AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 3 Auburn equestrian team earned four SEC Rider of the Year awards and nine Tigers were honored by the Southeastern Conference for their efforts this season as the league announced its postseason awards Thursday.
"I am very proud of these student-athletes for having their competitive success recognized by the conference," head coach Jessica Braswell said. "Being an All-SEC performer is a great accomplishment and having four of the eight Riders of the Year in four different events speaks to the talent and depth across our roster."
Auburn won two Rider of the Year awards as well as two Freshman Rider of the Year accolades.
In addition, Braswell was selected as Co-Coach of the Year. It was the sixth-straight season an Auburn head coach took the award. Under her guidance, Auburn captured its sixth-consecutive conference championship in March.
"I'm honored to be recognized by my peers in my first season as head coach," Braswell said. "I couldn't do it without coaches Greg Williams, Taylor Searles and Emma Kurtz as well as our entire support staff. Every student-athlete and coach has worked tirelessly this year to have a championship-caliber season."
In her final season on the Plains, senior Isabella Tesmer earned SEC Reining Rider of the Year after putting together a big season for the squad. She holds a 13-1-0 record in Reining this year with a 5-1-0 mark in SEC play. She has three Most Outstanding Performer honors on the year and reached a season-best 73.5 in February. Overall, Tesmer has totaled nine scores of 70 or better.
Tesmer was also placed on the All-SEC team for her efforts in Reining.
Junior Sophee Steckbeck, of Clarksburg, N.J., was named SEC Fences Rider of the Year, securing Auburn's sixth-consecutive award in the event. She has a 12-2-0 record in Fences this year with three MOPs and went 5-1-0 against the league during the regular season.
In addition, Steckbeck was placed on the All-SEC in Fences.
Freshman Alexis Potts secured Freshman Rider of the Year in Horsemanship, having an 8-3-0 record in the event. The Fountain Inn, S.C. product went 4-1-0 in conference action and was also placed on the All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC teams for her efforts this year in Horsemanship.
Freshman Avery Glynn secured Freshman Rider of the Year in Flat for the Tigers as well as SEC All-Freshman recognition for both Fences and Flat. She stands at 6-7-0 in Flat action with one MOP and is 8-5-0 in Fences with three MOPs.
Fifth year Ava Stearns was placed on both the Fences and Flat All-SEC teams for the Tigers. The Chilmark, Mass., product holds an 18-5-1 record in Jumping Seat action, standing at 10-2-0 in Flat and 8-3-1 in Fences.
Stearns finished 4-1-1 in Fences against SEC opponents with a 4-2-0 record in Flat. Overall, she finished with two Flat MOPs and one in Fences.
Senior Ellie Ferrigno was placed on the All-SEC Fences team for the third-straight season. The Newtown, Conn., native is 10-3-1 overall in the event with a 4-2-0 record against SEC opponents. She's earned three MOPs so far this season in Fences.
Sophomore Caroline Fredenburg joined Potts on the All-SEC Horsemanship squad after putting together a 10-3-1 record so far this year. Fredenburg has three MOPs to her credit this season and was placed on the SEC All-Championship team after the conference meet.
Freshman Sydney Swallom was also placed on the All-Freshman Team for her efforts in Horsemanship this season. She holds a 6-3-1 record in the event and went 2-0-0 at the SEC Championship in March for the Tigers.
