AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 2 Auburn equestrian team takes to the road for the first time this season, traveling to No. 7 Baylor. The Tigers and the Bears will face off on Friday, October 6 at 10:30 a.m. CT in Waco.
"I'm looking forward to getting on the road and facing a very good Baylor team," head coach Jessica Braswell said. "Coaches Taylor Searles and Emma Kurtz have done a great job getting the team prepared and stressing the importance of focusing on the things we can control and creating momentum when we aren't in our home arena."
The two teams last met in the fall of 2021 with the Tigers taking a win in Waco over the Bears.
"Baylor will be prepared and well coached," Braswell said. "It is their home opener, so we expect excitement from their fans and for their riders to push us to ride mistake free and be consistent."
AUBURN LINEUP
Auburn's lineup will feature one fifth year, five seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen.
Auburn's Jumping Seat lineup will feature the same five riders for both Fences and Flat against Baylor.
Fifth year graduate student and All-American Ava Stearns returns to the Auburn lineup this week and will be joined by senior All-American Ellie Ferrigno. The Newtown, Connecticut product picked up two wins against UC Davis (Sept. 23) to start the season.
Junior All-Americans Sophee Steckbeck and Mary-Grace Segars join the pair in experience, having been in the Auburn lineups consistently last season. Joining them is classmate Anna Marie Mayes in both Fences and Flat. Mayes is coming off a Flat win vs. UC Davis, earning MOP with a 92.
Auburn's Horsemanship lineup will feature a senior, two sophomores and two freshmen. Senior All-American Madison Parduhn leads the group, while sophomores Caroline Fredenburg and Alexia Tordoff bring experience to the lineup. Fredenburg was recently named the SEC Horsemanship Co-Rider of the Month for September following her performance vs. UC Davis, winning MOP with a 77.
Freshmen Alexis Potts and Sydney Swallom are set to compete for the squad in the event. Potts earned a win in the first start of her career on Sept. 23, while Swallom is making her first appearance in the starting lineup.
The Reining corps will be led by a trio of seniors in Kate Buchanan, Olivia Marino and Isabella Tesmer. Tesmer earned MOP vs. the Aggies in the team's season opener, scoring a 72.5.
Sophomores Caroline Buchanan and Tordoff will join the three against the Bears on Friday. The younger Buchanan scored a career-high 72.5 against the Aggies two weeks ago, tying her point in the meet.
AUBURN – BAYLOR SERIES
Auburn stands at 13-3 in the all-time series with Baylor and are 5-2 in meets competed in Waco during the regular season.
The two teams last met in the fall of 2021 in Waco. The Tigers earned a 13-7 victory over the Bears to close out the first half of the season.
UP NEXT
Auburn will continue its road swing, traveling to No. 10 UT Martin. The Tigers and the Skyhawks will face off at 10 a.m. CT on October 13 in Martin, Tennessee.