AUBURN, Ala. – More talent is set to join the No. 1 Auburn equestrian team as the Tigers sign five for the 2021-22 season, head coach Greg Williams announced.
Joining the Tigers on the Jumping Seat side will be Hallie Rush (Memphis, Tenn.,) Sophee Steckbeck (Clarksburg, N.J.). Competing in Western will be Jenna Chiarella (Sammamish, Wash.), Kaitlyn Ferguson (Battle Ground, Wash.) and Victoria Zember (Conyers, Ga.).
"This is one of my favorite times of the year," Williams said. "We finally get to officially welcome new members to the Auburn Family. We have a great balance of Jumping Seat and Western talent entering the ranks and I expect them all to keep pushing our standard of excellence even higher. I feel this group is ready to ride for the team and Auburn. This is going to be a wonderful class to have here in Auburn!"
JENNA CHIARELLA
Hometown: Sammamish, Wash.
High School: Eastside Catholic
Event: Western (Horsemanship)
HIGHLIGHTS: Nine-time Appaloosa Youth World Champion, including five Horsemanship title … Seven-time Reserve Appaloosa Youth World Champion titles … Finished seventh at the 2020 AQHYA World Show in Level 2 Horsemanship.
KAITLYN FERGUSON
Hometown: Battle Ground, Wash.
High School: Battle Ground
Event: Western (Horsemanship)
HIGHLIGHTS: 2020 APHA Reserve World Champion … Three-time APHA National Champion … 2019 APHA Top 5 Novice Youth … Two-time APHA Honor Roll Champion.
HALLIE RUSH
Hometown: Memphis, Tenn.
High School: Franklin Christian Academy
Event: Jumping Seat
HIGHLIGHTS: 2019 US Pony Jumper Championships individual gold and team silver … 2019 Zone 3 and 4 Jumper Championship team bronze … 2018 US Pony Jumper Championships team silver … Four-time USEF Horse of the Year Open Connemara Jumper … Three-time Zone 4 Horse of the Year.
SOPHEE STECKBECK
Hometown: Clarksburg, N.J.
High School: Notre Dame
Event: Jumping Seat
HIGHLIGHTS: Finished second at the 2020 WIHS Junior Equitation Final … Sixth-place finish at the 2020 USEF Talent Search Finals East Coast … Took fourth at the 2020 Maclay Finals … Came in third at the 2019 USEF Talent Search Finals East Coast … Team gold at 2019 Prix de States and silver at the 2020 Prix de States … Winner of the 2020 Ocala Equitation Championship … Finished second at the 2020 Dudley B. Smith Equitation Championship … Winner of the 2019 USEF Medal at Devon … Came in third at the 2019 George Morris Equitation Challenge.
VICTORIA ZEMBER
Hometown: Conyers, Ga.
High School: Eagle's Landing Christian Academy
Event: Western (Horsemanship)
HIGHLIGHTS: Multiple GQHA Circuit Champion … 2019-20 and 2020-21 GQHA Delegate … Summer Kickoff Level 1 High Point Champion … 2019-20 AQHYA Region 10 Director.
