Photo by: Ellie Wilburn
Skyhawks Voted No. 10 In National Collegiate Equestrian Association Preseason Rankings
9/16/2026 2:00:00 PM | Equestrian
WACO, Texas – The University of Tennessee at Martin checked in at No. 10 in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association coaches poll preseason rankings, which were announced this afternoon.
South Carolina was crowned as the preseason favorite and was followed by No. 2 Texas A&M, No. 3 Auburn, No. 4 Georgia, No. 5 SMU, No. 6 Oklahoma State, No. 7 TCU, No. 8 Fresno State, No. 9 Baylor and the No. 10 Skyhawks. Today's announcement marks UT Martin's 45th appearance in the NCEA top-10 poll since March 7, 2023.
For the second straight season, the NCEA has implemented a NCEA coaches poll which will run through the fall semester of competition (Nov. 24). The NCEA Selection Committee rankings will begin on Jan. 26 with the final edition set for March 9.
Head coach Kim Leiter-Janes enters her seventh season in charge of the Skyhawk program. Last season, UT Martin boasted seven different riders who earned All-Eastern College Athletic Conference postseason honors. The Skyhawks combined for 11 ECAC Rider of the Week honors, three separate ECAC Rider of the Month accolades and a NCEA Rider of the Month award.
UT Martin returns 29 riders from last season, including NCEA Ariat All-America horsemanship second teamer Ruby Gunderson. The Skyhawks bring back an All-ECAC honoree in each event in Gunderson (horsemanship), Kate Mills (fences), Kathleen DeGenova (flat) and Payton Bundy (reining) while also returning inaugural NCEA YETI Workhorse Award winner Stevie Brown.
UT Martin conducts its Blue and Orange Scrimmage this weekend, as flat (2 p.m.) and horsemanship (4:30 p.m.) is set for Friday, Sept. 18 before fences (8:30 a.m.) and reining (11 a.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex. The Skyhawks officially open the 2026-27 campaign at ECAC foe Delaware State on Oct. 2.
South Carolina was crowned as the preseason favorite and was followed by No. 2 Texas A&M, No. 3 Auburn, No. 4 Georgia, No. 5 SMU, No. 6 Oklahoma State, No. 7 TCU, No. 8 Fresno State, No. 9 Baylor and the No. 10 Skyhawks. Today's announcement marks UT Martin's 45th appearance in the NCEA top-10 poll since March 7, 2023.
For the second straight season, the NCEA has implemented a NCEA coaches poll which will run through the fall semester of competition (Nov. 24). The NCEA Selection Committee rankings will begin on Jan. 26 with the final edition set for March 9.
Head coach Kim Leiter-Janes enters her seventh season in charge of the Skyhawk program. Last season, UT Martin boasted seven different riders who earned All-Eastern College Athletic Conference postseason honors. The Skyhawks combined for 11 ECAC Rider of the Week honors, three separate ECAC Rider of the Month accolades and a NCEA Rider of the Month award.
UT Martin returns 29 riders from last season, including NCEA Ariat All-America horsemanship second teamer Ruby Gunderson. The Skyhawks bring back an All-ECAC honoree in each event in Gunderson (horsemanship), Kate Mills (fences), Kathleen DeGenova (flat) and Payton Bundy (reining) while also returning inaugural NCEA YETI Workhorse Award winner Stevie Brown.
UT Martin conducts its Blue and Orange Scrimmage this weekend, as flat (2 p.m.) and horsemanship (4:30 p.m.) is set for Friday, Sept. 18 before fences (8:30 a.m.) and reining (11 a.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex. The Skyhawks officially open the 2026-27 campaign at ECAC foe Delaware State on Oct. 2.
Players Mentioned
Western
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Western
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Jumping Seat
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Western
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Jumping Seat
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