Auburn Equestrian Powers Past Texas A&M 13-5 on Senior Day
After last week’s disappointing home loss, Auburn Equestrian knew Saturday’s season-ending meet against second-ranked Texas A&M would be their last chance to capture some momentum heading into the postseason.
Led by a host of upperclassmen, Auburn would not be disappointed on Senior Day.
How the Meet Went
Equitation On the Flat started the day’s action. Auburn’s Flat squad has had an up-and-down season, so going up against a slightly more heralded A&M bunch gave the Tigers a chance to set the tone early.
Graduate Ava Stearns and juniors Mary-Grace Segars and Sophee Steckbeck all secured points for Auburn, giving the Tigers a 3-2 advantage early. Segars’ ride was also judged Most Outstanding Performance in the event.
Reining presented a similar challenge, where most of the Aggie riders were favored. But Auburn again refused to allow the visitors any easy points.
Auburn seniors Isabella Tesmer and Kate Buchanan outrode their opponents, while classmate Olivia Marino tied her Texas A&M counterpart. Buchanan was also named Reining MOP.
The 2-2 stalemate in Reining would prove to be the highlight of Texas A&M’s day.
With the first two events in the books, Auburn held a 5-4 halftime lead over the #2 team in the country. And if Auburn’s talented Fences and Horsemanship lineups could ride as expected, they knew the day would be theirs
Equitation Over Fences began the second half, and Auburn’s riders showed why they were so heavily favored.
Stearns, Segars, senior Ellie Ferrigno, and freshman Avery Glynn all won their rides. The 4-1 advantage all but won the meet then and there.
While Auburn only needed one point for victory, their Horsemanship squad was uninterested in eking out a close win. Instead, they dominated the Aggies and denied them any points in the final event.
Senior Madison Parduhn, sophomore Alexia Tordoff, and freshmen Sydney Swallom and Alexis Potts each heard “POINT AUBURN” after their rides. Then sophomore Caroline Fredenburg completed the Aggie shutout with a no-point tie with her opponent. Tordoff’s ride also gave Auburn its third MOP award on the day.
Auburn’s resounding 4-0 Horsemanship performance pushed the final score to 13-5 in favor of the Tigers.
What This Win Means for Auburn
After the previous week’s home loss to SMU, there were legitimate concerns that this year’s team may have slipped below its peers in the sport. But after Saturday’s win, Auburn enters the postseason as one of the nation’s top-5 teams.
Up Next for Auburn
Auburn finishes the regular season third in the SEC and will face second-place Georgia in the SEC Tournament on Friday, Mar 29, in College Station, TX. The following day, Auburn will face Texas A&M or South Carolina in either the SEC Championship or Consolation meet.
The Scoresheet
Texas A&M 5 - Auburn 13
FENCES:
Avery Glynn (AU) def Devon H. Thomas (TAM): 83.5-76
*Kate Egan (TAM) def Sophee Steckbeck (AU): 87-86
Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def Ali Treuting (TAM): 91-87.5
Ellie Ferrigno (AU) def Brooke Brombach (TAM): 86.5-84.5
Ava Stearns (AU) def Alexa Leong (TAM): 86.5-80.5
FLAT:
Brooke Brombach (TAM) def Ellie Ferrigno (AU): 76.5-76
*Mary-Grace Segars (AU) def Devan M. Thomas (TAM): 89-79
Sophee Steckbeck (AU) def Rylee Shufelt (TAM): 85-82.5
Ava Stearns (AU) def Devon H. Thomas (TAM): 85.5-83
Maggie Nealon (TAM) def Avery Glynn (AU): 86.5-83
HORSEMANSHIP:
*Alexia Tordoff (AU) def Hanna Olaussen (TAM): 76-72.25
Sydney Swallom (AU) def Ellie Gerbrandt (TAM): 74.75-74
Madison Parduhn (AU) def Millie Landon (TAM): 73-72.25
Alexis Potts (AU) def Ella Petak (TAM): 75.25-73
Cori Cansdale (TAM) tied Caroline Fredenburg (AU): 68.25-68.25
REINING:
Isabella Tesmer (AU) def Emmy-Lu Marsh (TAM): 68.75-68.25
Gracie Casebolt (TAM) def Caroline Buchanan (AU): 70.75-70.25
Keesa Luers (TAM) def Alexia Tordoff (AU): 65.25-64.5
Mattie Gustin (TAM) tied Olivia Marino (AU): 71-71
Kate Buchanan (AU) def Lauren Hanson (TAM): 71-60.25
*Event MOP"