AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team returns to competition Friday, Oct. 16, kicking off the 2020-21 season at No. 3 South Carolina. The Tigers and the Gamecocks will go head-to-head at 9 a.m. CT in Blythewood, S.C., at OneWood Farm.
"I really like road meets because it allows our team to really get together," head coach Greg Williams said. "This team has done a great job working on that bond, but the COVID era has created an extra burden on them when it comes to spending time with each other. I am really excited to be getting on a bus and having an opportunity to come together and work on that team chemistry.
"South Carolina is always tough and especially at home," Williams added. "Coach Braswell and Coach Meneely created great practice plans leading into what should be a successful game plan. I love the way this group has been riding and am looking forward to Friday."
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic fans will NOT be allowed at OneWood Farm during Friday's meet. Limited access for family members on the team's guest list will be allowed, but anyone not already on the list will NOT be permitted into the facility.
AUBURN LINEUP
The Auburn lineup features a wealth of talent vs. South Carolina.
Leading the way on the Western side are a trio of senior All-Americans in Deanna Green, Taylor Searles and Terri-June Granger. The three will all ride in Reining for the Tigers, while Green and Searles will compete in Horsemanship. Granger is the 2020 SEC Reining Rider of the Year, while Green returns as the 2020 NCEA and SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year.
Joining the trio in Reining will be sophomore Boo Kammerer and freshman Olivia Marino. Kammerer was a member of the 2020 SEC All-Freshman team for her performances in the event last season. Marino hails from Birmingham and was a NRHA World Champion prior to coming to the Plains.
Competing in Horsemanship alongside Green and Searles is sophomore Oliva Tordoff, who was an All-American and the SEC Freshman Horsemanship Rider of the Year at the end of last season. Classmate Maddie Spak joins the crew in the lineup after a solid freshman campaign where she earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. Sophomore Rachel Hoopman is getting the first starting nod of her career for the squad vs. the Gamecocks.
Experience is the name of the game for the Tigers in Jumping Seat as the squad is led by senior Taylor St. Jacques and juniors McKayla Langmeier, Emma Kurtz and Meghan Knapic. The four will compete in both events for Auburn against South Carolina.
St. Jacques won back-to-back NCEA and SEC Flat Rider of the Year honors, while Langmeier is the two-time defending NCEA Fences Rider of the Year. Kurtz is an All-American in both events for the Tigers. Knapic was a consistent performer and starter last season in Fences and is making her Flat debut.
Joining the quartet in Fences will be senior Ericka Koscinski, while sophomore Lindsey Klein earned the start in Flat.
AUBURN-SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
Auburn stands at 27-19 in the series history with the Gamecocks, winning the last 14 meetings. The Tigers are also 10-7 on the road vs. SC.
The squads last met in Auburn last February with Auburn earning a 13-5 win at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
THE COACHES
With six NCEA overall national championships at Auburn, head equestrian coach Greg Williams has become one of the most respected coaches' in the sport. He put the program on the map with its first title in 2006 and has taken home five championships in the past 10 years. Now in his 26th season at the helm, and 19th as a varsity sport, Williams has continued to add prestige to Auburn equestrian.
Since the 2002-03 season, the Tigers have totaled six national titles (2006, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019), five Hunt Seat national titles (2008, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019), one Western national title (2018), three Southeastern Conference titles (2016, 2019, 2020), and three Southern Equestrian championships (2004, 2010, 2011). His student-athletes have combined for 90 All-America accolades since the 2010-11 season and have totaled 101 All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC selections.
In addition to excelling in competition, Williams' teams have also produced in the classroom. Auburn has 74 NCEA Scholastic All-Americans since the organization began recognizing the honor in the spring of 2013.
Jessica Braswell is in her ninth season with Auburn and sixth as associate head coach overseeing the jumping seat discipline. Under her guidance, the Auburn jumping eat corps has been one of the top groups in the nation and has proven it time and time again.
Under her guidance, the Auburn Hunt Seat program has totaled 42 All-America nods and 37 All-SEC recognitions.
Braswell has coached four NCEA Riders of the Year, seven SEC Riders of the Year and six SEC Freshman Riders of the Year.
Mary Meneely came to Auburn in 2015 and is in her sixth season as an assistant coach. She oversees the Western discipline for the Tigers.
Meneely has brought the Western corps to a whole new level and has totaled 22 All-America awards and 31 All-SEC honors.
In addition, her riders have earned two NCEA Riders of the Year, five SEC Riders of the Year and six SEC Freshman Riders of the Year recognitions.
UP NEXT
Auburn returns to conference competition next weekend, traveling to rival Georgia, Oct. 23. The Tigers and No. 4 Bulldogs face off at 1 p.m. CT in Bishop, Ga.
Due to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, no fans will be permitted to UGA equestrian meets this fall. Guests will be permitted through a "Player Pass List" only.