AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team is set to open its season as it always does, traveling away from the Plains for a pair of Top 10 contests. The Tigers will go head-to-head with host and No. 10 UT Martin Thursday, Sept. 19, before facing No. 4 Oklahoma State Friday, Sept. 20. Both meets will be held at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Center in Martin, Tenn.
"I love opening on the road so this week is a fun one," head coach Greg Williams said. "I feel like the first trip to an away event really helps the team come together. I told the team Monday that UT Martin plays with a lot of grit. Not only are they on their own horses, but they are a very talented team so we're going to get a challenge right away.
"Being able to go against No. 4 Oklahoma State on a neutral site is going to be a big test for both teams," Williams added. "It's fun to start the season in the same manner that we will end it, competing on neutral horses."
AUBURN LINEUP
The Hunter Seat side is led by All-Americans Taylor St. Jacques, Emma Kurtz and McKayla Langmeier. The trio will compete in both Equitation Over Fences and Equitation on the Flat in both days. St. Jacques, a junior from Glen Allen, Va., is the returning NCEA Flat Rider of the Year, while Langmeier enters her sophomore season as the defending NCEA Fences Rider of the Year.
Joining the trio in both Fences lineup is sophomore Meghan Knapic, making her first career start. Freshman Alex Pielet will ride against UT Martin, while junior Ericka Koscinski is set to compete against Oklahoma State.
Senior Becky Kozma earned a spot in both Flat lineups, while classmate Anna Claire Smith is slated to ride vs. UT Martin. Pielet will compete in the event against Oklahoma State.
The Western events will be led by four All-Americans in senior Kara Kaufmann and juniors Terri-June Granger, Deanna Green and Taylor Searles. Green will represent the Tigers in both Horsemanship and Reining each day, while Kaufmann and Searles are in the Horsemanship lineup. Searles returns to competition as the defending NCEA Horsemanship Rider of the Year. Granger earned a spot in the Reining lineup on both days.
Joining the three in Horsemanship in both meets will be freshman Olivia Tordoff. Sophomore Ellie Becker is set to make her first career start against UT Martin, while freshman Maddie Spak will ride against the Cowgirls.
Freshmen Boo Kammerer and Jen Kasper earned a spot in both Reining lineups, while classmate Kayla Shelnutt is set to compete against UT Martin. Sophomore Peyton Hall will represent the Tigers against Oklahoma State Friday.
AUBURN-UT MARTIN SERIES
The Tigers and the Skyhawks have met 14 times in the series history with Auburn holding a perfect 14-0 mark against UTM with an 8-0 record in Martin.
Thursday's contest also marks the fifth-straight year the two squads have opened the regular season against each other in Martin.
AUBURN-OKLAHOMA STATE SERIES
Auburn holds a 12-3 record against Oklahoma State, having won the last five contests. The Tigers and the Cowgirls have only met once at a neutral site and that was in the semifinal of the 2019 NCEA Championship.
UP NEXT
The Tigers will take a month off before returning to competition, opening up their home schedule at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. Auburn will host three teams, starting with three Hunter Seat contests between SUNY New Paltz, Sweet Briar and TCU, Oct. 18. The Tigers and the Horned Frogs will do a full meet the following day, Oct. 19.