MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) — The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) stock horse team has been crowned the 2025 National Intercollegiate Ranch and Stock Horse Association Division 2 National Champion, after an outstanding performance in Amarillo, Texas, this April.
Competing in the versatility ranch horse events, the Blue Raider riders showcased their skills across ranch reining, cow work, ranch trail, and ranch riding — surging to victory with an impressive 117-point lead over 14 other Division 2 schools from across the nation. Last year, the team placed fifth overall, making this year’s triumph even sweeter.
The five-member MTSU team included:
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Marci Leath, junior animal science/pre-vet major from Columbia, South Carolina
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Kenlee West, senior horse major from Tuscaloosa, Alabama
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Alyssa Davis, senior horse science major from Florence, Alabama
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Keira Wagner, junior horse science major from Columbia, Tennessee
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Simone Allen, senior agribusiness major from Mount Juliet, Tennessee
Several riders claimed top individual honors:
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Alyssa Davis — Novice Champion All-Around
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Simone Allen — Novice Third Overall All-Around
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Kenlee West — Limited Non-Pro Seventh Overall All-Around
The national competition featured elite programs like Oklahoma State University (second place) and Tarleton State University (third place). In a field of 153 individual competitors, MTSU’s student-athletes stood out for their grit, talent, and determination.
“These ladies laid down their best every time they entered the pen,” said Andrea Rego, team coach and MTSU instructor, who was supported by graduate assistants JoBeth Scarlett and Kara Brown. “They competed with the grit, grace, and unity that defines what it means to be a Blue Raider.”
As national champions, the team received the use of a Champion Hughes Ranch Trailer for a year, along with additional prizes from Kimes Ranch Jeans and High Cotton Promotions.
Rego credited the broader support system behind the team: “This achievement wouldn’t be possible without the support of our horse community, additional teammates, families, and the overall mission of the MTSU Horse Science program to create well-rounded horsemen and women.”
For more about the MTSU Horse Science program, visit www.mtsu.edu.
