We know most athletes are striving to compete at the collegiate level after high school. Senior Katie Jedele recently committed to Georgia for equestrian. We will be able to see what she did to get to this point, as well as why she picked Georgia.
“I was in Oklahoma City at the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) derby on June 15, 2022, when calls started coming in. Over the next several weeks, more in-depth conversations began to take place. Next, official visits were scheduled. I visited the University of Georgia in the fall of 2022. The visits were an amazing experience with opportunities to meet the coaching and support staff, tour the campus, attend football games with pre-game sideline access, and spend time with the equestrian team.”
Although the actual team is an important part of choosing the specific school and team environment you want to be a part of, the actual campus, education, and opportunities are one of the main reasons she chose Georgia.
“UGA checked so many boxes for me as one of the nation’s top public universities with a solid equestrian program and a beautiful campus. They offer a variety of resources for student-athletes, including athletic scholarships, academic support services, athletic facilities, athletic trainers, nutritional support, career development, clothing and uniforms, and access to athletic events.”
Georgia is an amazing fit for Jedele, but another important part is what she has done to be able to receive multiple division-one offers. Especially in such a rigorous sport that takes so much time, energy, and travel to be able to compete in the high-level competition we see Jedele succeed in.
“I’ve been riding since I was six years old and have competed in both English and Western events. I’ve had my sights set on competing at the D1 equestrian level since joining an IEA (Interscholastic Equestrian Association) team in middle school.”
Her commitment to her training has helped her grow into an amazing athlete who will be able to grow and accomplish amazing things. Jedele’s sport takes a lot of precision and expertise that she has spent so much time training for.
“My practices with my personal horse involve schooling and reining maneuvers in different ways so that our horses stay ready to show. Oftentimes, we will enter an ancillary class at the shows we attend because it gives us the chance to get in the arena and work on areas that we want to fix before we go to the show. At shows, we generally practice between 2-4 in the morning because during the day, the arenas are used only for showing. Collegiate practices often involve working on the pattern for an upcoming meet to make sure our pattern layout and maneuvers are accurate.”
For all sports, the recruitment path can take multiple forms; there will never be one set path on how and when to get recruited. It is amazing to see how different athletes blossom into confident young adults getting ready to compete at one of the highest levels there is desirable.
“I chose the University of Georgia because it feels like home. The team has a unique bond, and the coaches are amazing. It was important to me to find a place where I could grow as both a student and an athlete.”
