AUBURN, Ala. – Nine student-athletes on the No. 2 Auburn equestrian team earned National Collegiate Equestrian Association Ariat All-America honors, the NCEA selection committee announced Thursday.
"I'm so proud of the hard work these individuals have put in this year," head coach Greg Williams said. "We tell our student-athletes that if they buy into the system and out the team first then the individual awards will follow. This group is a true representation of that."
All five Jumping Seat competitors earned national recognition, while four Western riders picked up honors for the squad.
Senior Ava Stearns and junior Ellie Ferrigno were placed on the first team for Fences as both are 11-2-0 on the year in the event. Ferrigno has a team-best six Most Outstanding Performer (MOPs) honors on the year and the pair have each scored a team-leading 90 on the season.
Sophomore Sophee Steckbeck picked up the first All-America honor of her career, earning second team recognition in Fences. The Clarksburg, New Jersey product also holds an 11-2-0 record on the year.
Also receiving first team recognition was senior Maddie Spak in Horsemanship. The Waukesha, Wisconsin product led the team in the event with a 10-1-2 overall record. She earned the first MOP of her career in October and scored a season-best 75.5 three times on the year.
Five Tigers earned honorable mention honors in three different events. Leading the way was graduate student Emma Kurtz, who secured the eighth honor of her career with an honorable mention nod in Flat. The Hudson, Ohio native has a 9-3-1 record in the event with three MOPs.
Sophomore Mary-Grace Segars earned the first All-America honor of her career as she also finished honorable mention in Flat. She holds a 9-4-0 record with two MOPs on the season and has one of the top scores on the team with a 93 this year.
A pair of Tigers in juniors Kate Buchanan and Isabella Tesmer secured the first honors of their careers, being placed on the Reining Honorable Mention team. Tesmer has a team-best eight wins with one MOP for the squad. Buchanan is second on the squad with seven wins.
Freshman Alexia Tordoff was named to the honorable mention squad for Horsemanship. The Powell, Ohio product holds a 9-3-1 mark in the event with one MOP. Her 78.5 in the event is tied for first on the squad this season.