Equestrian Announces Signing Class Thursday
12/1/2016 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
FORT WORTH, Texas – TCU Director of Equestrian Haley Schoolfield announced the signing of eight student-athletes to national letters of intent Thursday morning.
"Our coaches have put together an outstanding signing class in addition to some outstanding walk-ons," said Schoolfield. "We are thrilled to welcome these ladies to campus in August and know they will excel both in the classroom and the arena."
Inking with the Horned Frogs include: Adrianna Adams, Abigail Albrecht, Alexandria Beneson, Mary Camp, Tessa Lindberg, Lucie Lundquist, Elizabeth McKim and Raegan Rast.
Adams, who hails from Oakdale, Calif., will don the Purple and White next season after garnering success in the AQHA, NRHA and NRCHA. In 2016, she was the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity 5k Champion, as well as the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Youth Limited Champion. Adams, who also claimed Reserve Champion honors in the Non-Pro Limited NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity division, has posted several championship accolades on the Oregon Summer Classic Circuit. She has also earned top-10 finishes in Limited Boxing at the AQHA Youth World Show, including a fourth-place showing at the 2015 show.
Adams was a part of first-place honors by the AQHA and High Roller Reining teams in 2016 and was also the Youth Limited Champion at the 2014 NRCHA Derby. She will graduate from Big Valley Christian High School in Modesto, Calif.
Albrecht comes to Fort Worth from Austin, Texas, where she has qualified and competed at the USEF Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Regionals in both 2016 and 2015, respectively. She has earned top-10 showings at prestigious horse shows like the National Horse Show, Penn. National Horse Show and Capital Challenge in the Large Junior Hunters Division. A Circuit Champion in the Junior Hunters at the Summer in the Rockies Show Series, Albrecht claimed Reserve Champion accolades in the USHJA $25,000 International Hunter Derby at the Summer in the Rockies, as well as being the High Point Equitation Rider at the 2016 Pin Oak Show in Katy, Texas. Albrecht garnered championship accolades at the USHJA Zone 7 Junior Equitation and Large Junior Hunter divisions in 2016. She has also been a THJA Jr. Equitation Champion and Reserve Champion, while also posting a Reserve Champion honor in Junior Hunter in the WCHR South Central Region.
In 2015, Albrecht recorded a top-5 finish at the THJA Jr. Medal Final, while finishing in sixth-place at the Zone 7 Equitation Championship. She garnered a third-place showing at the USHJA Zone 7 Jr. Hunter Division. Albrecht, a member of FCA at her high school, has also excelled in the community during her time in Austin as she is a member of the National Charity League and has done philanthropy work in Mobile Loaves and Fishes, Settlement Home for Children, Foundation for the Homeless, Bucks Barn, Trinity Center and Wonders and Worries.
"We are so happy that Abby will be joining us in Fort Worth next fall," said Hunt Seat head coach Logan Fiorentino. "It's always great when we are able to keep great riders from Texas in Texas! Abby is very well rounded and will make a great student-athlete at TCU. We look forward to her arrival in August."
Beneson, an Ohio native, has qualified for and competed at the USEF Medal Finals, ASPCA Maclay Regionals and USET Finals. She has earned top-10 showings at both the Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend and Devon Horse Show. A multiple championship honoree in the Jumpers Divisions at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., Beneson has earned top-10 finishes in Equitation classes at the Winter Equestrian Festival and on the Kentucky and Michigan Equestrian Circuit.
"We are so excited for Alex to join the TCU equestrian team next fall," said Fiorentino. "She has worked with great professionals over the past several years and has really developed in to a fantastic rider. We are looking forward to her contributions to the team."
Camp will compete for the Frogs next season after earning AjPHA Word Champion honors in Horsemanship and Western Pleasure. She was also the AjPHA Reserve World Champion in Youth Showmanship and Hunt Seat Equitation, while garnering two reserve titles in Western riding. A Congress Champion in Youth Horsemanship, Camp has recorded multiple All-Around Champion titles and Class Circuit Championships during her prep career. She currently sits No. 2 in the nation and has been a three-year varsity member and social officer of her high school dance line at Longview High School in Longview, Texas. Camp has excelled in the classroom as a member of the National Honors Society and the Zonta Club at Longview.
Lindberg comes to TCU after posting AQHA Reserve World Champion honors in 2016. She also had an eighth-place showing at the 2015 AQHA Youth World Show and was a Youth Champion at the 2014 Affiliate Finals. Lindberg has also posted a third-place showing at the prestigious NRHA Non-Pro Finals.
Lundquist, a native of Seattle, brings an impressive resume with her to Fort Worth after she has earned World and Reserve World Champion accolades in Novice Youth and Youth Western Pleasure. She has also posted multiple all-around championships and Horsemanship Circuit Championships, while posting first-place showings at the 2016 Paint Congress in Showmanship and Novice Youth Trail. Lundquist, who is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation and is a 2016 World Champion in Youth Showmanship, has been the Reserve World Champion in Youth Western Pleasure. She has also earned three varsity letters in cross-country.
McKim will don the Purple and White next season after claiming championship honors at the EJ Haun Memorial Medal Final. The North Carolina native has posted Reserve Champion honors at the East Coast Jr. Hunter Finals, as well as a national first-place showing in the Older Large Junior Hunters. She has also recorded a third-place finish at the South East Maclay Regional, which qualified her for the ASPCA Maclay Finals at the National Horse Show in Kentucky later this year. In all, McKim has qualified and competed at the USEF Medal Finals, ASPCA Maclay Finals and USET Finals. She was the Reserve Circuit Champion at HITS-Ocala and Older Large Junior Hunter.
"We cannot wait to welcome Elizabeth to TCU," said Fiorentino. "Elizabeth has balanced success in the competition arena with success in the classroom and we know she will be a great fit here at TCU."
Rast will compete for TCU next fall after being crowned the Zone 7 EQ Championship Finals winner, while also recording Equitation Circuit Championship accolades in the 2015 St. Louis Winter Series. Rast, who competed at the 2016 USEF Medal Finals, recently placed sixth overall at the 2016 Maclay Regionals, which qualified her for the Maclay Finals held at the National Horse Show. She was named the WCHR High Point Rider and garnered a fourth-place finish at the Spring Spectacular Equitation Challenge. Rast has excelled in the classroom at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Kansas. A multiple Principals Honor Roll honoree, Rast is a two-time Presidential Community Service Award recipient and a Scholars Member of the National Society of High School. She boasts a 4.2 GPA and has lettered in equestrian all four years of her prep career.
"We are thrilled to have Raegan joining us at TCU," said Fiorentino. "She is an incredibly hard worker not only in the show ring, but in the classroom as well. We look forward to her arrival in the fall."
