BLYTHEWOOD, SC – Auburn’s # 1 equestrian team started from where it left off and had a great performance on the road, surpassing # 3 in South Carolina at One Wood Farm, 14-5. The victory started the 2020-21 season, taking the Tigers to 1-0 in the season and in the action of the Southeast Conference.
“I knew our driving would be good, but what was nice for me was seeing this team come together”, head coach Greg Williams said. “When you combine that with your hard work ethic and talent, we have a very bright season ahead of us.”
The win also extends the team’s winning streak to 35 matches since April 19, 2018.
Auburn won MOP honors on the day, starting with junior McKayla Langmeier in the apartment and senior Taylor Searles in Reining. Senior Taylor St. Jacques Guaranteed MOP in Fences and second year Rachel Hoopman, who today debuted in her career for Tigers, was awarded MOP in Equitation.
The Tigers started with a 3-2 victory in Flat. St. Jacques, the NCEA Flat Rider of the Year back-to-back, scored an 84 against 68 from his opponent. Meghan Knapic, starting his career at Flat, beat Mackenzie Suffy 80-60. Langmeier won the MOP victory by defeating Trinity Hammerschmidt 79-65.
The Auburn Reining corps went 3-1 over Gamecocks to help the team maintain a 6-3 lead at halftime. After SC won the first point, Searles went on with the best race of his career until he scored 75.5, the best of his career. This performance also earned him the first MOP of his career.
Seniors Terri-June Granger and Deanna Green each won victories in Reining for the Tigers. Granger, a product from Dothan, Alabama, surpassed McKenzie Duncan, 75-74. Green crowned the event with 75.5 points by beating Sloane Vogt’s 74.5. Second year Boo Kammerer ended in a 73-73 draw with Emma Lane.
After the break, the Auburn Fences team mounted a 4-1 display over the Gamecocks to take the Tigers to a 10-4 lead. Knapic and Langmeier opened with 82 and 86 points, respectively, as each was undefeated on the day in Jumping Seat. Junior Emma Kurtz beat Brackett, 78-77, for his first win of the season. St. Jacques crowned the score by making an appointment with 90 on the day for the MOP.
Horsemanship closed with a 4-1 victory over South Carolina Second year Maddie Spak won a 74.5-71.5 win, while Searles scored 76.5 points in his win. Hoopman, a sophomore from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, put together a big score for the first victory and first MOP of her career, beating Cora Wyers, 81-77. Second year Olivia Tordoff also marked a career high on the day, with 80 in victory to close the match.
Auburn returns to the conference competition next weekend, traveling to rival Georgia on October 23. Tigers and No. 4 Bulldogs face off in Bishop, Georgia, at 1 pm CT. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines, no fan will be able to participate in UGA equestrian competitions this fall. Guests will be allowed only through a “Player Pass List”.
# 1 AUBURN 14, # 3 SOUTH CAROLINA 5
Fences
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Tyler Petrie (SC), 82-68
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Madeline Schaefer (SC), 86-84
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Louisa Brackett (SC), 78-77
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) * def. Mackenzie Suffy (SC), 90-83
Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC) def. Ericka Koscinski (AU), 86-85
Plan
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Louisa Brackett (SC), 84-68
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Mackenzie Suffy (SC), 80-60
Caroline Bald (SC) won. Lindsey Klein (AU), 69-66
McKayla Langmeier (AU) * def. Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC), 79-65
Kit Cunningham (SC) def. Emma Kurtz (AU), 75-67
Horsemanship
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Michaela Schrim (SC), 74.5-71.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Taylor Kellam (SC), 76.5-71.5
Alexa Thorpe (SC) def. Deanna Green (AU), 78-76
Rachel Hoopman (AU) * def. Cora Wyers (SC), 81-77
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Kiersten Beckner (SC), 80-79
Reining
Chloe Stephenson (SC) won. Olivia Marino (AU), 74.5-68.5
Taylor Searles (AU) * def. Graycen Hess (SC), 75.5-74.5
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. McKenzie Duncan (SC), 75-74
Boo Kammerer (AU) drew with Emma Lane (SC), 73-73
Deanna Green (AU) def. Sloane Vogt (SC), 75.5.-74.5