ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell equestrian team opens a new chapter under first-year head coach Nicolle Madonna Cerio this weekend when it travels to Rochester for a doubleheader at RIT on Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12.

The RIT Shows have served as the Cornell equestrian season opener four of the last five seasons, with the Big Red recording first-place team finishes in eight of 10 shows.

Cornell has assembled one of its larger rosters in recent Big Red equestrian history, taking advantage of strong turnout at open rides to add 19 newcomers who will provide depth across all competition levels. The Big Red returns the trio of riders who qualified for nationals last season, including seniors Riley Gerardo and Jianna Simcik and junior Sunny Liu, as well as several other key contributors from 2024-25.

Madonna Cerio has implemented a merit-based competitive system that breaks from past traditions, where the best rider for each spot will compete regardless of class year.

"It doesn't matter if you're a walk trotter or if you're an open rider, you're just as important," Madonna Cerio said. "The best person for that spot for the team is the one who's going to go to the competition."

That philosophy is part of a broader cultural shift as Madonna Cerio brings her professional showing experience to elevate the program's competitive standards.

"I want to bridge the gap and have the team be just as successful outside of the college setting as they are in, and incorporate some high-level clinicians, even some harder judging staff at our home shows," Madonna Cerio said. "The team has been very stalled at zone finals for a really long time. So hopefully, slowly implementing all of this and just having a fresh outlook, hopefully we can start to get past zone finals."

The approach emphasizes preparation over pressure. Cornell will practice above its competition level at home, allowing riders to perform with confidence despite the unique challenge of not selecting their own mounts at shows. The Big Red competes in Zone 2, one of the nation's toughest regions, and advancing beyond zone finals represents Madonna Cerio's ultimate long-term goal.