’s second assistant Jumping Seat coach. Prior to her time at Texas A&M, Durkin trained under the tutelage of several leaders in the equestrian world, such as Kevin Babington and Kenny and Linda Langmeier. While working with Babington as a student worker, she developed skills in training and caring for top-level horses, along with gaining experience in business and equine management activities. Brainard, uncle of OSU Western assistant coach Laura Brainard, joins OSU as a consultant in the Reining event. Brainard brings over 40 years of experience to OSU’s team, highlighted by his time spent as a professional horseman and his established credibility in training horses.  He’s held titles such as official, researcher, monitor and mentor to go along with his status as a professional. 

 

Conference Leaders                                                                                                                      

The Cowgirls went 6-2 against Big 12 opponents last season, including two wins on their way to the program’s second conference championship three-peat, something no team in the Big 12 has done. 

 

An Oklahoma State Win Would...                                                                                       

- Improve its record overall against the Bulldogs to 14-3, and it’s home record against them to 8-0. 

- Keep the Cowgirls undefeated at home against the Bulldogs. 

- Improve head coach Larry Sanchez’ career record to 179-102. 

- Make head coach Larry Sanchez 67-34 against conference opponents. 

 

“We are really looking forward to competing this Friday,” head coach Larry Sanchez said. “We had a productive bye week last week with great practice. The team is excited to compete at home again in front of our home crowd.” 

 

Cowgirl MOPs  

Vs TCU: Hogan (Fences), McDowall (Horsemanship) 

At Baylor: Hogan (Flat), Budd (Reining) 

At SMU: Holway (Fences), Clark (Reining) 

Vs. TAMU: Fussell (Horsemanship) 

Who to Watch                                                                                                            

  • Junior Riley Hogan has gotten off to a hot start to begin the year, as she already has two MOPs under her belt. She’s 3-1-0 in Fences and 2-1-1 in Flat for a combined 5-2-1 to start the year. Last time out, she secured two points for the Cowgirls as a Fences and Flat rider, beating her opponents by a combined 13 points. 

 

  • Sydney North returned to OSU for a graduate year. North has been a four-year starter and looks to compile one of the highest win totals in a Cowgirl career in program history. Currently sitting at 30 combined wins, she got things going in the 2023-24 season with her 25th career win in Fences against TCU and a career-high 90 points against SMU. 
     
  • After losing the first ride of the season, Maddie Fussell is back on track with three straight wins to start the season 3-1 in Horsemanship. She earned her first career MOP in her last outing against Texas A&M, the only Cowgirl to earn that status on the day. 
     
  • Freshman Bella Holway put forth a 91-point effort against SMU in just her third collegiate ride. It tops the list of freshmen performances in the event in OSU history and is the second highest among any riders in program history. Holway is 2-1-1 to start her career. 

 

  • Bella D’Onofrio returned to the starting lineup against Texas A&M and delivered another 75.5-point score in her second win of the season in Horsemanship. 
     
  • Abby Budd scored MOP honors in just her second collegiate ride. Against Baylor, the sophomore scored a crucial point with a 70.5-62.5 victory to seal the victory for the Cowgirls.