Waco, TX - The Texas A&M equestrian team will be the 2012 NCEA Overall National Champions. The finals in both Hunter Seat and Western competition will be contested later today but the Aggies are guaranteed at least a second place finish in both disciplines. It will be the program’s second National Championship.

The success of the Aggie Western team is no surprise. They came into Extraco Events Center the #1 seed and defending National Champion. The team stayed true to form with wins over Fresno State on Thursday and over a resilient South Carolina team Friday. The A&M Western team will be competing in its fourth consecutive national championship final.

The bigger story of the day was the Aggie Hunter Seat team. In contrast to their somewhat dynastic counterpart the Hunter Seat team entered the championships as the #7 seed and needed upset wins over #2 seed South Carolina and #3 seed Georgia to make the finals. The team managed both in commanding fashion. The matchups ended as 6-2 Aggie victories and the team marched powerfully into the finals by sweeping all four points in Equitation over Fences against Georgia.

The Aggies will face off against #2 seed Oklahoma State in the Western finals and #4 seed Baylor in the Hunter Seat final. The home team Bears stormed back from a 3-1 deficit by taking the last three points in Equitation over Fences against #1 seed Auburn. Oklahoma State reached the finals by defeating Georgia 5-3.

In the 11 year history of the NCEA (formerly Varsity Equestrian) Championship a non- SEC team has never won the Hunter Seat Championship. Baylor and Texas A&M have made sure that will change.

The Hunter Seat National Championship will begin at 1:30pm CT today.

The Western National Championship will begin at 2:30pm CT today.

Round 2 Western Results

Georgia def Kansas State 4-4 (UGA won raw score tiebreaker 1112.5 – 972.0)

Oklahoma State def Texas Christian 5-3

Semi-Final Western Results

Texas A&M def South Carolina 4-3

Oklahoma State def Georgia 5-3

Round 2 Hunter Seat Results

Georgia def Oklahoma State 4-4 (UGA won raw score tiebreaker 1229.0-1212.0)

Texas A&M def South Carolina 6-2

Semi-Final Hunter Seat Results

Baylor def Auburn 4-2

Texas A&M def Georgia 6-2

Follw the NCEA Championship live via webcast at http://www.collegiateequestrian.com/competitions/nationalchampionship.html

See updated brackets with consolation results at http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-equest/12-natl-champ.html