Competitive Teams Fall 2023 Update

Horse Judging Team

The Texas A&M University Horse Judging Team had a successful fall competition season, culminating with taking home the National Championship title at the American Quarter Horse Association World Show!

AQHA World Show

Texas A&M's All-Star Horse Judging Team competed at the AQHA World Show, the pinnacle contest of the year, on Thursday, November 2, in Oklahoma City, OK. For the first time since 2005, Texas A&M University Horse Judging was named the National Champion Team and had a clean sweep in all divisions. This has been an exceptional, hardworking, humble group of people to work with. These students are a phenomenal representation of the Aggie Core Values and the Texas A&M Horse Judging Team motto, "Stay Humble, Hustle Hard."

Halter Division: Champion Team

• Reserve Champion Individual: Brooke Kiefer
• 3rd High Individual: Madison Rosenbaum
• 5th High Individual: Angie Newbold
• 8th High Individual: Grace Parks
• 9th High Individual: Greyson Philippovic

Limited Halter Results:

• High Individual: Rachel Kuhlman
• 3rd High Individual: Elena Betteridge
• 5th High Individual: Hannah Vierling

Performance Division: Champion Team

• Reserve Champion Individual: Madison Rosenbaum
• 3rd High Individual: Greyson Philippovic
• 4th High Individual: Grace Parks
• 6th High Individual: Angie Newbold
• 9th High Individual: Brooke Kiefer

Limited Performance Results:

• 3rd High Individual: Rachel Kuhlman
• 4th High Individual: Hannah Vierling
• 5th High Individual: Brianna Bongard

Reasons Division: Champion Team

• Reserve High Individual: Angie Newbold
• 3rd High Individual: Brooke Kiefer
• 4th High Individual: Grace Parks
• 5th High Individual: Madison Rosenbaum
• 8th High Individual: Greyson Philippovic

Limited Reasons Results:

• 2nd High Individual: Rachel Kuhlman
• 3rd High Individual: Elena Betteridge
• 4th High Individual: Brianna Bongard
• 7th High Individual: Anelise Wilson
• 8th High Individual: Hannah Vierling

Overall: Champion Team

• Reserve High Individual Overall: Madison Rosenbaum
• 3rd High Individual Overall: Brooke Kiefer
• 4th High Individual Overall: Greyson Philippovic
• 5th High Individual Overall: Angie Newbold
• 6th High Individual Overall: Grace Parks
• 15th High Individual Overall: Reagan Hoelscher

Limited Overall:

• 1st High Individual: Rachel Kuhlman
• 3rd High Individual: Hannah Vierling
• 5th High Individual: Brianna Bongard
• 7th High Individual: Elena Betteridge
• 8th High Individual: Anelise Wilson

The team is represented by the following left to right: Assistant Coach Hannah McLochlin, IN, Madison Rosenbaum, NC, Donie Hillje, TX, Brooke Kiefer, WI, Megan Gajdica, TX, Angelina Newbold, TX, Alivia Farrell, TX, Reagan Hoelscher, TX, Grace Parks, TX, Greyson Philippovic, TX, and Coach Sarah Schobert.

Not pictured in the professional shot is Assistant Coach Megan Miller, TX, and Assistant Reining Coach Hailey Bell, TX. A special shoutout to Assistant Coaches Hannah McLochlin, Megan Miller, and Hailey Bell. With such a large group to prepare for back to back contests, there are certainly many moving pieces. The success we had this week would not be possible without these talented, passionate young ladies. We were also represented in the limited division by Brianna Bongard, MD, Elena Betteridge, TX, Rachel Kuhlman, OH, Hannah Vierling, TX, and Anelise Wilson, TX. Also, a huge thank you to our jacket sponsors, Circle P Feed & Supplies, Texas Equine Hospital, Shining C Grulla Horses, Mohawk Flooring, Solo Select Horses LLC , Texas A&M Animal Science, and countless others, without support none of this would be possible.

All-American Quarter Horse Congress

The Texas A&M Horse Judging Team had a solid showing at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress on October 11 in Columbus, OH. The team had five in the top ten overall of the senior college and were named Reserve Champion Congress Team, as well as 4th High Team.

Halter: Champion Team Overall

• High Individual Overall: Alivia Farrell
• Reserve High Individual Overall: Angelina Newbold
• 3rd High Individual Overall: Madison Rosenbaum
• 6th High Individual Overall: Brooke Kiefer
• 8th High Individual Overall: Grace Parks
• 10th High Individual Overall: Greyson Philippovic

Performance: Reserve Champion Team

• 4th High Individual Overall: Brooke Kiefer
• 5th High Individual Overall: Angelina Newbold
• 8th High Individual Overall: Greyson Philippovic

Reasons: Reserve Champion Team

• Reserve High Individual Overall: Angelina Newbold
• 3rd High Individual Overall: Brooke Kiefer
• 6th High Individual Overall: Grace Parks
• Tie for 10th High Individual Overall: Greyson Philippovic

Overall: Reserve Champion Team Overall

• 4th High Individual Overall: Angelina Newbold
• 5th High Individual Overall: Brooke Kiefer
• 6th High Individual Overall: Greyson Philippovic
• 9th High Individual Overall: Grace Parks
• 10th High Individual Overall: Madison Rosenbaum

Limited Halter:

• 1st High Individual Overall: Rachel Kuhlman
• 2nd High Individual Overall: Anelise Wilson
• 3rd High Individual Overall: Elena Betteridge

Limited Performance:

• 3rd High Individual: Hannah Vierling
• 9th High Individual: Elena Betteridge

Limited Reasons:

• 1st: Elena Betteridge
• 2nd: Anelise Wilson
• 7th: Hannah Vierling
• 9th: Rachel Kuhlman

Limited Overall:

• 3rd Overall: Hannah Vierling
• 4th Overall: Elena Betteridge
• 6th Overall: Anelise Wilson
• 8th Overall: Rachel Kuhlman

The team is represented by Alivia Farrell, TX, Megan Gajdica, TX, Donie Hillje, TX, Reagan Hoelscher, TX, Brooke Kiefer, WI, Angelina Newbold, TX, Grace Parks, VT, Greyson Philippovic, TX, and Madison Rosenbaum, NC. In the limited, Elena Betteridge, TX, Rachel Kuhlman, OH, Hannah Vierling, TX, and Anelise Wilson, TX, represented the program. The team is coached by Sarah Schobert, Assistant Coach Hannah McLochlin and Assistant Coach Megan Miller. A special thank you goes out to the jacket sponsors, Shining C Grulla Horses, Mohawk Flooring, Texas Equine Hospital, Solo Select Horses LLC, Circle P Feed & Supplies, Texas A&M Animal Science.

Livestock Judging Team

During the month of October, the Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team competed at the American Royal in Kansas City, MO, and the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. They finished the judging season in Louisville on November 13 as reserve national champions. Congratulations to the team on the success!

American Royal Results

Team:

• 2nd Overall
• 1st Reasons
• 1st Sheep/Goats
• 2nd Cattle
• 3rd Swine

Individual:

• Keaton Woods- 2nd overall, 2nd reasons, 5th sheep/goats, 2nd in cattle
• Abby Johnson- 6th overall, 7th reasons, 1st sheep/goats, 9th swine
• Mikala Grady- 7th overall, 10th reasons, 5th swine
• John Reaves- 12th overall, 11th reasons

State Fair of Texas Results

Team:

• 2nd Overall
• 2nd Reasons
• 2nd Cattle
• 2nd Sheep/Goats
• 3rd Swine

Individual:

• Abby Johnson- 4th overall, 2nd reasons, 1st sheep/goats, 4th swine
• John Reaves- 5th overall, 4th reasons, 9th sheep/goats, 2nd cattle
• Abi Hooper- 12 overall, 9th reasons
• Mikala Grady- 5th sheep/goats
• Kaitlyn Cloud- 5th swine
• Saige Ward- 6th sheep/goats

Thank you to those who allowed us to stop and evaluate livestock along our way:

• Boardman Livestock
• Grady family
• Shipwreck cattle
• Luke James cattle
• Pfeiffer Farms
• Oklahoma State

North American International Livestock Exposition-Louisville Results

2023 Reserve National Champion Team!

Team results:

• 2nd Overall
• 1st Performance Cattle
• 2nd Cattle
• 2nd Swine
• 3rd Reasons
• 7th Sheep/Goats

Individual results:

John Reaves

• High Individual Overall
• High Individual Cattle
• High Individual Swine
• High Individual Performance Cattle
• 2nd Cattle Reasons
• 4th Reasons
• T-10th Sheep/Goats

Mikala Grady

• 8th Swine

Keaton Woods

• 5th Performance Cattle
• 5th Performance Sheep
• 6th Swine Reasons
• 8th Performance Classes

Saige Ward

• 10th Cattle Reasons

Abby Johnson

• 10th Performance Cattle

Meat Judging Team

The Texas A&M Meat Judging Team competed at the American Royal Meat Judging Contest in Omaha, NE on October 16 and at Cargill High Plains in Friona on October 28. Their judging season was completed at the International contest on November 12.

American Royal Results

• 5th Place Team Overall

Individual results:

• Kadie Graves-7th high individual, 3rd in lamb, 4th in pork, and tied for 1st in placings with a perfect score
• Shane Molitor-3rd in beef grading
• Brittley Bowers-1st high individual alternate

Individuals recognized in the alternate contest were:

• Zach Hoelscher-7th
• Patrick Kessler-8th
• Kayce Lopez-9th

Other team members were Kaitlyn Kotrla, Elise Stovall, Casey Murphy, Cody Sells, Maycee Foussadier, Channing Pieniazek, Emily Mutchler, and Karlie Lowe.

Cargill High Plains Results

• High team overall
• 1st Reasons
• 1st Specs
• 1st Lambs
• 2nd Beef Grading
• 2nd Pork

Individual results:

• Zach Hoelscher - 2nd overall, 2nd reasons, 2nd specs, 4th beef, 3rd lamb, 4th beef grading
• Shane Molitor - 5th overall, 4th specs, 3rd pork, 6th lamb, 6th beef grading
• Brittley Bowers - 8th overall, 3rd reasons, 5th specs
• Kadie Graves - 9th overall, 5th reasons, 2nd lamb

Alternate contest:

• Kaitlyn Kotrla - 1st High Individual
• Elise Stovall - 3rd
• Patrick Kessler - 5th
• Cody Sells - 8th
• Kayce Lopez - 9th
• Emily Mutchler - 10th

Other team members include Karlie Lowe, Casey Murphy, Channing Pienziak, & Maycee Foussadier.

The team is coached by Jennifer Wyle and Gage Walsh. Thank you Cargill Friona, Tyson Amarillo, Texas Tech and West Texas A&M for giving us the opportunity to practice on our trip. Thank you to the Pienziak family for hosting a team dinner and to the AMSA and Cargill Friona for coordinating and hosting the contest.

American Meat Science Association International Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest Results

• 4th place team overall
• 3rd beef grading
• 2nd pork judging
• 3rd specs

Individual results:

• Kadie Graves - 8th overall, 1st pork, 3rd specs, 7th in grading, and 1st team All American
• Zach Hoelscher - 2nd team All American

Alternate results:

• Casey Murphy - 2nd
• Kayce Lopez - 5th
• Cody Sells - 6th
• Elise Stovall - 7th
• Brittley Bowers - 8th
• Emily Mutchler - 9th

Brittley Bowers was also selected as the Rachel Hamilton Spirit Award winner.

Other team members include Kaitlyn Kotrla, Shane Molitor, Maycee Foussadier, Patrick Kessler, Channing Pieniazek, and Karlie Lowe. The team is coached by Jennifer Wyle and Gage Walsh.

Ranch Horse Team

The Stock Horse of Texas 2023 World Show was one for the books! We did not come out where we wanted in the overall collegiate results, but we did leave with more tools for our toolboxes, great individual successes and a continued patience and persistence, waiting for the time that everything falls into place.

Special shout-out to Grace Chambers taking Texas A&M bred, raised and trained TAMU Peppy Rey Marsali to the winner's circle at the World Show. There have been many other ranch horse team members including Grace involved in the training of this horse and it was amazing to see the results this week!

HUGE Congratulations to the individual successes below:

Grace Chambers
TAMU Peppy Rey Marsali
Novice:

• Go 1-Champion
• Go 2-Champion
• World Champion
• Champion Pleasure
• Reserve Champion Reining
• Reserve Champion Trail

Metallic Lil Fox
Collegiate Ltd NP:

• Go 2-9th place
• Reserve Champion Cow

Leila Anderson
Magnum Cool Whiz
Collegiate Novice:

• Go 2-Champion
• 5th place overall
• Pleasure Champion

Josh Nichols
Pistols Annie Oakly
Collegiate Ltd NP:

• Go 1-7th place
• 9th place overall

Ltd NP:

• Go 1-Reserve Champion
• Go 2-6th place
• Reserve World Champion

Haley Winkler
SCC Fourstargeneral
Collegiate Ltd NP:

• Go 2-7th place
• Reserve champion pleasure

Ltd NP:

• Go 2 Reserve Champion
• 4th place overall
• Champion Pleasure

Tucker Gillespie
RR One Time Hotshot
Non Pro:

• All Around 6th
• Reserve Reining

Collegiate Non Pro:

• 8th All around

Texas Aggie Rodeo Team

The Texas A&M rodeo team started out the fall season somewhat slowly, but has gained some momentum at the last two rodeos. The women’s team had a breakout rodeo at McNeese winning it going away. Madalyn Richards won the goat tying and was second in the breakaway roping and won the all around. Emma Smith was third in barrel racing, Tylie McDonald was third in goat tying. Also placing in barrel racing was McKenlee Paschal, Kenlee Close and Kailey Ramsey. The ladies are leading the team standings in the Southern region, with one rodeo to go in the fall season.

On the men’s side, Gavin French has been very consistent in the bareback riding and is currently sitting 3rd. Trace Harris won the steer wrestling at the McNeese rodeo and Connor Atkinson was 3rd in the tie down roping.

The Texas A&M Rodeo Team sent 10 athletes to the inaugural National Collegiate Champion Shootout in October. The event hosted the top 2 cowboys and cowgirls from the 11 regions across the United States in each of the 9 events of collegiate rodeo. With $100,000 added prize money, athletes had a chance for a nice payday, but it also gave the schools represented a chance to bring money back to their program. When all the dust settled, animal science junior Gavin French took home the bareback riding title which gives him a bye all the way to the semi-finals of The American, one of the highest-paying rodeos in the world. Gavin will be eligible for the million-dollar prize. Ag-business junior Madalyn Richards also took home the breakaway roping title and a second-place finish in the goat tying. This also gives Madalyn a bye into the semi-finals of The American, making her eligible for the million-dollar prize as well.