AUBURN, Ala. – Four Tigers of the Auburn equestrian team put together a strong showing at the annual AQHA Collegiate Horsemanship Championship in Oklahoma City, Aug. 5-6.
Rising juniors Deanna Green and Taylor Searles along with recent seniors Lauren Diaz and Kelsey Jung represented Auburn at the competition. Green came away with Reserve Champion, while Searles and Jung each reached the semifinals.
"It's a testament to this team to have four represent Auburn this way," head coach Greg Williams said. "It's not just proof of their talent, but shows how fully they're willing to buy into the process and all of the hard work with coach Mary Meneely."
A total of 12 NCEA competitors were chosen by the NCEA Selection Committee to compete for the championship. Searles and Diaz received a bye in the first round, while Jung and Green picked up wins to advance to the quarterfinals.
Searles scored a 151.5 to top Oklahoma State's Harley Huff, while Jung's 152.5 was enough to move on. Green and Diaz faced off in the quarterfinals with Green edging her teammate, 148.5-145.5. With the results, three of the four semifinalists were Tigers.
Green advanced to the final with a 148-142 win over Searles, while Jung was bested by Texas A&M's Sarah Orsak, 157-152.5. Orsak took home the title as she narrowly defeated Green, 154.151.5, in the championship.
The finish for Green marked the third-straight reserve title for a Tiger. Jung finished in reserve in 2018, while soon-to-be senior Kara Kaufmann was Reserve Champion in 2017.