AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team kicks off the 2021-22 season Friday, hosting rival and No. 2 Georgia at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The two conference foes will go head-to-head at 3 p.m. CT.
"For all the years that we've gone against each other, this is the first time we'll be facing Georgia in our season opener," head coach Greg Williams said. "This is such a great rivalry and we're really excited to see how our team will respond to a tough SEC opponent with only practices under their belts. I really like how they are working, practicing and operating as such a positive unit this year. I have high hopes and expectations for this team and looking forward to a great meet."
The contest will be the season opener for both the Tigers and the Bulldogs. Auburn enters as the three-time defending SEC champion, while Georgia comes to the Plains as the 2021 national champion.
"Good crowds can make all the difference in sports and that is the same for this team" Williams said. "We're looking forward to kicking off Georgia weekend on the Plains and hope that everyone will come out and enjoy great competition with a great atmosphere."
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Highlighting Friday's activities will be a t-shirt giveaway for fans. Those in attendance are also encouraged to wear navy!
The Kid's Zone returns this year with a bounce house, pony rides and yard games available to all kids in attendance.
Members of the Heritage Club are reminded that entrance to the Scholarship Lounge requires a mask.
For more information on the Auburn University Equestrian Center, please visit HERE.
AUBURN LINEUP
The Auburn lineup will feature a wealth of experience with a few new faces against the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Western corps will be led by a pair of fifth-year seniors returning for one last season on the Plains. All-American Taylor Searles is set to compete in both Horsemanship and Reining, while classmate Terri-June Granger returns to the Reining lineup.
Searles, the 2021 SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year, will lead the squad in the event. Searles concluded last year with a 7-1-1 record and is tied for first in program history with 42 career wins.
Joining her will be junior All-Americans Olivia Tordoff and Maddie Spak. Tordoff is a two-time first team All-American, having an 8-1-0 record in 2020-21. Spak finished at 5-4 last year and earned a career-high 77.5 against the Bulldogs in the fall.
A pair of sophomores will round out the Horsemanship lineup in Madison Parduhn and Jacqueline Frimodt. Parduhn enters the meet as the 2021 SEC Freshman Horsemanship Rider of the Year, while Frimodt competed in one contest for the Tigers as a newcomer.
In Reining, Granger is a two-time All-American in the event. The Dothan, Alabama product holds the single season wins record with 18 and is second in career Reining wins with 39. Searles finished with a 5-3-1 record in the event last year with one MOP.
Junior Boo Kammerer also highlights the Reining lineup as the returning SEC Reining Rider of the Year. She put together a 7-1-1 record as a sophomore to earn first team All-America honors. Sophomore Isabella Tesmer is also set to compete after great freshman season in 2020-21 as she was named the SEC Freshman Reining Rider of the Year. Classmate Olivia Marino will also ride for the Tigers against Georgia, competing in two meets last season.
On the Jumping Seat side, senior Emma Kurtz is set to guide the youthful squad this year. The five-time All-American is slated to compete in both Fences and Flat against Georgia. Junior and three-time All-American Ava Stearns and sophomore Ellie Ferrigno will join her in both events.
Ferrigno, of Newtown, Connecticut, is the returning 2021 SEC Freshman Flat Rider of the Year and put together a 5-3-0 record last season over the two Jumping Seat events.
Freshman Sophee Steckbeck will also get the start in both Fences and Flat for Auburn.
Senior All-American Meghan Knapic is slated to compete in Fences once again for the squad. She earned All-America Honorable Mention last season after going 9-2-0 overall in the event. Freshman Anna Marie Mayes secured a spot in the Flat lineup against the Bulldogs this Friday.
AUBURN-GEORGIA SERIES
Georgia leads the series, 30-21, with an 11-9 record in Auburn.
Auburn is on a nine-meet win streak that includes victories over Georgia in the 2021 SEC Championship title match and in the 2018 and 2019 national championships matches.
The two teams last met at the 2021 SEC Championship with the Tigers topping the Bulldogs, 15-5, to win their third-straight SEC title.
UP NEXT
Auburn takes to the road for a pair of meets against non-conference opponents. The Tigers head to Big 12 champion Oklahoma State, Oct. 15, for a 1 p.m. CT meet in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The squad then travels to Dallas for a contest against NCEA runner-up SMU, Oct. 16. Time of the meet is to be determined.
No. 1 Auburn opens season hosting No. 2 Georgia Friday
