AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team will close out the 2022-23 season at the National Collegiate Equestrian Association National Championships this week, April 13-15, at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.
"This is going to be a great week," head coach Greg Williams said. "There is so much talent here this week and there are several teams that can beat anybody, so the competition is going to be outstanding for all who come and watch."
The Tigers (11-2) are the No. 2 seed after coming off their fifth-straight Southeastern Conference crown last month. The team will take on No. 7 seed South Carolina at 1:30 p.m. CT Thursday.
"We don't want to come out flat because South Carolina is a team that can take advantage of that," Williams said. "It's going to be important that we start fast right away and play each round like it is the championship round."
Fans can find all things nationals, including live scoring links, live stream link, schedule of events and results, on the tournament central page found HERE.
AUBURN LINEUP
Nothing will change for the Tigers this week and the squad will rely on a wealth of experience in the postseason highlighted by one fifth year, three seniors and four juniors.
The Jumping Seat corps will once again be led by fifth year Emma Kurtz, senior Ava Stearns and junior Ellie Ferrigno. Ferrigno was recently named the SEC Fences Rider of the Year, having an 11-2-0 record in the event with six MOPs. She also secured All-SEC recognition in both Fences and Flat.
Stearns was All-SEC in Fences with an 11-2-0 mark, while Kurtz earned All-SEC in both Jumping Seat events.
Joining the trio in both Fences and Flat will be sophomores Mary-Grace Segars and Sophee Steckbeck. Segars stands at 9-4-0 in Flat this year and picked up All-SEC for the squad, while Steckbeck stands at 11-2-0 in Fences and was also All-SEC in the event.
In Western competition, Reining will be led by juniors Kate Buchanan, Olivia Marino and Isabella Tesmer. Buchanan and Tesmer were All-SEC for the Tigers, while Tesmer went undefeated at the SEC Championships last month.
Joining the trio will be freshmen Caroline Buchanan and Alexia Tordoff. Tordoff is the SEC Freshman Rider of the Year in the event, while the pair were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.
The Horsemanship squad is full of experience for the Tigers as seniors Maddie Spak and Olivia Tordoff will guide the squad. Spak, the 2023 SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year, is 10-1-2 overall. Tordoff recently broke the Auburn MOP record in Horsemanship and earned All-SEC in the event.
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 nine wins and was awarded the SEC Freshman Rider of the Year in the event. Both Alexia and Fredenburg were placed on the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Auburn equestrian set to compete at the 2023 NCEA Championship
