AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team put an exclamation on the fall portion of the season, downing No. 2 Georgia, 16-4, Friday at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
With the win, the Tigers capped the fall with a 6-0 record and a 3-0 mark in Southeastern Conference action.
"I couldn't be any more proud of this team and the resiliency we showed today in these conditions," head coach Greg Williams said. "Our talent is unbelievable, but it's a major credit to coaches Jessica Braswell and Mary Meneely that they are ready to compete at this level. We're looking forward to this break and hitting it hard again in the spring."
The Tigers put together big rides all day, taking all four MOP honors at the end of the meet - juniors Taylor St. Jacques (Flat), Deanna Green (Horsemanship) and Terri-June Granger (Reining) and sophomore McKayla Langmeier (Fences).
Auburn kicked off the soggy day with a 4-1 win in Flat. Langmeier put together an 85-80 win over Hayley Mairano, while freshman Ava Stearns bested Maddy Darst, 78-72. St. Jacques earned MOP honors for an 86 on her ride and sophomore Emma Kurtz edged Grace Bridges, 83-82.
Fences followed with a sweep of the Bulldogs, earning a 5-0 win to push Auburn to a 9-1 lead after Jumping Seat. Langmeier opened things up with her MOP ride, tying her career high with a 92. Kurtz followed with an 89-66 victory and St. Jacques earned a career-best 91 in her win. Stearns put together a career high with a 90 to top Darst once again and sophomore Meghan Knapic finished the event with an 89-79 victory.
Horsemanship continued the winning ways under the covered arena, besting Georgia, 3-2. Senior Kara Kaufmann earned a 73.5 for the team point and freshman Olivia Tordoff put together a 74 for her win. Green picked up the final point of the event with her MOP ride, beating her opponent with a 76.5.
Green and classmate Terri-June Granger opened up Reining with a pair of victories, seeing Green edge Jordan Carpenter and Granger besting Lindsay Guynn. Freshmen Kayla Shelnutt and Boo Kammerer closed out the scoring with two wins. Shelnutt topped Julia Spreng, 69-66.5, while Kammerer scored 66 points in her win.
#1 AUBURN 16, #2 GEORGIA 4
Fences
McKayla Langmeier (AU)* def. Rachel McMullen (UGA), 92-88
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Kate Kramer (UGA), 89-66
Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Ali Tritschler (UGA), 91-87
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Maddy Darst (UGA), 90-77
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 89-79
Flat
McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 85-80
Ali Tritschler (UGA) def. Paige Matthies (AU), 73-72
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Maddy Darst (UGA), 78-72
Taylor St. Jacques (AU)* def. Isabelle Heckler (UGA), 86-81
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Grace Bridges (UGA), 83-82
Horsemanship
Kara Kaufmann (AU) def. Taylor Burgess (UGA), 73.5-67
Kaitlin Dierks (UGA) def. Maddie Spak (AU), 75-74.5
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def. Maddie Fiorante (UGA), 74-72.5
Deanna Green (AU)* def. Sara Lewis (UGA), 76.5-74.5
Lexie Lane (UGA) def. Taylor Searles (AU), 73.5-69
Reining
Deanna Green (AU) def. Jordan Carpenter (UGA), 69.5-69
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Lindsay Guynn (UGA), 69-66.5
Kayla Shelnutt (AU def. Julia Spreng (UGA), 69-66.5
Courtney Blumer (UGA) def. Jen Kasper (AU), 69.5-67.5
Boo Kammerer (AU) def. Annabeth Payne (UGA), 66-65