Equestrian | 9/23/2026 7:30:00 PM

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston equestrian team is set to open the 2026-27 season at Redstone Ranch in Dover, Del. The Golden Eagles take on No. 2 Texas A&M University to open the season Thursday, September 24 at 8 a.m. Minnesota Crookston stays in Delaware to face Delaware State University Friday, September 25 at 9 a.m.

The Golden Eagles posted a 1-8 mark in their first full season competing exclusively as a NCEA team. They earned their first-ever NCEA win with a 10-6 victory over the Hornets of Delaware State February 21 in Martin, Tenn. Delaware State went 3-6-1 last season. Texas A&M posted a 9-6 record falling in the third round of the NCEA Championships to the University of South Carolina.

Minnesota Crookston has a strong core returning to the 2026-27 roster. Emma Mutnansky (Jr., Cass Lake, Minn.) and Maggie Lawler (So., Algonquin, Ill.) were the program's first ever Ariat NCEA All-Americans last season. They anchor the squad heading into the 2026-27 campaign.

In Fences, Julianne Lurie (So., Seminole, Fla.) returns after posting a season-best score of 83 at Fresno State. Lawler is back after a season-best mark of 87.5 versus Delaware State. Belle Syrett (Sr., Winnipeg, Manitoba) notched a pair of 80's against UT-Martin and South Dakota State University in 2025-26. 

In Flat, Syrett is back after a season-high 86 at Delaware State last season. Lawler notched a 93 at UC Davis to lead the way for the Golden Eagles. Lurie's best mark was a 78 at UT-Martin. Jane Droll (Sr., Highland Park, Ill.) notched a season-high 79.5 versus Delaware State. 

In Horsemanship, McKenna Hooyer (Sr., Rock Rapids, Iowa) returns after a season-best 77.5 versus Delaware State. Briana Thoeny (So., Ogilvie, Minn.) had a 73 versus Delaware State last season. Siara Mosby (Jr., Bremerton, Wash.) returns after posting a season-best 75 versus UT-Martin. Addison Pike (So., Grand Haven, Mich.) notched a season-high 79 against UT-Martin. Mutnansky's best horsemanship score came with a 79.5 versus Delaware State in Minnesota Crookston's win. 

In Reining, Thoeny returns after a season-high 72 versus Fresno State University last season. Allison Patron (So., Bend, Ore.) returns after notching a 68 versus South Dakota State University. Mosby is back in the fold after a season-high 77 versus UT-Martin. Hooyer's best Reining mark came with a 72.5 in the meet with UT-Martin. 

Minnesota Crookston captured 10 MOP's last season. Returning from last season, Mutnansky had three all in Horsemanship. Lawler notched four with two in Flat and two in Fences. Patron had a pair in Reining, while Pike had a MOP in Horsemanship. 

Minnesota Crookston also brings in a signing class of 15 to this season's squad, that will look to compete: Shelby Aldinger (Fr., Anoka, Minn.), Addyson Brown (So., Fennville, Mich.), Harlow Burris (Fr., Plymouth, Minn.), Katherine Calder (Fr., Yorkville, Ill.), Zoey Case (Fr., Canton, Minn.), Arabella Clark (Fr., Hesperia, Calif.), Karley Eager (Fr., Kent City, Mich.), Micah Fohrman (Fr., Fort Collins, Colo.), Reese Giese (Fr., Fargo, N.D.), Evelyn Lorge (Fr., Appleton, Wis.), Ashlyn Lutz (Fr., Dewitt, Mich.), Kayla Misch (Fr., Crete, Ill.), Kiley Smith (Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn.), Madison Snyder (Sr., Dublin, Ohio), and Harper Tjardes (Fr., Blair, Neb.).