AUBURN, Ala. – The National Collegiate Equestrian Association announced the first set of event rankings for 2019-20 Tuesday and the Auburn equestrian team ranks first in all five categories following a successful fall season.
"I am really happy with what this team is accomplishing and also with all the new heights my staff is creating," head coach Greg Williams said. "I look forward to the holidays, but I am also very excited about this group having a lot of fun next semester while continuing to build a championship team. We have put ourselves in a good spot, but this group is just really starting to organize into a strong squad. We have a bright outlook for the new year coming."
The Tigers continue to be the No. 1 in the overall team rankings after finishing the fall with a 7-0 record and a 3-0 mark in Southeastern Conference action. Among the team's wins are a 12-8 victory over then-No. 3 Oklahoma State (9/20), an 11-9 edge at then-No. 4 Texas A&M (11/9) and a 16-4 win over then-No. 2 Georgia to close out the fall (11/9).
In Jumping Seat competition, Auburn is ranked first in both Flat and Fences. In Fences, the squad finished the fall with a 35-8 record, including three sweeps. Among those was the group's 5-0 win over Georgia to close out November. Sophomore Emma Kurtz is 8-1-0 in the event, while classmate Meghan Knapic has six victories.
The Flat corps concluded the first half of the year with a 29-12-2 mark. Sophomore McKayla Langmeier leads the way with eight wins in the event and five MOP honors, while junior Taylor St. Jacques has six victories and three MOPs. Freshman Ava Stearns is a perfect 4-0-0 in Flat.
The Western crew is also ranked first in both Horsemanship and Reining. Horsemanship has a 23-11-1 record over the fall, picking up a trio of 4-1 victories over top opponents so far this season. Junior Deanna Green guides the Tigers with a 6-0-1 record in the event, while freshman Olivia Tordoff has five wins and a pair of MOPs.
The Auburn Reining group has also had a very successful fall, going 23-10-2 with a pair of sweeps. The Tigers swept then-No. 10 UT Martin (9/19) and then-No. 5 TCU a month later (10/19). Junior Terri-June Granger holds a 6-1-0 record with two MOPs and Green isn't far behind with a 5-1-1 mark and two MOPs. The Reining corps also features a pair of freshmen with four wins in Boo Kammerer and Jen Kasper.
The Tigers return to action at the end of January, traveling to California for two big meets. Auburn opens with a contest at UC Davis, Jan. 31, before capping the weekend at nationally-ranked Fresno State, Feb. 1.