University of Georgia Athletics
Coming Attraction: Meg O'Mara
November 19, 2015 | Equestrian
Meg O'Mara Chases Dream to Georgia
By Nicole Chrzanowski
Growing up with two other sisters who rode horses, hopping on the saddle seemed only natural to Meg O'Mara. By four years old, she was in love with the sport.
O'Mara began competing when she was eight and climbed all the way up through the junior ranks. When it came time to decide on a college, she knew she could not leave her horses. Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida provided her the perfect opportunity to study and stay with her horses, who split the year between Florida and New Jersey.
O'Mara's older sister, Abby, competed on the equestrian team at the University of Georgia. O'Mara visited her frequently and made the decision to transfer to UGA after the first semester of her freshman year.
"I realized that I didn't want to do college at a smaller school, and I really wanted to experience a bigger state school with academics and athletics," said O'Mara.
Transferring to UGA meant O'Mara spent a semester on the team with her sister. Since Abby and Meg focused on being their own individuals, having a sister on the same team proved enjoyable for O'Mara.
Hunt seat has become second nature to O'Mara as her collegiate specialization. She has been jumping and riding English saddle since she began riding. When asked, she said that the most challenging part of collegiate riding is having to ride unfamiliar horses at away meets. O'Mara grew up riding her own horse, so adjusting to team horses is an obstacle she had to overcome.
O'Mara has found herself in a leadership position within the team. A junior studying marketing, she also serves as the junior captain within the team. She was named the Most Outstanding Player in Equitation on the Flat in the 2015 NCEA National Championship.
"To win SEC Championships and nationals for the next two years would be a dream come true," said O'Mara. "My goals are usually just to stay positive, be a role model on the team and to give back what I've learned to the younger girls on the team."
The road does not end after graduation for O'Mara. Equestrian is her passion and she dreams of remaining close to the sport whether it is sales, training, or riding professionally.
The No. 2-ranked equestrian team will face SEC rival No. 8 South Carolina this Friday at home. The meet will be held at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga. and is set to begin at 1 p.m.
Nicole Chrzanowski is a junior from Peachtree City, Georgia, who is double-majoring in public relations and marketing and also is pursuing a sports media certificate in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. After working with the UGA Sports Communications office as a volunteer at events over the past two years, she joined the department as a student assistant this fall.
"Coming Attractions" is a weekly feature published on georgiadogs.com spotlighting a UGA student-athlete who will be competing in a key home event during the upcoming weekend. Previous stories from this year include:
August 27 - Jasmine Eaton (volleyball in the Benson Hospitality Invitational)
September 3 - Sydney Shultis (soccer vs. Clemson)
September 10 - Liliana Rios (soccer vs. South Carolina)
September 17 - Isaiah McKenzie (football vs. South Carolina)
September 24 - Mariel Gutierrez (soccer vs. Arkansas & Texas A&M)
October 1 - John Atkins (football vs. Alabama)
October 8 - Matias Koski (swimming & diving vs. North Carolina)
October 15 - Megan Spencer (volleyball vs. Missouri)
October 22 - Caroline Brinson (women's tennis in ITA Regionals)
October 29 - Kendall Kazor (volleyball vs. Florida)
November 5 - Sterling Bailey (football vs. Kentucky)
November 12 - Marjorie Butler (women's basketball vs. Stetson)
