WACO, Texas – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian Hunter Seat squad didn't drop a point all day Friday in the Extraco Events Center as both Equitation Over Fences and Equitation on the Flat advanced to the event championship following impressive performances in the quarterfinals and the semifinals.
"This is what we strive for at practice," head coach Greg Williams said. "Our Hunter Seat girls didn't give up a point today and we're just proud of how they continue to push each other to be the best. Tomorrow is going to be a big day and we're looking forward to it."
The No. 1 Equitation Over Fences crew opened the day with a 4-0 sweep of No. 8 Sweet Briar and followed with another 4-0 win in the semifinals vs. No. 5 Texas A&M.
Sophomore Taylor St. Jacques picked up a pair of wins with big scores, besting her opponents with a 252 and 255, respectively. Senior Ashton Alexander and freshman Emma Kurtz each won both of their matches, while senior Hayley Iannotti earned a point vs. Sweet Briar and classmate Caitlin Boyle won vs. the Aggies.
Highlighting the No. 1 Equitation on the Flat showings was the performance of Boyle. The Hampshire, Ill., product was two wins away from breaking the Auburn record for career wins in the event and she didn't disappoint. Boyle topped UT Martin's Kelby Kane in the quarterfinals and capped the day with a 10-point win over SMU's Nora Gray. She now holds the program's record with 47 victories to her credit.
Joining Boyle with two Flat wins was Alexander. She scored a 240 vs. UT Martin and followed that with a 238 against SMU. Kurtz won her point against UTM, while St. Jacques scored a huge 254 for her point vs. SMU. Iannotti defeated Skyhawk Kenzie Mezrah in the quarters and tied her opponent vs. SMU.
The Reining and Horsemanship squads battled Georgia to a pair of 2-2 ties in the quarterfinals and each fell to the Bulldogs in raw score.
Senior Blair McFarlin and sophomore Terri-June Granger picked up wins in Reining for the Tigers, while sophomore Taylor Searles scored a huge 226 in Horsemanship for the victory and senior Kelsey Jung bested her opponent by 10.5 points.
No. 1 Auburn returns to action Saturday and will face off with No. 6 Georgia for the overall national championship. Rides begin at 8:30 a.m. CT. The Fences corps will also ride for the title vs. Georgia later in the afternoon, while Flat will go head-to-head with South Carolina.
EQUITATION OVER FENCES
#1 AUBURN 4, #8 SWEET BRIAR 0
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Emily Scholsberg (SB), 252-231
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Maggie Fraley (SB), 245-216
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Lillian Peterson (SB), 252-204
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Katie Balding (SB), 249-203
#1 AUBURN 4, #5 TEXAS A&M 0
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Rebekah Chenelle (TAMU), 255-242
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Haley Redifer (TAMU), 254-227
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Caroline Dance (TAMU), 245-233
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Grace Boston (TAMU), 235-233
EQUITATION ON THE FLAT
#1 AUBURN 4, #8 UT MARTIN 0
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Monika Zoromski (UTM), 207-185
Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Kenzie Mezrah (UTM), 228-197
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Kelby Kane (UTM), 247-222
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Abbie Hopkins (UTM), 240-213
#1 AUBURN 3, #4 SMU 0
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Haley Zimmerman (SMU), 254-205
Hayley Iannotti (AU) tied Kirsten Ostling (SMU), 236-236
Caitlin Boyle (AU) def. Nora Gray (SMU), 241-231
Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Vivian Yowan (SMU), 238-229
HORSEMANSHIP
#1 AUBURN 2 (860), #8 GEORGIA 2 (870)
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Lexie Lane (UGA), 226-224
Kelsey Jung (AU) def. Maddie Anger (UGA), 218.5-208
Sara Lewis (UGA) def. Kara Kaufmann (AU), 218-214.5
Graysen Stroud (UGA) def. Lauren Diaz (AU), 220-201
REINING
#6 AUBURN 2 (616.5), #3 GEORGIA 2 (762.5)
Blair McFarlin (AU) def. Annabeth Payne (UGA), 208-192.5
Courtney Blumer (UGA) def. Betsy Brown (AU), 180.5-0
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Graysen Stroud (UGA), 207.5-182.5
Jordan Carpenter (UGA) def. Deanna Green (AU), 207-201