BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 3 seed Auburn equestrian team kicked off the 2024 postseason with a big win Friday afternoon, earning a 12-7 victory over No. 2 seed Georgia on the first day of the SEC Championship.
The five-time defending SEC champion Tigers (8-5) will face No. 1 seed and host Texas A&M for the conference title Saturday at 2 p.m. CT at the Hildebrand Equine Complex in College Station, Texas. The Aggies topped No. 4 seed South Carolina, 14-6, later in the day.
"I'm really proud of the fight the team showed today," head coach Jessica Braswell said. "We knew it would be a close meet and that we really needed to be on top of our game against Georgia. And now we get to compete for a championship tomorrow. We talked about using the lessons learned throughout the year to be ready for this moment and we are so excited to compete for another trophy."
The Tigers were led by big performances in Western as Horsemanship and Reining combined for an 8-2 mark, including a sweep in Horsemanship.
"The Horsemanship riders really came through and shifted momentum for us," Braswell said. "We closed out with big rides in Fences to finish the meet strong and I'm really proud of what this team accomplished today."
Auburn swept the Most Outstanding Performer honors – senior Isabella Tesmer (Reining), fifth year Ava Stearns (Flat), junior Sophee Steckbeck (Fences) and sophomore Alexia Tordoff (Horsemanship).
The two teams rode to a 5-5 tie after Flat and Reining opened the day.
Reining put together a 3-2 record vs. the Bulldogs, starting with a 68-66.67 win from Tordoff. Tesmer followed with a 71.83-71 edge to improve to 12-1-0 on the year in the event, while sophomore Caroline Buchanan scored 70.5 points in her win over Jax Bound.
The Tigers earned big wins in Flat from their most experienced riders in Stearns and senior Ellie Ferrigno. Stearns picked up her ninth win of the season in the event with a huge 89.67-85.33 victory over Catalina Peralta. Ferrigno bested her opponent, 85.33-83, for the squad.
Horsemanship kicked off the sweep with a 75.33-60.33 win from freshman Sydney Swallom. Freshman Alexis Potts earned a 72.67 to top Grace Himes, while Tordoff earned a 73.17 in her win. Sophomore Caroline Fredenburg bested Jordan Davis, 73.83-70.5, and senior Madison Parduhn capped the event with a 73-72.33 edge over Leah Anderson.
Fences closed out the day with a 2-2-1 mark vs. the Bulldogs. Junior Mary-Grace Segars earned a big score with an 89.67 to defeat Peralta's 89.33. Ferrigno and Emma Reichow tied their match up as each earned a 90.33. Steckbeck finished things off with a 93-81.67 win, improving to 12-1-0 overall in the event this season.
#3 AUBURN 12, #2 GEORGIA 7
SEC SEMIFINAL
FENCES
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Catalina Peralta (UGA), 89.67-89.33
Tessa Downey (UGA) def. Ava Stearns (AU), 81.67-71.67
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) tied Emma Reichow (UGA), 90.33-90.33
Tessa P. Brown (UGA) def. Avery Glynn (AU), 89-84
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Jennifer Staniloff (UGA), 93-81.67
FLAT
Nora Andrews (UGA) def. Mary-Grace Segars (AU), 87-80
Jordan Toering (UGA) def. Avery Glynn (AU), 88-85
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Catalina Peralta (UGA), 89.67-85.33
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Isabella David (UGA), 85.33-83
Sophia Pilla (UGA) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 89.67-81.67
HORSEMANSHIP
Sydney Swallom (AU) def. Jillian Stopperich (UGA), 75.33-60.33
Alexis Potts (AU) def. Grace Himes (UGA), 72.67-70.67
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Austin Layer (UGA), 73.17-70.83
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def. Jordan Davis (UGA), 73.83-70.5
Madison Parduhn (AU) def. Leah Anderson (UGA), 73-72.33
REINING
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Caitlin Lyons (UGA), 68-66.67
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def. Raegan Shepherd (UGA), 71.83-71
Hannah Jane Lucas (UGA) def. Olivia Marino (AU), 68.33-67.83
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def. Jax Bound (UGA), 70.5-0
Shelby Lynch (UGA) def. Kate Buchanan (AU), 70.5-0
