AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team opens the postseason this weekend, competing at the 2025 Southeastern Conference Championship held at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. The two-day meet will run March 28-29 and is hosted by the University of Georgia.
“We’re really excited to be here and in the postseason,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “It’s been a long regular season, and this is what we work so hard for. I think we’re in a good place and have been practicing hard.
“This is the first time the championship has been held off campus,” Braswell added “It is a very nice facility and we’re excited to compete there. We’re in the mindset though that we’re going to be ready no matter where it is and who we’re against.”
The Tigers (11-2) are the No. 1 seed in the tournament and will face No. 4 seed South Carolina Friday, March 28 at 2 p.m. CT. The first semifinal will feature No. 2 seed Georgia and No. 3 seed Texas A&M at 9 a.m. CT. The winner of both match ups will go head-to-head in the championship meet Saturday, March 29 at 9 a.m. CT. The entire weekend will be streamed on SEC Network+.
“Key is to start fast and get off to a good start,” Braswell said. “We want to get the momentum in our favor from the very beginning and that has been a big focus for us as we head into Friday. We have really come together as a team and it’s time for us to go out and do what we’re capable of. They’re prepared and ready to go.”
AUBURN AT SECS
Auburn has seven Southeastern Conference titles and has claimed the last six SEC crowns.
Auburn's first SEC championship came in 2016 when the Tigers topped Georgia at the UGA Equestrian Complex. The league began sponsoring the sport in 2013.
Prior to the SEC, Auburn had won three Southern Equestrian Conference titles.
AUBURN LINEUP
The Auburn lineup features a wealth of experience as the Tigers look to pick up another conference title this weekend.
The Jumping Seat squad will be led by fifth year and All-American Ellie Ferrigno as well as senior All-Americans Mary-Grace Segars and Sophee Steckbeck as the three will compete in both Fences and Flat.
Ferrigno is 16-8-0 between Fences and Flat, including a 9-3-0 mark in Fences. Segars has a 19-6-1 overall record with a 10-3-0 mark in Fences and a 9-3-1 record in Flat. Steckbeck has eight wins in Fences.
Sophomore Avery Glynn will also ride in Fences and Flat and has a team-best 11-0-0 mark in Fences. Freshman Kate Hagerty is set to go in Fences with an 8-1-0 record, while classmate Ariana Marnell will ride on the Flat.
The Western corps will be led by a handful of upperclassmen, including junior Alexia Tordoff. The Powell, Ohio native and All-American will ride in both Horsemanship and Reining, having a 20-4-2 record between the two events. She’s 12-1-0 in Horsemanship and 8-3-2 in Reining.
Joining Tordoff in Horsemanship will be classmate and All-American Caroline Fredenburg and sophomores Callie Hogg, Brooke Jolstad and Sydney Swallom. Jolstad has eight wins, while Fredenburg and Swallom each have seven.
Reining will be led by experienced riders Tordoff, fifth year Olivia Bradley and junior Caroline Buchanan. Buchanan has eight wins on the year, while Bradley has seven.
Hogg and freshman Michelle Fumagalli will ride in Reining for the squad as well. Fumagalli is tied for first on the team with eight wins.
UP NEXT
The postseason continues at the 2025 NCEA Championships, April 17-19. The three-day tournament will be held at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.