JACKS READY TO START SEASON IN TEXAS

Thursday, September 17

Waco, Texas

11 a.m.

South Dakota State University

Baylor

A coach helps an athlete that is sitting on horse in equestrian arena outdoors

9/16/2026 2:15:00 PM | Equestrian

South Dakota State Equestrian
Meet #1 at Baylor
Date	Thursday, Sept. 17 - 11 AM CT
Location	Waco, Texas (Willis Family Equestrian Center)
Live Results	BaylorBears.com
Meet #2 at TCU
Date	Friday, Sept. 18 - 10 AM CT
Location	Burleson, Texas (KSM Bear Creek Farms)
Live Results	GoFrogs.com
South Dakota State	Home Page
Opponents	Baylor / TCU

South Dakota State opens the 2026-27 equestrian season with a pair of head-to-head competitions this weekend in Texas against opponents at Baylor and TCU.

The Jackrabbits, who compiled a 6-8 record in head-to-head competition a season ago, will take on Baylor at 11 a.m. Thursday in Waco. SDSU then heads to Burleson for a 10 a.m. matchup Friday against TCU.

SEASON PREVIEW: The Jackrabbits return several key contributors from last year's squad and are expected to add some newcomers into the lineup during the opening weekend of competition. They are led by Julia Werkhoven who is in her second season as head coach for the team. Werkhoven said she's excited to see what the season brings and what the athletes have to offer this year.

Western
The Western squad is returning with four out of five starters from last season and strong freshmen expected to contribute.

South Dakota native Emma Riggs, hailing from Alexandria, returns to lead the reining crew. She turned in a 6-3-5 head-to-head record a season ago and averaged 68.8 points per ride. Riggs became the latest Jackrabbit to earn All-America honors in reining and collected first-team accolades from NCEA and Ariat after averaging team-best in points per ride.

The remainder of the reining lineup for this weekend is expected to consist of senior Maryn Mead (Norfolk, Neb.), junior Lillie Wallis (Chesterfield, Mo.), junior Hailey Hanson (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.), and freshman Claire Lutter (Carroll, Neb.).

Hanson also is expected to be in the lineup for horsemanship this season after having a 5-9 mark last season. She also scored 70 or more points in 11 of 14 performances in horsemanship.

Another junior in Hannah Dutton (Mount Vernon, Wash.) is also expected to be in the horsemanship lineup after tallying up an average of 71.8 points in her performances last season.

The remainder of this weekend's horsemanship lineup for the Jackrabbits is expected to consist of juniors Anna Minich (LaPorte, Ind.) and Avery Bergan (Baldwin City, Kan.), as well as sophomore Addison Saterbak (St. Paul, Minn.).

Jumping Seat
The Jackrabbits return four of their top five performers in Jumping Seat from a year ago.

In fences, Isabelle Malick (Colorado Springs, Colo.) compiled a team-best 10-4-0 record last season while averaging 81.5 points per ride. Heidi White (Senoia, Ga.) ranked second after recording two wins in head-to-head competition a year ago. Sarah Gould (Carmel, Ind.) also was a regular in the fences lineup during the 2025-26 campaign as she claimed three victories.

Kayla Scherer (Fort Collins, Colo.) led the team in head-to-head victories in flat a season ago with a 6-6-0 record. Malick and Sierra Elliott (Harmony, Fla.) also were regular contributors in the flat lineup last season both with five wins apiece.

A group of standout athletes will add depth in the jumping seat events including Brooke Borges (Osceola, Fla.), Lucy Puhalla (Gibsonia, Pa.), and transfer student Sumire Talik-Martinez (Everett, Wash.)

COVERAGE INFORMATION: Both events will have live results available as the Jackrabbits take on Baylor Thursday and TCU on Friday.

-GoJacks.com-