BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team closed out the 2024-25 regular season with a 11-9 win over No. 4 Texas A&M Saturday afternoon at the Hildebrand Equine Complex.
“I’m so proud of this team and how they finished the regular season,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “This was a great road win against a really good Texas A&M team. We got off to a fast start today on the Flat and in Horsemanship, which we have really been working on. I’m very happy with where we are as we start to prepare for the postseason.”
Auburn (11-2, 5-1 SEC) had three Most Outstanding Performer honors on the day. Freshman Kate Hagerty was honored in Fences, while fifth year Ellie Ferrigno took the award for Flat. Junior Alexia Tordoff picked up MOP in Horsemanship.
The Tigers took a 6-4 lead at halftime following Flat and Horsemanship.
Flat kicked things off with a 3-2 mark against the Aggies, starting with an 85-84.5 edge from senior Sophee Steckbeck. Ferrigno followed with a bit 88-80 victory and freshman Ariana Marnell scored a career-high 85 to win her matchup by 4.5 points. Texas A&M closed out the event with the final two points.
Auburn also won Horsemanship, going 3-2 on the day. The Aggies led off with a win before junior Caroline Fredenburg bested Ellie Gerbrandt, 75.75-73.75. Another point went to the home team in the third spot before Tordoff edged Millie Landon, 77.5-77. Sophomore Brooke Jolstad finished off the half with a 70.75-67.5 victory.
The Fences crew had an outstanding day, winning the event and going 4-1 vs. the home team. Hagerty led off with her beautiful ride, scoring a career-best 91 points to win by three. The Aggies took the second point of the event, but it was all Tigers after. Senior Mary-Grace Segars scored 82.5 points in her win and Ferrigno added an 88.5-79 victory. Sophomore Avery Glynn closed out Jumping Seat action with an 86-73.5 win over Devon H. Thomas.
Junior Caroline Buchanan picked up the lone point of the day for the Tigers in Reining. She bet Isabelle Gonzalez, 69.75-69.25.
The top-ranked Tigers now await postseason play with the 2025 SEC Championship up next. Auburn will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament and look to capture its seventh-straight SEC crown. The two-day meet will be hosted by the University of Georgia and will be held at the Tryon World Equestrian Center in Mill Springs, North Carolina, March 28-29.
#1 AUBURN 11, #4 TEXAS A&M 9
FENCES
Kate Hagerty (AU)* def. Brooke Brombach (TAMU), 91-87
Alexa Leong (TAMU) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 87-80
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Alida Trueting (TAMU), 82.5-79.5
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Kate Egan (TAMU), 88.5-79
Avery Glynn (AU) def. Devon H. Thomas (TAMU), 86-73.5
FLAT
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def. Maggie Nealon (TAMU), 85-84.5
Ellie Ferrigno (AU)* def. Rylee Shufelt (TAMU), 88-80
Ariana Marnell (AU) def. Brooke Brombach (TAMU), 85-80.5
Grace Shipman (TAMU) def. Avery Glynn (AU), 83.5-79
Devon H. Thomas (TAMU) def. Mary-Grace Segars (AU), 86-85
HORSEMANSHIP
Meagan Braun (TAMU) def. Callie Hogg (AU), 73.5-72.75
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def. Ellie Gerbrandt (TAMU), 75.75-73.75
Hanna Olaussen (TAMU) def. Sydney Swallom (AU), 76-75.25
Alexia Tordoff (AU)* def. Millie Landon (TAMU), 77.5-77
Brooke Jolstad (AU) def. Kaylynn Heitman (TAMU), 70.75-67.5
REINING
Lauren Hanson (TAMU) def. Alexia Tordoff (AU), 69.75-69.5
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def. Isabelle Gonzalez (TAMU), 69.75-69.25
Anna Harris (TAMU) def. Michelle Fumagalli (AU), 69.5-67.75
Mattie Gustin (TAMU)* def. Callie Hogg (AU), 72-71
Gracie Casebolt (TAMU) def. Olivia Bradley (AU), 71-68.75