No. 1 Auburn travels to No. 7 South Carolina for SEC Opener

The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team will travel away from the Plains to take on No. 7 South Carolina. The Tigers and Gamecocks look to battle it out at 10 a.m. CT in Blythewood, S.C., at One Wood Farm.

by Kendra Willard
No. 1 Auburn travels to No. 7 South Carolina for SEC OpenerNo. 1 Auburn travels to No. 7 South Carolina for SEC Opener
(photog name)/Auburn Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team will travel away from the Plains to take on No. 7 South Carolina. The Tigers and Gamecocks look to battle it out at 10 a.m. CT in Blythewood, S.C., at One Wood Farm. 

“I am looking forward to our team being tested on the road,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “It is always a challenge to compete on unfamiliar horses and against a talented team in South Carolina. We’ve worked hard the last couple of weeks to build off the TCU meet and coaches Emma Kurtz and Mary Meneely have the team prepared. There has been a lot of consistency through this last week of practice.”

The Tigers are coming off that big win against the then-No. 1 TCU to start the season in September. Auburn looks to take this momentum on the road as the team will face challenges away from home. 

“Competing on unfamiliar horses against athletes on the other team that ride them every day is always a challenge,” Braswell said. “Being adaptable will be key. There is no better preparation for the post season than competing in the road, so we are looking forward to a great test tomorrow.”

AUBURN LINEUP
The lineup for the Tigers will feature two fifth years, two seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen.

The Jumping Seat lineup for Auburn will feature five riders competing in both Fences and Flat. 

The crew will be led by experienced fifth year Ellie Ferrigno and a pair of seniors in Mary-Grace Segars and Sophee Steckbeck. Sophomore Avery Glynn will enter the matchup after picking up big wins against TCU in both her events. Freshman Sadie Berkhout will be competing again on the Flat, while also making her Fences debut.

The Horsemanship lineup for the Tigers will feature two juniors and three sophomores. Juniors Caroline Fredenburg and Alexia Tordoff are both coming off their wins against TCU and lead the team with top scores this season. 

Sophomore Brooke Jolstad looks to compete again after starting her season 1-0. Sophomores Sydney Swallom and Callie Hogg are also set to compete with Hogg making her Horsemanship debut.

Auburn’s Reining lineup will showcase an experienced fifth year, two juniors, and a pair of freshmen. Fifth year Olivia Bradley, junior Caroline Buchanan, and freshman Michelle Fumagalli look to add more wins in the event after successful showings vs. TCU. Freshman Catie Reachard and junior Alexia Tordoff will also ride for Auburn against the Gamecocks. 

AUBURN – SOUTH CAROLINA SERIES
Auburn leads the all-time series against the Gamecocks, 37-20. The Tigers are also 13-7 in matches held at One Wood Farm. 

The last meeting between the Tigers and Gamecocks took place on February 3, 2024 in Blythewood. Auburn came up just short, falling to South Carolina, 11-9.

UP NEXT
Auburn returns home for a top five match up, facing defending national champion and No. 5 SMU. The Tigers and Mustangs will class on October 19 at the Auburn University Equestrian Center at 11 a.m. CT and admission is free.