Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo
The Bulldogs go head to head with tough competitors in this year’s tournament
The Fresno State equestrian team has the chance to prove that it is the “Best of the West” again at this season’s tournament.
The annual Best of the West tournament will be hosted at the Fresno State equestrian center Feb. 20 and 21.
This year, the Bulldogs will be competing against Texas Christian University, University of Tennessee at Martin and Sacred Heart University of Connecticut.
The team has won all of its previous tournaments Rebecca Malmo, head coach of the equestrian team, said the tournament stemmed from the desire to showcase the smaller schools in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I equestrian.
Malmo said that the tournament was originially called “Best Little Tournament in the West.”
This is the fourth year the tournament has taken place and Malmo said it will soon grow even larger.
With the team competing against schools that have taken multiple national championships, the level of competition is rising.
“We have seen exponential improvement in our girls, and I feel they are ready,” Malmo said.
Over the years the tournament has turned into quite a production.
“It has become our signature event and our booster group, The Saddle Club, has given us a huge support base,” Malmo said.
There will be tri-tip sandwiches for sale, as well as T-shirts and a large silent auction to help raise money for the team.
Two key riders in this year’s tournament are Lisa Wells and Keri Blackledge. Both are senior captains, with Blackledge ranked in the top 10 and Wells leading the team and nation at number one in the NCAA.
Wells, the English over fences captain, said this is her fourth year riding in the tournament.
“Every year is a great experience and two days full of opportunities to put in the best ride possible,” Wells said.
Wells will also represent Fresno State at the National Championships on April 15 through 18 in Waco, Texas.
“This will be my fourth year going to nationals and we’re very excited,” Wells said.
Keri Blackledge is the senior horsemanship captain has ridden on the team for four years.
Blackledge is excited about the tournament and said the team is very competitive.
“Texas Christian University, Sacred Heart and University of Tennessee at Martin will definitely be competitive but I feel that our team is the strongest it has been in a long time and we will do very well in the tournament,” Blackledge said.
Blackledge said they have won the tournament in the past and is confident that they can do it again.
“It’s a really fun show. And although it’s always a pretty long weekend, it’s the show that I look forward to the most all year long,” Blackledge said.
The tournament will start at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, with both English and Western events happening concurrently.