Skyhawks Ranked No. 8 In Final NCEA Poll For 2024-25 Campaign
5/12/2025 3:00:00 PM | Equestrian
WACO, Texas – The last National Collegiate Equestrian Association top-10 rankings of the 2024-25 season were unveiled today as the University of Tennessee at Martin checked in at the No. 8 spot.
Georgia ended the season ranked No. 1 and was followed by No. 2 SMU, No. 3 South Carolina, No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 6 Auburn, No. 7 TCU, the No. 8 Skyhawks, No. 9 Baylor and No. 10 Fresno State.
Today's announcement marks UT Martin's 42nd consecutive appearance in the national poll, a streak that dates back to March 7, 2023. The No. 8 ranking is the highest end-of-season ranking in Skyhawk program history, capping off a historic year under head coach Kim Leiter-Janes.
UT Martin won its first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference championship in 2024-25, claiming its second league title in school history (first since the 2012-13 season). For their efforts, the Skyhawks were selected to the NCEA Championship in Ocala, Fla., making the program's first at-large bid in the current eight-team format.
UT Martin equaled the most wins in school history (eight) in 2024-25, including an undefeated 6-0 regular season record in the ECAC standings. The Skyhawks boasted a school-record four Ariat NCEA All-Americans (Gabby Adams, Elise Mason, Logan Putvinski, Mia McAfoos) as their three first-team honorees trailed only SMU and Auburn (four apiece) for most in the nation.
A total of 11 different UT Martin riders combined for 15 ECAC postseason awards, including major award winners Adams (Flat Rider of the Year), McAfoos (Horsemanship Rider of the Year), Mason (Reining Rider of the Year) and Payton Lussen (Flat Freshman of the Year). In addition, four student-athletes brought home seven ECAC Championship awards, including Horsemanship MOP Ava Newsom and Fences MOP Kate Mills. Leiter-Janes was also voted as ECAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her five seasons at the helm.
All in all, a dozen separate Skyhawks combined for 21 ECAC Rider of the Week honors and six separate ECAC Rider of the Month accolades. UT Martin was also responsible for a NCEA Rider of the Month, a NCEA Standout Student-Athlete and a trio of ECAC Standout Student-Athletes while 22 Skyhawks combined for 37 spots on the NCEA APHA All-Academic list.
Georgia ended the season ranked No. 1 and was followed by No. 2 SMU, No. 3 South Carolina, No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 5 Oklahoma State, No. 6 Auburn, No. 7 TCU, the No. 8 Skyhawks, No. 9 Baylor and No. 10 Fresno State.
Today's announcement marks UT Martin's 42nd consecutive appearance in the national poll, a streak that dates back to March 7, 2023. The No. 8 ranking is the highest end-of-season ranking in Skyhawk program history, capping off a historic year under head coach Kim Leiter-Janes.
UT Martin won its first-ever Eastern College Athletic Conference championship in 2024-25, claiming its second league title in school history (first since the 2012-13 season). For their efforts, the Skyhawks were selected to the NCEA Championship in Ocala, Fla., making the program's first at-large bid in the current eight-team format.
UT Martin equaled the most wins in school history (eight) in 2024-25, including an undefeated 6-0 regular season record in the ECAC standings. The Skyhawks boasted a school-record four Ariat NCEA All-Americans (Gabby Adams, Elise Mason, Logan Putvinski, Mia McAfoos) as their three first-team honorees trailed only SMU and Auburn (four apiece) for most in the nation.
A total of 11 different UT Martin riders combined for 15 ECAC postseason awards, including major award winners Adams (Flat Rider of the Year), McAfoos (Horsemanship Rider of the Year), Mason (Reining Rider of the Year) and Payton Lussen (Flat Freshman of the Year). In addition, four student-athletes brought home seven ECAC Championship awards, including Horsemanship MOP Ava Newsom and Fences MOP Kate Mills. Leiter-Janes was also voted as ECAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her five seasons at the helm.
All in all, a dozen separate Skyhawks combined for 21 ECAC Rider of the Week honors and six separate ECAC Rider of the Month accolades. UT Martin was also responsible for a NCEA Rider of the Month, a NCEA Standout Student-Athlete and a trio of ECAC Standout Student-Athletes while 22 Skyhawks combined for 37 spots on the NCEA APHA All-Academic list.
Players Mentioned
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