WACO, Texas – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team closed out a successful week at the 2019 NCEA Championship with two more national titles and a handful of individual honors Saturday afternoon in the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas.
The No. 1 Hunter Seat corps captured its second-straight national crown, winning the overall Hunter Seat title. The crew was led by the Equitation on the Flat group that swept South Carolina for the event championship.
Auburn seniors Caitlin Boyle, Ashton Alexander and Hayley Iannotti highlighted the Flat rides as the three of them closed the door to impressive careers with a trio of wins. Boyle bested Madison Brayman with 247 points and Alexander followed with 241 in her victory. Iannotti closed out the event with another 241 for the win.
Sophomore Taylor St. Jacques added to the sweep with a 228-224 edge over SC's Lizzie van der Walde.
Equitation Over Fences came up just short vs. Georgia in the event final, falling 2-1. Freshman Emma Kurtz picked up the lone point for the squad with a 240-234 victory. Alexander and her opponent rode to a 245-245 tie.
Individually, the Tigers brought home more honors at the conclusion of the day. Boyle was awarded MOP honors vs. the Gamecocks, while Kurtz's ride against the Bulldogs gave her MOP recognition.
Auburn had six Tigers earn eight spots on the All-Championship squad. In Fences, St. Jacques, Kurtz and freshman McKayla Langmeier each were voted on, while Boyle joined St. Jacques and Langmeier on the Flat team. Sophomore Taylor Searles had an outstanding championship, going undefeated and earning the highest score of the week with a 227.5 this morning. Senior Blair McFarlin garnered All-Championship recognition in Reining.
EQUITATION ON THE FLAT
#1 AUBURN 4, #7 SOUTH CAROLINA 0
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Madison Brayman (SC), 247-234
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Madison Sellman (SC), 241-235
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Lizzie van der Walde (SC), 228-224
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Grady Lyman (SC), 241-227
EQUITATION OVER FENCES
#1 AUBURN 1, #7 GEORGIA 2
Maddy Darst (UGA) def. Taylor St. Jacques (AU), 253-230
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 240-234
Ashton Alexander (AU) tied Emma Mandarino (UGA), 245-245
Ali Tritschler (UGA) def. Caitlin Boyle (AU), 248-242