Gunderson Earns NCEA Ariat All-America Accolade In Horsemanship
4/7/2026 3:00:00 PM | Equestrian
WACO, Texas – University of Tennessee at Martin sophomore standout Ruby Gunderson has been identified as an Ariat All-America selection by the National Collegiate Equestrian Association, the organization announced this afternoon.
Hailing from Ephrata, Wash., Gunderson was one of just five second team All-America honorees in horsemanship. She becomes only the second Skyhawk to garner All-America status in horsemanship (joining former teammate Mia McAfoos from last season) and is the 20th different UT Martin representative to bring home the program's 26th All-America award.
Gunderson receives her second postseason honor in the last two weeks as she was also named to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference squad in horsemanship on March 26. She went 9-4-1 in her first season as a starter, claiming the second-most single-season horsemanship victories in school history (trailing only McAfoos' 10 from 2024-25). She was crowned as MOP against No. 2 Georgia on Jan. 30, generating her first career MOP medal.
The 2025-26 campaign started with three straight victories against ECAC rivals for Gunderson. Following the aforementioned triumph over Georgia, she wrapped up the season with an unbeaten record (5-0-1) over her final six head-to-head matchups. That stretch started with two ECAC wins before three straight victories over nationally ranked opposition (at No. 8 Fresno State, neutral-site win against No. 10 Baylor and at No. 9 UC Davis).
Gunderson tied for the team lead with a 73.9 regular season scoring average, accounting for a career-best 80 points against ECAC foe Minnesota-Crookston on Feb. 21. She was responsible for an ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Week accolade on March 10.
Hailing from Ephrata, Wash., Gunderson was one of just five second team All-America honorees in horsemanship. She becomes only the second Skyhawk to garner All-America status in horsemanship (joining former teammate Mia McAfoos from last season) and is the 20th different UT Martin representative to bring home the program's 26th All-America award.
Gunderson receives her second postseason honor in the last two weeks as she was also named to the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference squad in horsemanship on March 26. She went 9-4-1 in her first season as a starter, claiming the second-most single-season horsemanship victories in school history (trailing only McAfoos' 10 from 2024-25). She was crowned as MOP against No. 2 Georgia on Jan. 30, generating her first career MOP medal.
The 2025-26 campaign started with three straight victories against ECAC rivals for Gunderson. Following the aforementioned triumph over Georgia, she wrapped up the season with an unbeaten record (5-0-1) over her final six head-to-head matchups. That stretch started with two ECAC wins before three straight victories over nationally ranked opposition (at No. 8 Fresno State, neutral-site win against No. 10 Baylor and at No. 9 UC Davis).
Gunderson tied for the team lead with a 73.9 regular season scoring average, accounting for a career-best 80 points against ECAC foe Minnesota-Crookston on Feb. 21. She was responsible for an ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Week accolade on March 10.
Players Mentioned
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