Georgia Equestrian Advances to Semifinals of NCEA National Championship

Thursday, April 16

Ocala, Fla.

2:30 p.m.

University of Georgia

Oklahoma State

Georgia rider Tessa Downey during Georgia’s meet against Texas A&M at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga., on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (Sofia Yaker/UGAAA)

Photo by: Sofia Yaker/UGAAA

Georgia Equestrian Advances to Semifinals of NCEA National Championship

April 16, 2026 | Equestrian

OCALA, Fla. – The third-seeded Georgia equestrian team took down the six-seeded Oklahoma State Cowgirls, 14-5, in the quarterfinals of the 2026 NCEA National Championship.

Fast Facts

The Bulldogs outscored Oklahoma State 3-1 in Fences, all of which coming from the junior class. Liza Cram put the first point on the board for Georgia, riding to a score of 88, her second-highest score of the season. Tessa Downey earned her 10th Fences victory of the season, with her 87.7-point performance. Madison Nadolenco wrapped up competition in Fences with an 86.3-point ride, edging out her opponent by one point.
In the Flat competition, Georgia secured a 4-1 win against the Cowgirls. Despite Oklahoma State capturing the first point in the discipline, the Bulldogs went on to win the remaining four points. Tessa Brown began the point parade for Georgia, defeating her opponent 78-74. Parker Cliff added a score of 86.7 to capture her point. Freshman Kingsley Dey made her NCEA Championship debut, with a 84.7-point performance to claim her point. Maggie Bresch rode to an impressive score of 89, her second-highest score of the season, to capture the final Jumping Seat point for Georgia.
To kick off competition in the Western arena, the Bulldogs edged out the Cowgirls 3-2 in Reining. Raegan Shepherd captured the first point, with her 72.2-point performance. Cadence Eger added a score of 71.2 to secure her point against her opponent. Lastly, Shelby Lynch rode to a 72.5 to earn the final point.
Georgia finished out the meet with a 4-1 win in the Horsemanship competition. Lyla Bellar defeated her opponent 73.2-71.2. Kendall McClintock added a score of 73 to capture her point. Abbey Zawisza earned the highest score in the discipline, a 75.8, to secure her point. Ava Hathaway wrapped up the competition with a 75.7 to capture Georgia's 14th and final point.

Up Next
Georgia will face No. 2 Texas A&M in the semifinals of the NCEA National Championship on Friday, April 17, at 9 a.m. ET. The meet will be available to stream on ESPN+, and live scoring can be accessed here.

#3 GEORGIA 14, #6 OKLAHOMA STATE 5

FENCES
Liza Cram (UGA) def. Sophia Tabasso (OK St.) 88-79
Blake Rowan (OK St.) def. Ella Witt (UGA) 89.3-62.3
Tessa Brown (UGA) tied Bella Holway (OK St.) 83.3-83.3
Tessa Downey (UGA) def. Ellie DuPuis (OK St.) 87.7-81.7
Madison Nadolenco (UGA) def. Lauren Gee (OK St.) 86.3-85.3

FLAT
Cadence Kueker (OK St.) def. Ella Duffy (UGA) 82.3-71.3
Tessa Brown (UGA) def. Gable Gering (OK St.) 78-74
Parker Cliff (UGA) def. Mackenzie Carreras (OK St.) 86.7-85.3
Kingsley Dey (UGA) def. Lourdes Low (OK St.) 84.7-69.3
Maggie Bresch (UGA) def. Sophia Tabasso (OK St.) 89-87.7

HORSEMANSHIP
Lyla Bellar (UGA) def. June Roberson (OK St.) 73.2-71.2
Kendall McClintock (UGA) def. Alana Stanton (OK St.) 73-70.7
Abbey Zawisza (UGA) def. Jalyn McElmurray (OK St.) 75.8-75.3
Bella D'Onofrio (OK St.) def. Alyvia Dixon (UGA) 74.7-73.2
Ava Hathaway (UGA) def. Sheridan Baringer (OK St.) 75.7-74.5

REINING
Ava Bush (OK St.) def. Kennedy Buchanan (UGA) 70-69
Raegan Shepherd (UGA) def. Emma Filiatreau (OK St.) 72.2-71.5
Ayden Welman (OK St.) def. Avery Taylor (UGA) 69.7-64.8
Cadence Eger (UGA) def. Katie Ramsey (OK St.) 71.2-70
Shelby Lynch (UGA) def. Tristan Bagby (OK St.) 72.5-71