Aug. 2, 2017
By: Margaret Hurt
Auburn equestrian head coach Greg Williams has coached Auburn's team since its berth as a club team in 1996, to its status now in 2017 as a four-time national championship team.
In 2002, when equestrian became a varsity sport at Auburn, the first roster Williams ever recruited included Cassie McEnroe. The Hunt Seat rider from Powder Springs, Ga., helped lay the foundation that has helped Auburn equestrian become what it is today and even competed in both Hunt Seat and Western events in one of the team's very first meets. McEnroe was also part of the roster that won Auburn its first equestrian SEC championship in 2004 and its first equestrian national championship in 2006.
A business administration major with a focus in human resources and minor in finance, McEnroe currently lives in Atlanta working as a Partner Account Manager. A two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and a Cum Laude graduate, McEnroe was honored with the 2016 NCEA Distinguished Alumni Award for her business success in handling several accounts for Georgia agencies and state departments. Though she does not ride regularly, McEnroe still remains in touch with some of her former teammates and credits her leadership skills and work ethic to her time spent as an Auburn equestrian.
Q: What do you think is the most important thing you learned while being on the team?
A: "I'm not sure I can call out just one thing. I learned a lot of great skills from being on the team: motivation, teamwork, leadership, and how to push myself outside of my comfort zone. Each one of these are extremely important and I use them every day."
Q: What was it like being on the team for its first season as a varsity sport in 2002-03? A: "Equestrian was such a new sport to Auburn, that we kind of figured things out as we went. We were working out in the football complex with the football graduate assistants, which was awesome! We were the only other team besides football that used the weight room and trainers, which was really neat. One day, when we were in the training room, Bo Jackson came in! On the flip side, because we were such a new sport we worked really hard, we painted our own jumps, did long work days at the barn, and got stuck on the side of the road when our bus broke down. We were all really flexible and just did whatever needed to be done for the team."
Q: What was it like winning the first national championship for the team?
A: "It was incredible! It was something our group of seniors had dreamed about and wanted so badly. We came so close to winning a national championship my sophomore year (2004) and lost it on day two and ended up coming in second. We all really wanted this one. It felt so great to see how far we'd come in four years and that all of our hard work had paid off. When we started as a new varsity team at Auburn in 2002, people would ask us all the time what equestrian was and what we did. Fast forward four years and we win a national championship! It was an amazing feeling to bring Auburn it's first of many equestrian national championships!"
Q: What made you want to come to Auburn?
A: "The moment I walked onto the Samford Lawn for the first time I knew I wanted to come to Auburn. There were a lot of people out and about walking to classes and everyone was so friendly. I believed in Auburn and loved it from day one."
Q: What do you value most about the time you spent at Auburn?
A: "The culture. Auburn felt like home from the very first time I walked around campus and heard my first 'War Eagle!' It felt like I was a part of something really special and had just joined the largest family in the world."
Q: What is your favorite Auburn tradition? Why?
A: "Rolling Toomer's Corner is definitely my favorite tradition! One of the most surreal moments of my life is when other athletes and Auburn fans rolled Toomer's Corner with us when we won the 2006 National Championship."
Q: Who impacted you the most during your time at Auburn?
A: "Coach Williams hands down. He always believed in us no matter what. There were years that we weren't the most talented team, but he motivated us to work hard and pushed us to reach our highest potential- not just in the ring, but in classroom, and outside of Auburn."
Q: What is it like being an alumna of the team and the university?
A: "It's unreal to see how far the team has come. They've won four national titles since 2006. It's incredible and makes me so proud to be a part of something so special!
Q: How do you think being on the team and attending Auburn helped you prepare for life after college?
A: "The team really helped me build confidence and leadership skills. As a freshman when you join the team you aren't put in a leadership role, but as you grow and evolve with the team you step into that leadership role as a senior. It's very similar to when you start your career. Initially you're learning and understanding what's expected of you, but as you grow and gain more experience you have the confidence to step up and take on more responsibilities and be a leader."
Q: What advice would you give to a freshman about to start the team?
A: "Work Hard- you'll never regret it."