AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team returns to the Plains this weekend, hosting Lynchburg and No. 7 Fresno State at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
The Tigers will face off with Lynchburg Friday, Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. CT in a Jumping Seat only contest. Lynchburg and Fresno State will square off Saturday, Oct. 23, at 8 a.m. CT before Auburn and the Bulldogs go head-to-head in a full meet at 11 a.m. CT.
"Our team is riding really well and it'll be nice to be back home this weekend," head coach Greg Williams said. "We always look forward to hosting schools like Lynchburg and are just excited to have them be a part of the NCEA. Fresno State is coming in here with an incredibly talented team that already has big wins under its belt.
"If people want to see some really great rides, I encourage them to join us this weekend," Williams added. "It's going to be beautiful out at our facility and it's going to be a lot of fun."
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Highlighting the weekend's festivities will be Military Appreciation as well as pumpkin painting! Friday will feature a pumpkin painting contest and fans are encouraged to get out there and show off their best work.
Saturday vs. Fresno State will be the program's Military Appreciation meet. There will be commemorative patches handed out while supplies last and the Auburn University Color Guard will also be in attendance.
The Kid's Zone returns this year with a bounce house, pony rides and yard games available to all kids in attendance. Admission to all equestrian meets is free.
Members of the Heritage Club are reminded that entrance to the Scholarship Lounge requires a mask.
For more information on the Auburn University Equestrian Center, please visit HERE.
AUBURN LINEUP
The Auburn Jumping Seat corps will get a chance to compete twice this weekend, while the Western squad will join them against Fresno State.
Three Tigers in senior Emma Kurtz, junior Ava Stearns and freshman Sophee Steckbeck will ride in both Fences and Flat against both Lynchburg and Fresno State. Stearns in 5-1-0 overall on the year with a 3-0-0 mark in Fences, while Kurtz stands at 4-1-1 and is unbeaten in Fences at 2-0-1.
Senior Meghan Knapic and sophomore Ellie Ferrigno will go in Fences in both meets. Ferrigno is also slated to ride in Flat against Fresno State. Knapic holds a 3-0-0 mark in Fences on the year and Ferrigno has put together a 2-1-0 record in each event.
Fifth-year senior Helen Ulrich is set to ride in Flat against Lynchburg, while freshman Anna Marie Mayes is down to compete in Flat against Fresno State.
The Western crew will once again be led by fifth-year senior Taylor Searles. The Scottsdale, Arizona product is slated to ride in both Horsemanship and Reining against the Bulldogs on Saturday. She stands at 6-0-0 overall between the two events and has been awarded MOP at least once in each this season.
Joining her in Reining will be classmate Terri-June Granger. The Dothan, Alabama native is 2-1-0 on the year. Junior Boo Kammerer and sophomores Isabella Tesmer and Olivia Marino will also ride for Auburn in Reining.
The Horsemanship lineup remains the same with Searles leading the charge. Juniors Olivia Tordoff and Maddie Spak are slated to compete as well as sophomores Madison Parduhn and Jacqueline Frimodt. Parduhn is second on the team with two wins in the event, while Frimodt earned a career-high 75.5 last Saturday at SMU.
AUBURN-LYNCHBURG SERIES
This will be just the second meeting between Auburn and Lynchburg. The Tigers took a 9-1 win over the Hornets in March 2021.
Auburn swept Lynchburg in Flat with Ellie Ferrigno and Ava Stearns leading the charge. Ferrigno earned MOP, while Stearns reached a career-high 95 in her win.
In Fences, Auburn went 4-1 against the Hornets. Ferrigno picked up another MOP with a 90 and a win. Stearns as well as Emma Kurtz and Meghan Knapic all had wins in the event.
AUBURN-FRESNO STATE SERIES
Auburn leads the series with Fresno State, 9-3, and are on a three-match winning streak.
The Tigers and the Bulldogs last met in February 2020 at Fresno State. Auburn took home the slim 10-8 win.
Fresno State last visited the Plains during the 2017-18 season where Auburn captured a 15-2 victory.
UP NEXT
The Tigers return to Southeastern Conference competition and host No. 9 South Carolina at the Auburn University Equestrian Center, Oct. 29. The two squads will face off at 3 p.m. CT and admission will be free.