AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 3 Auburn equestrian team returns to Southeastern Conference action Saturday, Feb. 5, at South Carolina. The Tigers and the Gamecocks will face off at 9 a.m. CT in Blythewood, S.C., at One Wood Farm.
"I just really like being on the road," head coach Greg Williams said. "This is always a great opportunity to really come together as a team. South Carolina has a lot to prove and will go hard against us. They are in a position where they can take a risk, but I think our fundamentals are strong. It's going to be a good meet and we're hoping to see some big rides."
AUBURN LINEUP
Auburn will have a wealth of experience in the lineup this weekend on the road highlighted by four fifth years, two seniors and four juniors.
Returning to the Plains for one last semester is fifth year Deanna Green. After spending the fall away from Auburn, Green is back on the Western side of competition this week for the Tigers. The Ocala, Florida product and five-time All-American will ride in both Horsemanship and Reining this Saturday.
Classmate and All-American Taylor Searles will also compete in both Western events. She holds a 7-0-0 record in Horsemanship this year as well as a 5-2-0 mark in Reining.
Juniors Olivia Tordoff and Maddie Spak as well as sophomore Madison Parduhn will join the pair in Horsemanship. Parduhn is second on the team with six wins in the event, while Tordoff closed out the fall with five-straight victories with four MOPs.
Fifth year Terri-June Granger is also set to compete in Reining with junior Boo Kammerer and sophomore Isabella Tesmer. Both Kammerer and Tesmer have three wins this year.
The Jumping Seat side will be led by senior Emma Kurtz as she is set to compete in Fences and Flat. Joining her in both events will be junior Ava Stearns, sophomore Ellie Ferrigno and freshman Sophee Steckbeck. Steans has a team-best 9-1-0 mark in Fences, while Kurtz and Steans each have seven wins in Flat.
Senior Meghan Knapic will ride Fences for the Tigers, holding an 8-2-0 record in the event. Fifth year Helen Ulrich is down for Flat and heads into the weekend with a 5-1-0 mark.
AUBURN-SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
Auburn leads the all-time series, 31-19, and has won 18-straight contests against South Carolina. The Tigers are 11-7 in meets competed at One Wood Farm.
The first meeting of the year came in October with the Tigers earning an 11-8 victory over the Gamecocks in Auburn.
UP NEXT
Auburn returns to the Plains next weekend, hosting Ole Miss and Delaware State at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. After Ole Miss and DSU face off in the morning, the Tigers and the Rebels will go head-to-head Friday, Feb. 11, in a Jumping Seat only contest at 2:30 p.m. CT. Auburn and Delaware State will compete Saturday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. CT in a full event meet.