AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 6 Auburn equestrian team kicks off the 2022-23 season on the road, traveling to rival and No. 5 Georgia Friday, October 7. The Tigers (0-0, 0-0) and the Bulldogs (1-0, 0-0) will face off at 1 p.m. CT in Bishop, Georgia at the UGA Equestrian Complex.
"I'm mostly looking forward to the team carry the same level of riding they have been doing since our home scrimmage last week as we hit the road," head coach Greg Williams said. "Coach Jessica Braswell and Coach Taylor Searles have seen marked improvement these past two weeks so it is time to get on the bus and start competing for real."
AUBURN LINEUP
The Auburn lineup to start the season will feature one fifth year, four seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen.
Jumping Seat will be led by a wealth of experience as fifth year Emma Kurtz is set to guide the group. The Hudson, Ohio product is a seven-time All-American and will compete in both Fences and Flat.
Joining her in both events will be senior and five-time All-American Ava Stearns as well as junior and two-time All-American Ellie Ferrigno. Sophomores Sophee Steckbeck and Mary-Grace Segars are set to also compete in both Fences and Flat. Steckbeck returns to competition as the reigning SEC Freshman Rider of the Year in both events.
A trio of seniors in Boo Kammerer, Maddie Spak and Olivia Tordoff will lead the Western side of competition. Tordoff enters her final season on the Plains as a three-time All-American in Horsemanship and will be joined by All-American Spak in the event.
Junior Madison Parduhn and freshmen Caroline Fredenburg and Alexia Tordoff will join the pair in Horsemanship vs. the Bulldogs. Parduhn earned All-America honors last season, while Fredenburg and A. Tordoff bring fresh talent to the lineup.
Kammerer is set to lead the Reining corps with juniors Kate Buchanan and Isabella Tesmer. The three will be joined by freshmen Caroline Buchanan and Alexia Tordoff in the event.
AUBURN-GEORGIA SERIES
Georgia leads the series, 31-23, with a 12-6 record in Georgia.
Auburn holds a 12-3 record in the last 15 meetings between the two schools, including victories over Georgia in the 2022 SEC Championship Semifinal and 2021 SEC Championship title match.
The two teams last met at the SEC postseason meet with the Tigers topping the Bulldogs, 12-7, to advance to the conference championship match.
UP NEXT
The Tigers continue their road swing as the squad heads west to California. Auburn opens its two-match stint at UC Davis, Oct. 14, at 1 p.m. CT. The team closes out the weekend at No. 9 Fresno State, Oct. 15, at 12 p.m. CT.