FRESNO, Calif. - The outstanding career of Fresno State equestrian senior Sara Tuck comes to a close with the highest of honors to add to her resume. The native of Carmel, Calif. has been named a 2023-24 first team Ariat All-American in the flat, the National Collegiate Equestrian Association announced on Tuesday.
"Sara has really peaked in her riding this season," said head coach Eric Hubbard. "All of her hard work has really paid off with setting a program record for Most Outstanding Player honors on the flat, and now being named an all-american. She is truly a Bulldog through and through."
Tuck earns all-american recognition for the first time in her career. She is the first Bulldog to earn first team honors in the flat since Sierra Swaffar in 2015-16. Swaffar, the Bulldogs' current jumping seat coach, has coached Tuck for the past two seasons.
"I have been thrilled for Sara each time she broke one of my records, or accomplished something new that I hadn't done before," said Swaffar. "That meant I was doing something right as a coach to help her get there. To see how much she has grown as a rider and as a student-athlete over these last two years has been such a wonderful feeling for me. I have more joy in seeing her achieve so much than I ever felt with my personal accomplishments."
Tuck finished the season with a team-best 9-3-1 record in the flat. She earned four MOPs in the event.
The senior was named an All-Big 12 flat selection this season. She also picked up one rider of the month honor by both the Big 12 and NCEA in November.
Tuck is the first Bulldog to earn first team all-america honors in any event since the 2019-20 season. She is just the third Bulldog to earn the honor in the flat in program history, joining Swaffar and Macy Wilson (2011-12). She is the first since 2021 to earn any all-america recognition in the flat.
In her career, she has 27 wins in the flat – the second most in program history in the event. Tuck's career is highlighted by two All-Big 12 selections, two Big 12 Rider of the Month honors, one NCEA Rider of the Month honor, and academic recognitions in every season of her career. Tuck owns the program record for most career MOPs in the flat with 10. She also owns the program record for highest flat score with a 96 scored in March 2023.
The full list of All-Americans and the official release by the NCEA can be found here.