BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team took to the road for the first time this season and came away with a 14-5 victory at No. 7 South Carolina Friday afternoon at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, South Carolina.
“I am so proud of what this team did on the road today,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “We talked about consistency and they delivered.”
The Tigers (2-0, 1-0 SEC) put together big performances in Horsemanship and Jumping Seat action over the Gamecocks (2-1, 0-1 SEC). Auburn earned the sweep of South Carolina in Horsemanship and combined for a 7-2-1 mark between Fences and Flat in Jumping Seat.
“The Horsemanship crew had a huge day,” Braswell said. “Going undefeated in any event is a big task and they rose to the occasion. Jumping Seat showed so much consistency through both events and our experience really showed today.”
Auburn opened up the day with a 9-1 lead after Horsemanship and Fences.
The Horsemanship crew put up big numbers throughout the meet with all riders scoring a 70.5 or better in the sweep of the Gamecocks.
Junior Caroline Fredenburg led off with a 74-71.5 win and was followed by classmate Alexia Tordoff’s 74.25-68.25 victory. That win gave Tordoff her first Most Outstanding Performer honor of the season.
Sophomores Brooke Jolstad, Sydney Swallom and Callie Hogg closed out the event with three-straight wins. Jolstad edged her opponent, 73-72.5, before Swallom won her match up, 71-67.25. Hogg secured the first win of her career with a 70.5-69 victory over Jordyn Humbert.
The Fences corps went 4-1 vs. the Gamecocks, starting with fifth year Ellie Ferrigno’s 87.5-78 win. Senior Sophee Steckbeck scored an 85.5 on her winning ride before classmate Mary-Grace Segars bested Natalie Jayne, 80.5-75. Sophomore Avery Glynn capped the event with an 89-87 win.
Flat finished 3-1-1 following intermission.
Steckbeck picked up her second win of the season on the Flat, scoring an 80.5 to best her opponent’s 78. Glynn and South Carolina’s Mary Hunter Millet rode to an 83-83 draw, while Segar secured an 83.5-83 edge. Ferrigno saved the best for last in the event, scoring a meet-high 85 to win her point and MOP.
Reining closed out the day with two victories from upperclassmen. Junior Caroline Buchanan finished with a four-point win over Mattie McNeill, 69.25-65.25, while fifth year Olivia Bradley sealed the team victory with a 67.5 to take her point.
Auburn returns to the Auburn University Equestrian Center next weekend, hosting defending national champion and No. 5 SMU.
“We are looking forward to getting back to work to prepare for a tough opponent in SMU,” Braswell said. “We will have to be our best against the Mustangs and the Auburn Family will be a huge difference maker for us!”
The Tigers and the Mustangs will face off at 11 a.m. CT on October 19. Admission is free to all equestrian meets.
#1 AUBURN 14, #7 SOUTH CAROLINA 5
FENCES
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Grace Rabb (SC), 87.5-80
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Alexa Aureliano (SC), 85.5-71.5
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Natalie Jayne (SC), 80.5-75
Amira Kettaneh (SC)* def. Sadie Berkhout (SC), 90-86.5
Avery Glynn (AU) def. Alyssa Bauer (SC), 89-87
FLAT
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Sarah Rabb (SC), 80.5-78
Avery Glynn (AU) tied Mary Hunter Millet (SC), 83-83
Sophie Mitchell (SC) def. Sadie Berkhout (AU), 81.5-75.5
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Amira Kettaneh (SC), 83.5-83
Ellie Ferrigno (AU)* def. Natalie Jayne (SC), 85-81.5
HORSEMANSHIP
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def. Alyssa Jipping (SC), 74-71.5
Alexia Tordoff (AU)* def. Julia Lee (SC), 74.25-68.25
Brooke Jolstad (AU) def. Tierney Horton (SC), 73-72.5
Sydney Swallom (AU) def. Jenna Berghorst (SC), 71-67.25
Callie Hogg (AU) def. Jordyn Humbert (SC), 70.5-69
REINING
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def. Mattie McNeill (SC), 69.25-65.25
Opal Fomish (SC) def. Alexia Tordoff (AU), 69.25-68.5
Haley Turner (SC) def. Michelle Fumagalli (AU), 68.5-67.25
Olivia Cardi (SC)* def. Catie Reachard (AU), 69.75-67.5
Olivia Bradley (AU) def. Chloe Stephenson (SC), 67.5-66.5