AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team put an exclamation on the regular season Friday afternoon, downing No. 7 South Carolina, 14-4, at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
"This was an incredible day," head coach Greg Williams said. "I love this team and I love what coaches Jessica Braswell and Taylor Searles are doing with them this season. This team has put together three-straight big wins over really good teams and we're looking forward to the postseason."
The win moved the Tigers to 9-2 overall and 5-1 in the Southeastern Conference. In addition, Auburn has won 32-straight meets at home, dating back to the spring of 2018.
"The support we get at home is like no other," Williams said. "The team is so grateful for the support, and it makes a difference in how they compete."
The Tigers honored eight seniors during halftime – Lily Beatty, Rachel Hoopman, Lindsey Klein, Emma Kurtz, Hannah Lemel, Mary McDaniel, Maddie Spak, Olivia Tordoff.
"These seniors aren't just talented, but they're also extremely hard working," Williams said. "They take great pride in not letting people out work them and we're going to miss their leadership."
Auburn swept the Most Outstanding Performer honors on the day. Junior Ellie Ferrigno won both Jumping Seat MOPs, taking Fences and Flat. Olivia Tordoff was awarded her fourth MOP of the year in Horsemanship, while junior Olivia Marino won the first MOP of her career in Reining.
The Tigers kicked off the meet with a 7-3 lead after Flat and Reining.
Auburn put together a 4-1-0 mark in Flat. Senior Ava Stearns started the squad off with a 75-71 victory and Ferrigno followed with her MOP win, 88-80. Sophomore Sophee Steckbeck bested Madeline Schaefer, 63-59, before fifth year Kurtz bested her opponent, 80-75. The Gamecocks took the final match up of the event.
Junior Isabella Tesmer kicked off Reining with a 69-63 win over Chloe Stephenson. Classmate Kate Buchanan added a 69.5-66 win for the Tigers before South Carolina won the next two matches. Marino sealed a 3-2-0 mark in the event over the Gamecocks with her MOP ride, besting her opponent, 71.5-70.
The Tigers finished the meet with a 7-1-2 record between Fences and Horsemanship.
Every Tiger scored an 83 or better in Fences for the squad, going 4-0-1. Kurtz tied her opponent with a pair of 84s to start the event and was followed by sophomore Mary-Grace Segars' win, 83-80. Stearns edged South Carolina's Jordan Allen, 85-84, and Ferrigno defeated her opponent by 10 points to win MOP, 86-76. Steckbeck capped Fences with an 83-75 victory.
Horsemanship finished 3-1-1 to close out the meet. The older Tordoff won her point and MOP with a 75.5-73.5 win to lead things off. The Gamecocks took the next point before freshman Alexia Tordoff defeated Carly Jenkins, 75-73.
Spak, a senior from Waukesha, Wisconsin, remained unbeaten on the year as she tied her opponent, 74.5-74.5. With the draw, she improved to 9-0-3 overall.
The final point of the afternoon was a 74-73.5 edge for junior Madison Parduhn.
Up next for the Tigers is the postseason as the squad will travel to Blythewood, South Carolina for the 2023 Southeastern Conference Championship. The two-day meet will be held March 24-25 at One Wood Farm and the championship is being hosted by South Carolina.
#2 AUBURN 14, #7 SOUTH CAROLINA 4
FENCES
Emma Kurtz (AU) tied Bella Primavera (SC), 84-84
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Madeline Schaefer (SC), 83-80
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Jordan Allen (SC), 85-84
Ellie Ferrigno (AU)* def. Sydney DeGrazia (SC), 86-76
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Natalie Jayne (SC), 83-75
FLAT
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Mary Hunter Millet (SC), 75-71
Ellie Ferrigno (AU)* def. Natalie Jayne (SC), 88-80
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Madeline Schaefer (SC), 63-59
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Ellie Beard (SC), 80-75
Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC) def. Mary-Grace Segars (AU), 82-81
HORSEMANSHIP
Olivia Tordoff (AU)* def. Alexa Thorpe (SC), 75.5-73.5
Kiersten Beckner (SC) def. Caroline Fredenburg (AU), 73-71.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Carly Jenkins (SC), 75-73
Maddie Spak (AU) tied Tierney Horton (SC), 74.5-74.5
Madison Parduhn (AU) def. Alyssa Jipping (SC), 74-73.5
REINING
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def. Chloe Stephenson (SC), 69-63
Kate Buchanan (AU) def. Emma Lane (SC), 69.5-66
Mary Margaret Coats (SC) def. Alexia Tordoff (AU), 70.5-70
Emilia Reutimann (SC) def. Caroline Buchanan (AU), 68.5-68
Olivia Marino (AU)* def. Haley Turner (SC), 71.5-70
