AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team kicked off the 2021-22 season with a Southeastern Conference win, topping rival and No. 2 Georgia, 13-7. The two teams faced off in both of their season openers at the Auburn University Equestrian Center Friday.
"Georgia is a great team and this is a big win," head coach Greg Williams said. "Our Jumping Seat side really came out firing today and I'm proud of how our Western squad battled. I love how this team stays focused until the end and held on to beat a tough team to start the year. We know we have some work to do, but it was a great first meet."
The Tigers extended their streak against Georgia (0-1, 0-1) in front of a great crowd on the Plains, marking the 10th-straight victory over the Bulldogs.
"I love that we can count on the Auburn Family to show up and support," Williams said. "The team thrives on the energy that they bring and we love that we can kick off a fun weekend in Auburn with a win for them."
The Tigers swept the Most Outstanding Performer honors with graduate student Taylor Searles taking home the ninth Horsemanship MOP of her career. Junior Ava Stearns was honored in Fences, while sophomores Ellie Ferrigno and Isabella Tesmer took the awards in Flat and Reining, respectively.
Auburn (1-0, 1-0) took a 6-4 lead into intermission following Fences and Horsemanship.
Fences put together a 4-1 victory, starting with an 82-80 win by senior Emma Kurtz. Classmate Meghan Knapic followed with an 83-74 win and Stearns bested Jordan Toering, 91-87. The 91 for Stearns was a career high. Ferrigno capped the event with an 83-81 edge over Georgia's Isabelle Song.
Horsemanship picked up two points for the Tigers. Sophomore Madison Parduhn scored a 72.5 in her win, while Searles earned a big 79 to top her opponent by 7.5 points.
Flat continued the dominance for the Jumping Seat side of competition, downing Georgia with another 4-1 mark. Freshman Anna Marie Mayes picked up the first win of her career with a 79.5-65 victory. Stearns was awarded 87 points in her win and Kurtz followed with an 83.5-73 win over Sophia Pilla. Ferrigno finished with 86.5 points in her MOP victory.
A trio of Tigers in Searles, Tesmer and graduate student Terri-June Granger secured wins in Reining. Searles bested Linday Guynn, 69-67, and Tesmer was awarded 72 points for her MOP ride. Granger closed out the event with a 70-68.5 victory over her opponent.
Auburn takes to the road for a pair of meets against non-conference opponents. The Tigers head to Big 12 champion Oklahoma State, Oct. 15, for a 1 p.m. CT meet in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The squad then travels to Dallas for a contest against NCEA runner-up SMU, Oct. 16. Time of the meet is to be determined.
#1 AUBURN 13, #2 GEORGIA 7
FENCES
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Rachel McMullen (UGA), 82-80
Meghan Knapic (AU) def. Annalise Reed (UGA), 83-74
Emma Reichow (UGA) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 89-84
Ava Stearns (AU)* def. Jordan Toering (UGA), 91-87
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Isabella Song (UGA), 83-81
FLAT
Anna Marie Mayes (AU) def. Nora Andrews (UGA), 79.5-65
Ava Stearns (AU) def. Ceci Bresch (UGA), 87-81
Emma Kurtz (AU) def. Sophia Pilla (UGA), 83.5-73
Jordan Toering (UGA) def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 77-75.5
Ellie Ferrigno (AU)* def. Hannah Smith (UGA), 86.5-73.5
HORSEMANSHIP
Gracie Himes (UGA) def. Jacqueline Frimodt (AU), 77.5-68
Madison Parduhn (AU) def. Taylor Burgess (UGA), 72.5-72
Kendall Gill (UGA) def. Olivia Tordoff (AU), 76.5-72
Taylor Searles (AU)* def. Sara Lewis (UGA), 79-71.5
Leah Anderson (UGA) def. Maddie Spak (AU), 77.5-76
REINING
Courtney Blumer (UGA) def. Boo Kammerer (AU), 68-66.5
Taylor Searles (AU) def. Lindsay Guynn (UGA), 69-67
Caitlin Lyons (UGA) def. Olivia Marino (AU), 67-66.5
Isabella Tesmer (AU)* def. Sophie Lucas (UGA), 72-68
Terri-June Granger (AU) def. Isabella Hehr (UGA), 70-68.5
No. 1 Auburn downs No. 2 Georgia, 13-7, in season opener
