Jan. 26, 2007

FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU equestrian team received a late Christmas present recently when the NCAA deemed fall signee Nicole Barnes eligible for the start of the 2007 spring season.

A native of Northbrook, Ill., Barnes transferred from Oakton Community College in Des Plaines, Ill., and is eligible to compete this spring as a 4-2-4 college transfer. Barnes was originally slated to begin competition in the fall of 2007.

"Nicole Barnes' skill ability and enthusiasm are a tremendous addition to the western team," head coach Gary Reynolds said. "We now have five world champions on the western team."

This past fall, Barnes was the All-Around Amateur at the 2006 AQHA World Championship Show, where she won the Western Horsemanship World Championship.

TCU will begin its initial season on Feb. 2 against cross-town rival SMU at 3 p.m. The event will just stage both school's English teams and will be held at Fieldstone Park in Mansfield, Texas.