AUBURN, Ala. – The two-time defending NCEA champion Auburn equestrian team will enter the 2019-20 season ranked No. 1 according to the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Preseason Poll, the selection committee announced Wednesday.
The Tigers hold the top spot, while SEC rivals Texas A&M and Georgia come in at second and third, respectively. Oklahoma State is fourth and SMU rounds out the Top 5.
Auburn returns a wealth of experience from last year's perfect season, including juniors Taylor St. Jacques, Taylor Searles, Deanna Green and Terri-June Granger.
St. Jacques returns as the NCEA and SEC Flat Rider of the Year, while Searles was named the NCEA Horsemanship Rider of the Year. Green picked up All-America honors in both horsemanship and reining and Granger has been a mainstay in the reining lineup since her freshman season.
Joining the four juniors is senior Kara Kaufmann and sophomores McKayla Langmeier and Emma Kurtz. Kaufmann has a wealth of experience and has been a consistent starter for the Tigers in Horsemanship. Langmeier earned NCEA Fences Rider of the Year as well as SEC Freshman Rider of the Year in both flat and fences last season, while Kurtz joined her as an All-American in both Hunter Seat events.
Auburn hosts its annual Orange and Blue scrimmage this Friday, Sept. 13, at 3 p.m. at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The regular season kicks off on the road, traveling to UT Martin for a pair of meets. The Tigers will open vs. the Skyhawks, Sept. 19, and cap the weekend with a neutral site contest against No. 4 Oklahoma State in Martin, Tenn., Sept. 20.