AUBURN, Ala. – Three members of the No. 4 Auburn equestrian team were awarded Rider of the Month honors for their performances in October from both the National Collegiate Equestrian Association and the Southeastern Conference.
Senior Maddie Spak was recognized for her efforts in Horsemanship, while junior Ellie Ferrigno and sophomore Mary-Grace Segars earned the award in Fences and Flat, respectively. In addition, the monthly awards are the first of their careers.
The trio put together big rides in October, helping the squad start the season with a 3-1 mark, picking up two wins on the road.
Spak finished the month with a 4-0-0 record in Horsemanship, earning one MOP. She kicked things off with a 75.5-74.5 victory at then-No. 5 Georgia (Oct. 7) to start the season.
The Waukesha, Wisconsin product followed with a pair of wins on the road. She captured the first MOP of her career at UC Davis (Oct. 14), besting her opponent by 23.5 points in a 74-50.5 win. Spak downed her next opponent on the road at then-No. 9 Fresno State (Oct. 15), 74.5-72.5. She closed out the month with a win at home, 72-71, over then-No. 9 UT Martin (Oct. 22).
Ferrigno put together a 4-0-0 mark in Fences with three MOPs for Auburn, helping the Tiger pick up back-to-back sweeps over Fresno State and UT Martin in the event.
She started the season with an 88-86 win at Georgia for MOP and followed with an 86-85 victory at UC Davis, picking up another MOP. The Newtown, Connecticut native captured an 83-76 win at Fresno State to earn her third-straight MOP honor.
Ferrigno finished off October with an 82-81 edge at home vs. the Skyhawks, guiding the Tigers to a sweep of UT Martin.
Segars kicked off the year with a 4-0-0 record in Flat and one MOP. Her first win of the season came at Georgia where she scored 88 points to best her opponent's 87.
On the road at UC Davis, Segars scored a career-high 93 to take the win in the meet. She followed with her MOP ride at Fresno State, besting her opponent, 70-62.
Segars final win of the month came against UT Martin where she outscored her opponent by 15 points, 83-68.
Up next for the Tigers is a road trip to SEC rival South Carolina on November 4. The Tigers and the No. 7 Gamecocks will face off at 1 p.m. CT in Blythewood, South Carolina at One Wood Farm.
