AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 5 Auburn equestrian team kicks off the 2024-25 season at home, hosting No. 1 TCU Friday afternoon at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The contest between the two teams starts at 3 p.m. CT and admission is free.
“I am looking for a lot of fight and grit out of our team tomorrow,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “It is going to be a very competitive meet and we will need to be at our best to come out on top. Coaches Mary Meneely and Emma Kurtz have the team riding really well and we need the confidence and execution from practice to carry over to competition.”
Friday’s meet marks the second-straight season that the Tigers open the year at home.
“We are so excited to open at home in front of the Auburn Family,” Braswell said. “There is nothing like an equestrian meet in Auburn and our team really feeds off of the energy of the fans. It is a constant conversation for us about how much fun we have competing at home and the huge impact our fans have!”
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Fans in attendance will have a chance to take photos the 2024 Southeastern Conference Champions trophy throughout the meet. It will be set up by the videoboard.
In addition, Kid’s Zone will be up and running as long as weather permits. Kid’s Zone includes a bounce house, pony rides and other fun activities.
For more information on the Auburn University Equestrian Center, please visit HERE.
AUBURN LINEUP
Fans will get to see a handful of new faces on Friday as well as a wealth of experience from upperclassmen.
Fifth year Ellie Ferrigno and seniors Mary-Grace Segars and Sophee Steckbeck along with sophomore Avery Glynn will lead the Jumping Seat corps, competing in both Fences and Flat for the Tigers. Ferrigno is a four-time All-American, while Steckbeck returns as the 2024 SEC Fences Rider of the Year. Both Segars and Steckbeck are All-Americans, while Glynn earned SEC Freshman Flat Rider of the Year last season.
Joining the four in Flat will be freshman Sadie Berkhout, while freshman Eve Westfall will go in Fences.
The Western crew will be led by fifth year Olivia Bradley and juniors Caroline Buchanan, Caroline Fredenburg and Alexia Tordoff. Bradley, Buchanan and Tordoff are set to go in Reining, while All-Americans Tordoff and Fredenburg will ride in Horsemanship.
Also set to compete in Horsemanship will be experienced sophomores in Brooke Jolstad and Sydney Swallom. The pair were among the starting lineups last year with Swallom securing a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team. Junior Lauren Hall is also set to make a start for the Tigers in the event.
A pair of freshmen earned a spot in the Reining lineup in Michelle Fumagalli and Catie Reachard.
AUBURN – TCU SERIES
Auburn leads the all-time series against TCU, 8-2, having won six-straight meetings.
The two teams last met in October 2019 with Auburn taking a 15-4 win at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
UP NEXT
The Tigers take a couple weeks off before hitting the road for the first time this season, heading to South Carolina for a Southeastern Conference match up.
Auburn and the Gamecocks will go head-to-head on October 11 in Blythewood, South Carolina.