STILLWATER, OK — Top-seeded and No. 4 Baylor equestrian (9-4) edged host and No. 3 Oklahoma State to claim its fourth Big 12 title in program history Saturday at Totusek Arena in Stillwater, Okla.
The top-seeded Bears went 2-0 over the weekend and ultimately won the tiebreaker score of 4,408 to 4,012.8 after being tied 10-10 after the meet. It’s the second title in three seasons but the first under second-year head coach Casie Maxwell.
The Bears kept it close in equitation over fences but the Cowgirls took a 3-2 win. Michelle Mallett (132 on Casanova) and Madison Day (160 on Ginger) each collected points for the Bears.
BU took horsemanship by a 3-2 margin and tied it up 5-5 at the half. Kaylee Mellott’s 146 on Cash, Kacie Scharf’s 144 on Bob and Abbi Demel’s 144.5 on Cupid helped BU in western.
Oklahoma State took a 3-2 win on equitation on the flat where Grace Thiel (148 on Ethon) and Rachael Davis (156 on Tony) took wins, but the Bears would win 3-2 in reining to take the meet.
Madaline Callaway (136 on Slash), Sydney Scheckel (133 on Diesel) and Maggie Cincotta (136 on Smooch) each collected points against the Cowgirls. After a re-ride was granted to Carly Salter on Hannah, OSU claimed that point and tied up the meet at 10-10. Ultimately, the raw scores helped separate Baylor from the Cowgirls for the victory.
Abbi Demel was named the horsemanship Most Outstanding Performer.
At the conclusion of the meet, six Bears were awarded a league-best seven postseason honors. Madison Day was named the Equitation over Fences Rider of the Year and earned All-Big 12 honors in fences and equitation on the flat. Grace Thiel was named Equitation on the Flat Rider of the Year and was also named to the all-conference team. Sydney Scheckel made it three ‘Of the Year’ honors when she was named the Reining Rider of the Year while earning league recognition.
The Bears swept the All-Big 12 flat team with Thiel, Day, Caroline Weaver and Rachael Davis while Demel earned all-conference recognition in horsemanship.
To keep up with things all season long, follow the team on Facebook (Baylor Equestrian), Twitter (@BaylorEQ) and Instagram.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor won its fourth conference title in program history (2010, 2015, 2017, 2019) and first under head coach Casie Maxwell.
• Baylor improved to 7-4 against ranked opponents this season.
• Baylor finishes 2-2 in road meets this season.
• Baylor moved to 40-16 in equitation on the flat points this season.
• Baylor improved to 32-20 in horsemanship points this season.
• Baylor is now 30-23 in reining points this season.
• Baylor is now 23-31 in equitation over fences points this season.
• Baylor had a league-leading seven postseason awards.
• Sydney Scheckel, Madison Day and Grace Thiel earned Big 12 Rider of the Year honors.
• Abbi Demel was named MOP in horsemanship.
• Baylor posted a 6-4 finish in western events.
STAT OF THE MEET
4 – the amount of Big 12 titles won by Baylor equestrian.
WHAT’S NEXT
Baylor awaits its seeding in the NCEA National Championships, held April 17-20 at the Extraco Events Center in Waco.
