No. 1 Auburn Equestrian Wins First SEC Title!

Auburn Equestrian

BISHOP, Ga. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team earned its first Southeastern Conference title, defeating No. 2 and host Georgia, 11-7, in the SEC title round Saturday afternoon at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga.

“Winning the SEC is such an honor that it’s hard to put in words,” head coach Greg Williams said. “This team is so good and I’m so proud of them. We have great senior leadership and all the underclassmen have really bought into this program. Everyone has done an incredible job and this is very special.”

“This is unbelievable,” senior Elizabeth Benson said. “We had a disappointing finish my freshman year at the SEC Championship so to win the SEC title my senior year with this group of girls is awesome.”

The SEC began sponsoring the sport in 2013. Prior to that, the Tigers captured three Southern Equestrian Championship (2004, 2010, 2011).

The Tigers advanced to the championship round after an 11-7 victory over fourth-seed South Carolina Friday. Earlier Saturday, the Gamecocks defeated Texas A&M to finish third.

Freshman Caitlin Boyle was named to the All-SEC Championship team for her performances in Equitation over Fences.

The Horsemanship corps came out strong to start the day, defeating Georgia 4-0. Senior Griffin Knight opened up the event with a 149.5-149 victory, tallying her 12th win of the season and the 35th victory of her career. That career total set an Auburn program record in Horsemanship.

Senior Hannah Loseke earned her ninth win this season in Horsemanship, defeating Bailey Anderson, 149.5-147. Freshman Megan Rauh picked up her second win of the championships with a 150.5-149.5 victory, while junior Hannah Stephen totaled the highest score of the day with a 152 in her win to earn MOP honors. Freshman Lauren Diaz tied her match with Maddie Anger, 149.5-149.5.

In Equitation over Fences, junior Ashley Foster and Boyle earned points for the Tigers with a pair of wins. Foster’s 166 points bested Emma Mandarino’s 160 to open up the event. For her performance, Foster was named MOP. Boyle defeated Leylan Gleeson, 174-149, to notch her team-best 13th win this year. Freshman Hayley Iannotti came away with a tie as both she and Addy Cord finished with a 162.

Auburn went into intermission leading 6-2.

Equitation on the Flat bested the Bulldogs, 3-2, as Foster, Boyle and Benson finished with wins for the Tigers. Foster beat Gleeson, 166-154, while Boyle concluded the weekend undefeated with a 159-140 victory over Addy Cord. Benson set a new Auburn single season record on the Flat, recording her 13th of the year with a 165-148 win.

Senior Allie Dusha and sophomore Alexa Rivard earned a pair of points in Reining for Auburn. Dusha took her match, 136-125.5, winning MOP honors. Rivard bested Claudia Spreng, 134-133.5.

Postseason continues as Auburn looks to capture its fourth National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) national title, April 14-16, in Waco, Texas.

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