AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn’s No. 1 equestrian ended the 2020-21 regular season in style, surpassing South Carolina’s No. 8, 13-5, at the Auburn University Equestrian Center to extend its winning streak to 40 consecutive competitions.
With the victory, Auburn ended unbeaten (6-0, 6-0 SEC) for the third consecutive regular season. In addition, the Tigers will once again be the seed in the 2021 SEC championship in two weeks, from March 26th to 27th.
“This team has been preparing for the postseason since we knew we would have a season,” head coach Greg Williams said. “They have fun doing things together as a whole unit and winning is just a by-product of how this team approaches everything it does. All the work and always pushing to raise the bar is something we do by choice and we want to do everything at a high level .
“We are very excited about what is coming for this team,” said Williams. “We love the postseason and can’t wait to get back to work as we get closer to the SEC Championship.”
The Tigers jumped to a big advantage after Horsemanship and Fences, taking a 9-1 lead at halftime.
Horsemanship set up its first sweep of the season, overcoming Gamecocks with a 5-0-0 mark. Senior Taylor Searles he overcame his opponent, 75-72.5, to win his fifth victory of the season at the event. Second year Maddie Spak followed with 75.5 for the team point and freshman Madison Parduhn got a 76 in his win at the MOP.
Senior Deanna Green added 76 more to the Tigers in their victory over SC’s Sloane Vogt, taking his fifth victory of the year. Second year Olivia Tordoff improved to 6-0-0 of the season in Horsemanship, closing the event with a 75.5-73.5 win.
Auburn’s Fences corps ended 4-1-0 against the Gamecocks in the first half. After South Carolina won the first point, the Tigers won the final four points of the event. Junior Meghan Knapic improved to 7-1-0 overall with an 86-82 win and classmate McKayla Langmeier scored 87.5 points in his victory. Senior Taylor St. Jacques remained undefeated in the event with an 87-84 victory over her opponent and sophomore Ava Stearns tied his best season with 89 points to lead Alice Kass.
Flat and Reining scored 2-2-1 against South Carolina to end the game.
St. Jacques won tributes to the MOP with his Flat race, scoring a 93 in Nina Columbia’s victory over 85. With the victory, she improved to 6-0-0 in the year. Junior Emma Kurtz won an 85-80 victory for the Tigers in the event.
Green and sophomore Boo Kammerer each had wins in Reining. Green ended his day unbeaten with a 69.5-66 win and Kammerer ended the season unbeaten, beating McKenzie Duncan 70-69.5.
The postseason action begins with the 2021 SEC Equestrian Championships, from 26th to 27th March. Georgia is prepared to host the conference meeting in Bishop, Georgia, and Auburn will be the No. 1 seed and twice the SEC champion.
# 1 AUBURN 13, # 8 SOUTH CAROLINA 5
Fences
Madeline Schaefer (SC) * won. Emma Kurtz (AU), 88-85.5
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Jordan Allen (SC), 86-82
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Tyler Petrie (SC), 87.5-76
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC), 87-84
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Alice Kass (SC), 89-82
Flat
Caroline Bald (SC) won. Ellie Ferrigno (SC), 80-65
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) * def. Nina Columbia (SC), 93-85
Trinity Hammerschmidt (SC) def. McKayla Langmeier (AU), 80-64
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Madeline Schaefer (SC), 85-80
Ava Stearns (AU) tied with Louisa Brackett (SC), 85-85
Horsemanship
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Cora Wyers (SC), 75-72.5
Maddie Spak (AU) def. Alexa Thorpe (SC), 75.5-0
Madison Parduhn (AU) * def. Taylor Kellam (SC), 76-74.5
Deanna Green (AU) def. Sloane Vogt (SC), 76-73.5
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Kamiah McGrath (SC), 75.5-73.5
Reining
Terri-June Granger (AU) tied Graycen Hess (SC), 72-72
Sloane Vogt (SC) won Taylor Searles (AU), 71-69
Emma Lane (SC) * def. Isabella Tesmer (AU), 70.5-70
Deanna Green (AU) def. Addie Cromer (SC), 69.5-66
Boo Kammerer (AU) def. McKenzie Duncan (SC), 70-69.5