Auburn Equestrian outrides Texas A&M 13-6 to win SEC Championship
The SEC stands alone as the nation’s top college equestrian conference. Winning just one SEC title is an accomplishment worthy of celebration. Winning multiple, or in Auburn’s case four straight, is even more outstanding.
Saturday, the Tigers would compete for a record fifth straight SEC title in Blythewood, SC against the Aggies of Texas A&M.
How the Meet Went
The championship started off with Equitation Over Fences, and the matchups looked to favor Auburn pretty much across the board. And as the scores posted, “POINT AUBURN” became a familiar refrain.
Emma Kurtz, Sophee Steckbeck, Ellie Ferrigno, and Ava Stearns all scored points for the Tigers, with Kurtz’s ride judged the most outstanding performance. Auburn’s Mary-Grace Segars also scored a no point tie, denying the Aggies any points in the event.
The 4-0 event score had the fans in orange-and-blue on their feet.
Up in the Western ring, Reining had also begun. Here the Aggies showed they wouldn’t go away quietly, winning the event 3-2.
Auburn’s Caroline Buchanan and Isabella Tesmer were responsible for the Tigers’ points in the event.
So while Auburn was in control with the 6-3 halftime lead, the question of the overall winner was still to be decided.
Action resumed with Equitation on the Flat. Most of the head-to-head matchups featured riders with similar winning records of performance season. So, points in this event figured to come down to whichever riders were having their best day.
Once again, that would be Auburn.
Auburn’s Ellie Ferrigno, Emma Kurtz, Mary-Grace Segars, and Ava Stearns all won their points, closing the door on the meet. Ferrigno’s ride was also recognized as the MOP.
But with Horsemanship still to go, Auburn’s scoring continued. Olivia Tordoff, Madison Parduhn, and Caroline Fredenburg each took points, with Parduhn the event MOP, giving the Tigers a 3-2 advantage in the event.
After the dust had settled, the 13-6 final score officially established Auburn as the SEC. champions once again.
What this means for Auburn
This completes Auburn’s fifth-straight conference championship, a feat never seen before. The Tigers lead the SEC standings from start to finish, with their only conference blemish a road loss at Texas A&M.
Up Next For Auburn
Now the Tigers will head to the National Championship tournament on April 13-15 in Ocala, Florida. In the next few days, Auburn will find out their tournament seeding and their first round opponent, which figures to be either Baylor, Fresno State, or South Carolina.
The Tigers have lost their opening round meets in each of the last two years, but expectations are high to make a much deeper run this year.
Scoresheet
Texas A&M 6 - Auburn 13
FENCES:
*Emma Kurtz (AU) def Haley Redifer (TAM): 263-240
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def Devon H. Thomas (TAM): 246-230
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def Alexa Leong (TAM): 254-234
Morgan Rosia (TAM) tied Mary-Grace Segars (AU): 242-242
Ava Stearns (AU) def Brooke Brombach (TAM): 246-245
FLAT:
*Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def Rylee Shufelt (TAM): 250-0
Emma Kurtz (AU) def Maggie Nealon (TAM): 252-248
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def Brooke Brombach (TAM): 240-233
Ava Stearns (AU) def Devon H. Thomas (TAM): 239-228
Devan M. Thomas (TAM) def Sophee Steckbeck (AU): 215-200
HORSEMANSHIP:
Cori Cansdale (TAM) def Maddie Spak (AU): 225-211.5
Olivia Tordoff (AU) def Ella Petak (TAM): 225.5-222
Hanna Olaussen (TAM) def Alexia Tordoff (AU): 225-215
*Madison Parduhn (AU) def Ellie Gerbrandt (TAM): 216-187.5
Caroline Fredenburg (AU) def Alexis Robinson (TAM): 223.5-221
REINING:
Caroline Buchanan (AU) def Lisa Bricker (TAM): 208.5-206.5
Emmy-Lu Marsh (TAM) def Alexia Tordoff (AU): 206-203
Lauren Hanson (TAM) def Kate Buchanan (AU): 203.5-202.5
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def Ariana Gray (TAM): 190.5-0
Keesa Luers (TAM) def Olivia Marino (AU): 208.5-202.5
*Event MOP"
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