MARTIN, Tenn. – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team traveled to No. 10 UT Martin for a Saturday contest and came away with a 14-6 victory over the Skyhawks in Martin, Tennessee.
The win pushed the top-ranked Tigers to 4-0 on the year. The squad won all four events against the Skyhawks, going 8-2 in Jumping Seat and 6-4 in Western.
“I was really happy with how we performed today,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “Coaches Emma Kurtz and Mary Meneely have the team executing at a high level. Winning all four events on the road is always our goal and I’m very proud of the team for getting it done. UT Martin had a great group of horses for us to ride and it was overall a solid day.”
Auburn saw a handful of new faces pick up their first career wins in junior Lauren Hall and freshmen Sadie Berkhout and Catie Reachard. In addition, freshman Michelle Fumagalli came away with another victory in Reining. Freshman Ariana Marnell also made her Auburn debut, competing in Fences.
“The freshmen are starting to settle in,” Braswell said. “I think they rode really well today and are starting to get more comfortable with the experience. We are going to need them throughout the year so I’m excited to see their hard work start to pay off.”
Two Tigers won Most Outstanding Performer honors in senior Sophee Steckbeck (Fences) and junior Alexia Tordoff (Horsemanship).
Auburn kicked off the day with a 4-1 mark in Fences. Sophomore Avery Glynn improved to 4-0-0 in the event with an 88-86 edge over Gabby Adams. Senior Mary-Grace Segars bested her opponent by 10 points with an 87 and Steckbeck followed with a season-best 90 in her MOP win. Fifth year Ellie Ferrigno closed out the event with an 88-87 victory.
The Horsemanship crew secured an event win, besting the Skyhawks, 3-2. UTM took the first point before Tordoff’s MOP victory gave her a season-high 77.5. Hall captured the first win of her career, scoring a career-best 74.5 to top her opponent’s 73.5. Sophomore Brooke Jolstad followed with a 74.5-63.5 win to close out the team’s scoring.
After intermission, the Tigers went 4-1 on the Flat and 3-2 in Reining to seal the team win.
Ferrigno led things off on the Flat with a 78-68 victory. Berkhout secured the first win of her career, besting her opponent’s 74 with an 80. Glynn followed with an 80 in her win to improve to 3-0-1 on the year in the event and Segars capped Jumping Seat action with a 78-75 edge.
The Skyhawks took the first point in Reining before Reachard earned the first win of her career, 69.5-67.5. Fumagalli moved to 3-1-0 in the event with a 69.5-69 edge over Aubrey Malone and Tordoff closed out the meet with a 71.5-64 win.
The Tigers continue competition on the road, traveling to No. 4 Oklahoma State in a rematch of last year’s NCEA quarterfinals. Auburn and the Cowgirls will go head-to-head at 12 p.m. CT on November 1 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
#1 AUBURN 14, #10 UT MARTIN 6
FENCES
Avery Glynn (AU) def. Gabby Adams (UTM), 88-86
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Tess Kjellberg (UTM), 87-77
Sophee Steckbeck (AU)* def. Emerson Maier (UTM), 90-85
Elizabeth Becker (UTM) def. Ariana Marnell (AU), 87-84
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Kate Mills (UTM), 88-87
FLAT
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def. Audrey Morris (UTM), 78-68
Gabby Adams (UTM)* def. Sophee Steckbeck (AU), 86-84
Sadie Berkhout (AU) def. Elizabeth Becker (AU), 80-74
Avery Glynn (AU) def. Rileigh Weiss (UTM), 80-73
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def. Bridget Vieau (UTM), 78-75
HORSEMANSHIP
Lillian Laney (UTM) def. Sydney Swallom (AU), 75-73
Alexia Tordoff (AU)* def. Mia McAfoos (UTM), 77.5-72.5
Lauren Hall (AU) def. Kate Davis (UTM), 74.5-73.5
Brooke Jolstad (AU) def. Kailyn Veale (UTM), 74.5-63.5
Lexi Bailey (UTM) def. Caroline Fredenburg (AU), 76-75
REINING
Lexi Bailey (UTM) def. Caroline Buchana (AU), 72.5-67.5
Catie Reachard (AU) def. Logan Putvinski (UTM), 69.5-67.5
Elise Mason (UTM)* def. Olivia Bradley (AU), 73-71
Michelle Fumagalli (AU) def. Aubrey Malone (UTM), 69.5-69
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Kate Davis (UTM), 71.5-64