OCALA, Fla. – The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team concluded the 2022-23 season as the national runner-up, falling to No. 1 SMU Saturday at the 2023 NCEA Championship, 11-8. The three-day tournament was held at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.
"I'm so proud of them," head coach Greg Williams said. "We wound up in a hole to start and had to battle out of it. I'm really proud of their efforts and the way they were riding. We just came up short."
The Tigers concluded their season with a 13-3 overall record after reaching the national final for the first time since 2019. The squad captured the program's fifth-straight Southeastern Conference title back in March and went 5-1 in conference play during the regular season.
"It's been an incredible season," Williams said. "We finished with a great record and made it all the way to the championship round. We have a lot to be proud of.
Auburn had a handful of Tigers placed on the All-Championship team at the end of the meet.
Senior Ava Stearns earned a spot in Fences and Flat, while sophomore Sophee Steckbeck was placed on the Fences team. Freshmen Caroline Fredenburg and Alexia Tordoff were honored on the Horsemanship squad and junior Olivia Marino was awarded in Reining.
"We have a great future," Williams said. "The way the team builds and puts in the work just shows that they'll be contenders for years to come."
The Mustangs held a 7-3 lead at the end of Western competition and the squad moved on the Jumping Seat with Flat starting off the second half of the meet.
The Flat corps battled and went 2-2-1 against the Mustangs with big wins from junior Ellie Ferrigno and Stearns. Ferrigno downed her opponent with a 245, while Stearns edged Taylor Madden, 258-255. Sophomore Mary-Grace Segars tied her point as both she and Hensley Humphries scored 251.
SMU held a 9-5 margin with Fences remaining and Auburn needed the sweep to take the championship.
Despite big scores throughout, the Tigers came up short even though they took the event, 3-2.
Segars was too much for her opponent in a 256-237 win and Stearns scored a team-best 270 to win her point by four. Steckbeck finished her week undefeated in Fences with a 267-253 win over Devin Seek.
Western led off the meet and the Tigers picked up three points between Reining and Horsemanship.
Auburn saw big scores from Fredenburg and senior Olivia Tordoff in Horsemanship. Fredenburg bested her opponent with a 231 to finish the championship undefeated. Tordoff put together a huge 237 for the Tigers to top Alexa Black's 233.
Freshman Caroline Buchanan won her point in Reining, defeating Lily Anderson with a 217.
#1 SMU 11, #2 AUBURN 8
FENCES
Taylor Madden (SMU) def. Ellie Ferrigno (AU), 273-267
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Elli Yeager (SMU), 256-237
Augusta Iwasaki (SMU) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 278-258
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Alex Pielet (SMU0) 270-266
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Devin Seek (SMU), 267-253
FLAT
Madigan Eppink (SMU) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 232-198
Miranda Seade (SMU) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 248-234
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) tied Hensley Humphries (SMU), 251-251
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Emma Engel (SMU), 245-190
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Taylor Madden (SMU), 258-255
HORSEMANSHIP
Nya Kearns (SMU) def. Maddie Spak (AU), 234-211
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def. Lily Anderson (SMU), 231-228
Megan Waldron (SMU) def. Madison Parduhn (AU), 232-229
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Alexa Black (SMU), 237-233
Mallory Vroegh (SMU) def. Alexia Tordoff (AU), 238-235.5
REINING
Dani Latimer (SMU) def. Kate Buchanan (AU), 220.5-NS
Taylor Zimmerman (SMU) def. Olivia Marino (AU), 224.5-218
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def. Lily Anderson (SMU), 217-214
Maria Richards (SMU) def. Isabella Tesmer (AU), 217-214.5
Chalyce Head (SMU) def. Alexia Tordoff (AU), 223.5-223