No. 1 Auburn falls in the SEC Semifinals to No. 4 Texas A&M, 11-8

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 1 seed Auburn equestrian team dropped a close SEC Championship semifinal contest Friday afternoon, falling to No. 4 seed Texas A&M, 11-8, at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.

“It was a tough day today, but we will get back to work next week to start preparing for the national championship,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “We had some big rides and I’m very proud of our MOP performers. Overall, it was just too many mistakes against a very good Texas A&M team. Our conference is very good across the board and we were not at our best.

“I want to thank the Auburn family for their support today,” Braswell added. “Our crowd was outstanding.”

The Tigers (9-3) secured two Most Outstanding Performer honors on the day from freshman Caroline Olsen and junior Avery Glynn. Olsen earned MOP on the Flat, while Glynn was named MOP in Fences.

The Aggies opened up the meet with a 7-3 lead after Flat and Reining.

Auburn picked up two points on the Flat from sophomore Kate Hagerty and Olsen. Hagerty scored an 85.67 to beat her opponent’s 76.33. Olsen secured MOP honors with an 87.67-86.67 victory over Devan Thomas.

Texas A&M bested the Tigers in Reining, 4-1, as Auburn’s lone point came from senior Caroline Buchanan. She beat Gracie Casebolt, 69.67-67.67.

The Tigers outscored the Aggies in the second half, 5-4-1, but it wasn’t enough to make the comeback.

The Horsemanship squad put together a 3-2 mark over Texas A&M on the Western side of competition. Junior Callie Hogg scored a 75.5 to beat her opponent by two points. The Aggies took the next two points before senior Alexia Tordoff downed Kaitlyn Bloom, 74.67-59.5. Junior Brooke Jolstad edged Kendall Dirksen, 72.67-72.33, to cap the event.

Auburn went 2-2-1 vs. Texas A&M in the final event of the day in Fences. Sophomore Ariana Marnell opened the event with a 77.67-68 win, while Olsen and Aggie Kate Egan tied with an 81 apiece. Glynn won MOP with a meet-best 89.33, beating her opponent by three points. The Aggies finished the meet with the last two points in the event.

No. 4 seed Texas A&M will face No. 3 seed Georgia in the championship match up Saturday, March 28. The Aggies and the Bulldogs will go head-to-head at 11 a.m. CT.

The postseason for the Tigers continues at the 2026 NCA Championships, April 16-18. The three-day tournament will be held at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.

#4 TEXAS A&M 11, #1 AUBURN 8
FENCES
Ariana Marnell (AU) def. Alexa Leong (TAMU), 77.67-68
Caroline Olsen (AU) tied Kate Egan (TAMU), 81-81
Avery Glynn (AU)* def. Grace Shipman (TAMU), 89.33-85.33
Logan Thomas (TAMU) def. Kate Hagerty (AU), 77-70.33
Alida Treuting (TAMU) def. Emily Jurnovoy (AU), 87-75

FLAT
Grace Shipman (TAMU) def. Ariana Marnell (AU), 81.33-74.33
Kate Hagerty (AU) def. Logan Thomas (TAMU), 85.67-76.33
Kate Egan (TAMU) def. Avery Glynn (AU), 87.67-84.33
Nicole McMillion (TAMU) def. Sadie Berkhout (AU), 85.67-82.67
Caroline Olsen (AU)* def. Devan Thomas (TAMU), 87.67-86.67

HORSEMANSHIP
Callie Hogg (AU) def. Kaylynn Heitman (TAMU), 75.5-73.5
Meagan Braun (TAMU)* def. Sydney Swallom (AU), 75.33-74.83
Ady Kallay (TAMU) def. Caroline Fredenburg (AU), 72.5-71.33
Alexia Tordoff (AU) def. Kaitlyn Bloom (TAMU), 74.67-59.5
Brooke Jolstad (AU) def. Kendall Dirksen (TAMU), 72.67-72.33

REINING
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def. Gracie Casebolt (TAMU), 69.67-67.67
Anna Harris (TAMU) def. Alexia Tordoff (AU), 70.33-69.83
Moriah McQueen (TAMU) def. Michelle Fumagalli (AU), 69.5-67.67
Mattie Gustin (TAMU)* def. Callie Hogg (AU), 71.5-70.83
Isabelle Gonzalez (TAMU) def. Sofia Tieche (AU), 69.33-68.33