No. 1 Tigers headline SEC postseason awards

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AUBURN, Ala. – Thirteen student-athletes on the No. 1 Auburn equestrian team were honored by the Southeastern Conference as the league announced its postseason awards Thursday.

The Tigers went 8-for-8 as they took home all four Rider of the Year honors as well as at least a share of all four Freshman Rider of the Year awards.

In addition, head coach Greg Williams was selected as the Coach of the Year for the second-straight season. Williams guided the squad to another undefeated season as Auburn went 13-0 on the shortened year.

Junior Taylor St. Jacques was named the Flat Rider of the Year for the second-consecutive year. The NCEA Rider of the Year and first team All-American put together a 12-1-0 record in the event with a team-best seven MOPs. She went a perfect 6-0 vs. SEC opponents, earning a season-best 94 on the road at Texas A&M in the fall.

Sophomore McKayla Langmeier picked up Fences Rider of the Year, marking the program's third honor in the category. The East Granby, Conn., product put together an 11-3-0 record in the event and earned NCEA Rider of the Year as well. The first team All-American finished 5-1 against the SEC, setting a season high vs. Georgia with a 92.

Junior Deanna Green was voted the Horsemanship Rider of the Year after having an outstanding season in the event. The first team All-American went 11-1-1 overall, earning three MOPs on the year. Green, who was also named the NCEA Rider of the Year, put together a 5-1 mark against the league and averaged a 75.7 on the season.

Junior Terri-June Granger was awarded Reining Rider of the Year for the conference after going 11-2-0 overall in the event. Her honor marked the second time a Tiger was voted in the category. The first team All-American finished 5-1 in Reining against the SEC and three of her four MOPs on the year came against league opponents.

Freshman Ava Stearns secured both Freshman Rider of the Year awards in Fences (Co-Rider) and Flat. The Chilmark, Mass., product went 15-4-1 between the two events, including a 7-1-1 record in Flat. She finished 8-3-0 in Fences for the Tigers. In addition, Stearns was named first team All-American in Flat and second team in Fences.

Freshman Olivia Tordoff secured Freshman Horsemanship Rider of the Year after putting together an impressive 11-2-0 mark in the event. The Powell, Ohio, native had three MOPs on the season and was a first team All-American, going 5-1 vs. SEC opponents in the event.

Freshman Kayla Shelnutt rounded out the individual awards as Freshman Reining Rider of the Year. Hailing from Loganville, Ga., Shelnutt went 6-1-1 overall with one MOP. Shelnutt had a 3-1 mark vs. the conference and was a second team All-American.

In addition to the individual awards, the Tigers had a total of 13 placed on either the All-SEC or the SEC All-Freshman team.

Sophomore Emma Kurtz joined St. Jacques, Langmeier and Stearns on the Flat All-SEC squad, while newcomer Paige Matthies joined Stearns on the SEC All-Freshman team in the event. Stearns, Langmeier and Kurtz also picked up All-SEC recognition in Fences with Stearns earning a spot on the freshman squad.

Joining Green and Tordoff on the Horsemanship All-SEC team was junior Taylor Searles. Freshman Maddie Spak and Tordoff were voted to the All-Freshman team in the event.

Granger picked up All-SEC recognition in Reining for the Tigers. Joining Shelnutt on the All-Freshman team were classmates Jen Kasper and Boo Kammerer.