Four Bulldogs Awarded NCEA Coach and Rider of the Year Honors
May 15, 2025 | Equestrian
WACO, Texas – Four Georgia Equestrian members received National Collegiate Equestrian Associate end of the year awards, the association announced Thursday.
Head coach Meghan Boenig collected her second NCEA Dual Discipline Coach of the Year award. She was previously honored following the Bulldogs' seventh national title in 2021. Boenig has led the program since its inception in 2001. She has amassed 218 career wins with a 92-19 dual-meet regular season record at home. In her 23 seasons at Georgia, she has collected eight national titles, most recently the 2025 NCEA National Championship, and three Southeastern Conference (SEC) trophies. Under her tutelage, Boenig has mentored six NCEA Riders of the Year, 24 SEC Riders of the Year, 98 NCEA All-Americans and 123 All-SEC selections.
Newly promoted Associate Jumping Seat Head Coach Anna Becker was tabbed the Dual Discipline Jumping Seat Coach of the Year. Becker was named NCEA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021. She has coached the Fences squad as well as recruited for the Jumping Seat discipline since 2018. Under Becker, the Bulldogs won the Fences event at the 2019 NCEA National Championship. She has mentored nine NCEA Fences All-Americans, a pair of SEC Freshman of the Year and 15 All-SEC riders.
Associate Western Head Coach McKenzie Lantz received NCEA Western Coach of the Year. This is Lantz's second Western Coach of the Year accolade. Lantz, a Georgia Equestrian alumna, has served as the head of recruiting and coaching of both western events, Horsemanship and Reining, since 2021. She acts as the primary coach for half of the equestrian team, overseeing academic progress and achievement of performance goals.
Graduate captain Sophia Pilla was tabbed NCEA Flat Rider of the Year. This is the first NCEA Rider of the Year accolade for Pilla. She becomes the second Flat rider to win this award and the fifth Bulldog in program history. Following the 2025 SEC Championship, Pilla was recognized for her efforts in the classroom as the Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the third Bulldog to earn this honor. The graduate has also picked up the SEC Flat Rider of the Year recognition for her performance in the arena this season. This was Pilla's first rider of the year nod. She has amassed a 9-3 season record, going 5-2 in conference competition. Pilla has recorded four of the top five Flat scores for the Bulldogs this season, leading the event in wins and Most Outstanding Performer honors with three. Pilla was a two-time national champion, 2025 and 2021, and team captain in back-to-back seasons. She was a three-time NCEA All-American, a two-time NCEA Rider of the Month and two-time NCEA All-Academic First Team member.
HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
JOIN OUR MANE DAWGS FUND: Mane Dawgs Fund contributions make a direct impact in supporting our student-athletes and equines at the Georgia Equestrian program. A gift to the Mane Dawgs fund helps provide resources such as equipment upgrades for our student and equine athletes, travel assistance, and enhance overall team experiences. Contributions to the Mane Dawgs provide benefits such as membership gifts and information about upcoming special events. Click here for more information.
Head coach Meghan Boenig collected her second NCEA Dual Discipline Coach of the Year award. She was previously honored following the Bulldogs' seventh national title in 2021. Boenig has led the program since its inception in 2001. She has amassed 218 career wins with a 92-19 dual-meet regular season record at home. In her 23 seasons at Georgia, she has collected eight national titles, most recently the 2025 NCEA National Championship, and three Southeastern Conference (SEC) trophies. Under her tutelage, Boenig has mentored six NCEA Riders of the Year, 24 SEC Riders of the Year, 98 NCEA All-Americans and 123 All-SEC selections.
Newly promoted Associate Jumping Seat Head Coach Anna Becker was tabbed the Dual Discipline Jumping Seat Coach of the Year. Becker was named NCEA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021. She has coached the Fences squad as well as recruited for the Jumping Seat discipline since 2018. Under Becker, the Bulldogs won the Fences event at the 2019 NCEA National Championship. She has mentored nine NCEA Fences All-Americans, a pair of SEC Freshman of the Year and 15 All-SEC riders.
Associate Western Head Coach McKenzie Lantz received NCEA Western Coach of the Year. This is Lantz's second Western Coach of the Year accolade. Lantz, a Georgia Equestrian alumna, has served as the head of recruiting and coaching of both western events, Horsemanship and Reining, since 2021. She acts as the primary coach for half of the equestrian team, overseeing academic progress and achievement of performance goals.
Graduate captain Sophia Pilla was tabbed NCEA Flat Rider of the Year. This is the first NCEA Rider of the Year accolade for Pilla. She becomes the second Flat rider to win this award and the fifth Bulldog in program history. Following the 2025 SEC Championship, Pilla was recognized for her efforts in the classroom as the Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the third Bulldog to earn this honor. The graduate has also picked up the SEC Flat Rider of the Year recognition for her performance in the arena this season. This was Pilla's first rider of the year nod. She has amassed a 9-3 season record, going 5-2 in conference competition. Pilla has recorded four of the top five Flat scores for the Bulldogs this season, leading the event in wins and Most Outstanding Performer honors with three. Pilla was a two-time national champion, 2025 and 2021, and team captain in back-to-back seasons. She was a three-time NCEA All-American, a two-time NCEA Rider of the Month and two-time NCEA All-Academic First Team member.
HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
JOIN OUR MANE DAWGS FUND: Mane Dawgs Fund contributions make a direct impact in supporting our student-athletes and equines at the Georgia Equestrian program. A gift to the Mane Dawgs fund helps provide resources such as equipment upgrades for our student and equine athletes, travel assistance, and enhance overall team experiences. Contributions to the Mane Dawgs provide benefits such as membership gifts and information about upcoming special events. Click here for more information.
Players Mentioned
Jumping Seat
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