AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team will close out the 2022-23 regular season on Friday, March 3 as the Tigers host No. 7 South Carolina. The meet is slated for 3 p.m. CT at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
"I really like our team's chances against anyone especially when we're at home," head coach Greg Williams said. "The Gamecocks will come in ready to ride and we can't take anything for granted."
Auburn will recognize eight seniors during halftime of the meet – Lily Beatty, Rachel Hoopman, Lindsey Klein, Emma Kurtz, Hannah Lemel, Mary McDaniel, Maddie Spak and Olivia Tordoff.
"We're really looking forward to celebrating our seniors on Friday in front of the Auburn Family," Williams said. "The atmosphere we've created at home is unbelievable. It's loud and fun and we're so thankful for the Auburn people,"
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
All meets at the Auburn University Equestrian Center are free of admission.
The Kid's Zone will be open and will feature pony rides and pet-a-pony. In addition, kids who bring their fliers in from school will be entered for prizes.
For more information on the Auburn University Equestrian Center, please visit HERE.
AUBURN LINEUP
Not much will change for the Tigers (8-2, 4-1 SEC) this week in the lineup against the Gamecocks.
The Jumping Seat corps will once again be led by a wealth of experience. Fifth year Emma Kurtz, senior Ava Stearns and junior Ellie Ferrigno lead the way for the squad. Stearns is 9-1-0 in Fences this year, while Ferrigno is 8-2-0. Kurtz has seven wins in Fences for the squad.
Joining the trio in both Fences and Flat will be sophomores Mary-Grace Segars and Sophee Steckbeck. Segars stands at 8-2-0 in Flat this year and Steckbeck has the same record in Fences. Steckbeck is coming off an 3-0-0 record in February, earning SEC Fences Co-Rider of the Month.
Reining will go first on Saturday in Western competition and the Tigers will be led by juniors Kate Buchanan, Olivia Marino and Isabella Tesmer. Buchanan has six wins on the year in the event.
Joining the trio will be freshmen Caroline Buchanan and Alexia Tordoff. Buchanan has won three-straight matches, while Tordoff picked up her sixth win of the year and third-straight MOP against the SMU last week.
Tordoff was named NCEA and SEC Reining Rider of the Month for February for her efforts.
The Horsemanship squad is full of experience and will remain the same this week. Seniors Maddie Spak and Olivia Tordoff will guide the squad as Spak is unbeaten in the event this season with a 9-0-1 mark. She earned her third SEC Rider of the Month honor earlier this week.
Junior Madison Parduhn and freshmen Caroline Fredenburg and Alexia Tordoff will also compete for the team. The younger Tordoff is second on the team with seven wins in the event so far this season.
AUBURN-SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
Auburn leads the all-time series, 34-19, and has won 21-straight contests against South Carolina.
The last meeting between the two teams was this fall where the Tigers bested the Gamecocks in Blythewood, South Carolina, 13-6.
UP NEXT
The Tigers kick off the postseason at the 2023 SEC Championship, March 24-25. The two-day meet will be held at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, South Carolina.
