BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The top-seeded Auburn equestrian team used big performances Friday to earn a 13-7 win over No. 4 seed South Carolina on the first day of the 2023 SEC Championship.
The four-time defending SEC champion Tigers (9-2) will face No. 2 seed Texas A&M for the SEC title Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, South Carolina.
"We did pretty good today," head coach Greg Williams said. "The team didn't let any adversity affect them and responded with big rides when we needed them. I'm so proud of how they battled today and can't wait to see what they do tomorrow."
The Tigers were led by big rides from upperclassmen as fifth year Emma Kurtz won MOP in Flat and senior Olivia Tordoff took MOP in Horsemanship.
"The leadership we have right now is unbelievable," Williams said. "I especially love what is going on outside the arena. This group loves putting the team first and they really care about each other."
Auburn went ahead 6-4 at intermission following Flat and Reining, going 3-2 in both events.
After the Gamecocks took the first point in Flat, Kurtz followed with her MOP victory as she topped her opponent 255-219, earning a 90 from one judge. Senior Ava Stearns followed with a 238-228 win over Mary Hunter Millet and junior Ellie Ferrigno downed Trinity Hammerschmidt, 238-208. The wins for Kurtz and Stearns were the eighth of the year for each.
Junior Olivia Marino led Reining off with a 202.5-193.5 win, earning her fifth win of the season. South Carolina captured the next two points before Auburn sealed the 3-2 victory in the event. Freshman Alexia Tordoff put together a 202.5-196 win and junior Isabella Tesmer capped the first half off with a 210-206 victory over Emilia Reutimann. The wins for Tordoff and Tesmer were the seventh each of the year.
Auburn's Horsemanship squad picked up where Reining left off in Western and put together a 4-1 showing for the team.
The older Tordoff earned her fifth MOP of the season in the event with a huge score, 229-203. USC took the next match before Auburn closed out with three more points. The younger Tordoff bested her opponent, 226.5-207.5, and classmate Caroline Fredenburg followed with a two-point win, 222.5-220.5. Senior Maddie Spak improved to 10-0-3 on the season with a 225.5-207.5 victory for the Tigers.
The Fences corps saw wins from Kurtz, Ferrigno and sophomore Sophee Steckbeck to take the event. Kurtz scored 254 points in her victory, while Steckbeck downed Hammerschmidt, 243-227. Ferrigno capped Fences with a 251-228 win over Bella Primavera.
#1 AUBURN 13, #4 SOUTH CAROLINA 7
FENCES
Madeline Schaefer (SC)* def. Ava Stearns (AU), 258-248
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Jordan Allen (SC), 254-235
Natalie Jayne (SC) def. Mary-Grace Segars (AU), 251-238
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC), 243-227
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Bella Primavera (SC), 251-228
FLAT
Madeline Schaefer (SC) def. Mary-Grace Segars (AU), 247-232
Emma Kurtz (AU)* def. Ellie Beard (SC), 255-219
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Mary Hunter Millet (SC), 238-228
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC), 238-208
Natalie Jayne (SC) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 257-208
HORSEMANSHIP
Olivia Tordoff (AU)* def. Alyssa Jipping (SC), 229-203.5
Alexa Thorpe (SC) def. Madison Parduhn (AU), 215.5-176
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Tierney Horton (SC), 226.5-207.5
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def. Kendalyn Herlocker (SC), 222.5-220.5
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Carly Jenkins (SC), 225.5-207.5
REINING
Olivia Marino (AU) def. Mary Margaret Coats (SC), 202.5-193.5
Chloe Stephenson (SC) def. Caroline Buchanan (AU), 206.5-204.5
Haley Turner (SC)* def. Kate Buchana (AU), 207-201.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Emma Lane (SC), 202.5-186
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def. Emilia Reutimann (SC), 210-206
