| Oct. 20, 2009 CONTACT: Dr. John Pipkin, 806-651-2550, jpipkin@wtamu.edu COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu Horse Judging Team Takes Fifth at Quarter Horse Congress CANYON, Texas—The West Texas A&M University horse judging team opened its competitive season with a fifth-place overall finish at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress Oct. 14 in Columbus, Ohio. WTAMU scored 3,149 points for the fifth-place berth. Middle Tennessee State University was in first place with 3,200 points, followed by Colorado State University with 3,188 points, Sam Houston State University in third with 3,153 points and the University of Florida in fourth with 3,150 points. Twenty-one teams and 94 individuals competed in the event. The WTAMU team earned fourth place in the reasons category and fifth in the performance category. Two WTAMU students placed in the top 10 individually. Danielle Stuebs, a junior agriculture business and economics major from Cascade, Wis., placed third in performance and 10th overall. Teammate Trevor Ashcraft, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Mayetta, Kan., placed sixth in reasons. "The team put in a very good performance, and the students came away very focused on preparing for the AQHA World competition in November and the National Reining Horse Association championships in December,” Dr. John Pipkin, professor of animal science, director of Equine Industry Program and coach of the horse judging team, said. “This is an extremely talented group, and I am very proud of them. I am confident the team will be a top contender at the World and NRHA championships.” Team members are listed by their hometowns, classification and majors. Amarillo
Amelia Balderrama, a senior equine business major
Bloomington, Ill.
Chelcie Fischer, a junior agriculture major
Cascade, Wis.
Danielle Stuebs, a junior agriculture business and economics major
Dayton, Ore.
Katie Evers, a sophomore equine business major
Ellisville, Ill.
Ryan Butler, a junior animal science major
Manchaca
Natalie Baker, a junior equine business major
Mayetta, Kan.
Trevor Ashcraft, junior agricultural media and communication major
Van Ormy
Karissa Milu, a junior equine business major
—WTAMU— | 
