FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team opened the 2019 portion of the season with a 15-1 win over No. 9 Delaware State in Fresno, Calif., Friday at the Student Horse Center on the campus of Fresno State.
"The team's riding was very good today," head coach Greg Williams said. "It was nice to get out on the road again with this group and get back to competition."
The Tigers swept the Most Outstanding Performer awards as the squad improved to 6-0 on the season. Seniors Blair McFarlin and Lauren Diaz led the way with honors in Reining and Horsemanship, respectively. Sophomore Taylor St. Jacques picked up MOP in Equitation Over Fences, while freshman McKayla Langmeier earned the award in Equitation on the Flat.
Auburn kicked off competition vs. the Hornets with a 4-0 sweep in Equitation Over Fences. St. Jacques led all riders with an 89 on the day to pick up her second MOP of the year in the event, topping Eva Epstein's 73. Senior Ashton Alexander upped her win total in the event to five on the year as she edged Gabrielle Fournier, 71-70.
Senior Caitlin Boyle put together a 10-point win with an 84-74 victory over her opponent, while freshman Emma Kurtz capped the event with an 86-75 win over Sydney Wicklund.
Horsemanship upped Auburn's lead on the Hornets with a 3-1 victory. Senior Kelsey Jung picked up her fourth victory on the year with a meet-best 74 points. Diaz followed with a 72.5-70.5 win to remain undefeated in Horsemanship, leading the Tigers with six victories so far. Her MOP selection was the third of the season for the Heath, Ohio, native.
Sophomore Taylor Searles closed things out with a 71.5-69.5 win over Samantha Elliott, putting the Tigers up 7-1 with two events remaining.
Auburn capped the final half of the meet with a pair of sweeps in Equitation on the Flat and Reining.
The Hunt Seat crew put an exclamation on its sweep of the Hornets, topping DSU in all four matches. Alexander finished with a 70-65 win over Erin Gordon before senior Hayley Iannotti scored 73 points in her victory. Langmeier picked up MOP honors with an 80-70 win, securing the first award in the event for her career. Kurtz capped the sweep with an 82-71 win.
The Reining corps never scored below a 70 to defeat the Hornets. Sophomore Terri-June Granger opened with a 71 in her win, while McFarlin followed with a 70.5-66.5 victory. The MOP nod for McFarlin was her second of the season.
Senior Ali Fratessa put together a 70-68.5 win over Amber Van Segbrook and sophomore Deanna Green finished the day with 71 points in her victory.
The Tigers cap the weekend Saturday vs. No. 10 Fresno State, finishing the meet vs. the Bulldogs that was started Friday. Auburn holds a 4-1 lead after Equitation Over Fences.
#1 AUBURN 15, #9 DELAWARE STATE 1
Equitation Over Fences
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Eva Epstein (DSU), 89-73
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Gabrielle Fournier (DSU), 71-70
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Erin Gordon (DSU), 84-74
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Sydney Wicklund (DSU), 86-75
Equitation on the Flat
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Erin Gordon (DSU), 70-65
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Sydney Wicklund (DSU), 73-61
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Zoe Kirsch (DSU), 80-70
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Gabrielle Fourneir (DSU), 82-71
Horsemanship
Kelsey Jung (AU) def. Shelbe Jarrett (DSU), 74-70
Blayne Bell (DSU) def. Kara Kaufmann (AU), 67-66
Lauren Diaz (AU) def. Kelsey McArthur (DSU), 72.5-70.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Samantha Elliott (DSU), 71.5-69.5
Reining
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Shelbe Jarrett (DSU), 71-68.5
Blair McFarlin (AU) def. Samantha Elliott (DSU), 70.5-66.5
Ali Fratessa (AU) def. Amber Van Segbrook (DSU), 70-68.5
Deanna Green (AU) def. Grace Wilson (DSU), 71-68
