AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 4 Auburn equestrian team kicks off the spring season on the road, traveling to No. 5 South Carolina for a Southeastern Conference match up. The Tigers and the Gamecocks will go head-to-head at 12 p.m. CT in Blythewood, S.C., at One Wood Farm.
"We are looking forward to getting the spring portion of our season underway," head coach Jessica Braswell said. "South Carolina is a really good team that has continued to climb the rankings all season. They will provide a challenge for us, especially on the road. Coaches Emma Kurtz and Taylor Searles have the team prepared to battle for a big road win."
AUBURN LINEUP
Auburn's lineup will feature one fifth year, five seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and four freshmen.
Auburn's Jumping Seat lineup will feature six riders for Tigers with four competing in both Fences and Flat.
Fifth year graduate student and All-American Ava Stearns along with senior All-American Ellie Ferrigno, junior All-American Mary-Grace Segars and freshman Avery Glynn will all compete in both Fences and Flat. Junior All-American Sophee Steckbeck will ride in Fences, while freshman Alex Ryden will go in Flat.
Steckbeck leads the team with a 7-0-0 mark in Fences, while Ferrigno stands at 6-1-0 in the event. Stearns has a team-best four wins in Flat for the Tigers.
Auburn's Horsemanship lineup will feature a senior, two sophomores and two freshmen. Senior All-American Madison Parduhn leads the group, while sophomores Caroline Fredenburg and All-American Alexia Tordoff bring experience to the lineup. Tordoff has a team-best six wins, while Fredenburg has four.
Freshmen Alexis Potts and Sydney Swallom are also set to compete in the event for Auburn.
The Reining corps will be led by a trio of seniors in All-American Kate Buchanan, Olivia Marino and All-American Isabella Tesmer. Sophomores Caroline Buchanan and Tordoff will join the three against the Gamecocks on Saturday.
Tesmer stands at 7-0-0 overall on the year, while the younger Buchanan has five wins. Both have two MOPs each this season.
AUBURN – SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
Auburn leads the series, 38-19, and has won 25-straight contests against South Carolina.
The two teams met up in the fall with Auburn hosting the Gamecocks on Oct. 27. The Tigers came away with a 14-4 victory at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
UP NEXT
The Tigers continue on the road next week, traveling to rival and No. 6 Georgia on February 10. Auburn and the Bulldogs will face off at 1 p.m. CT in Bishop, Georgia.
