Feb. 5, 2010
| Coach Major – Auburn Preview |
| Coach Major – Senior Day |
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The fourth-ranked South Carolina equestrian team returns to action Saturday as the Gamecocks host No. 2 Auburn (6-2) at One Wood Farm in Blythewood for Senior Day. The competition begins at 1 p.m. and admission is free.
The Gamecocks (4-3) will honor eight seniors prior to Saturday’s competition. Carly Babcock, Amy Biffle, Emily Bookwalter, Nicole Bourgeois, Alex Haskell, Eleanor Kunsman, Megan Massaro, and Katie Stenberg will all be honored for their contributions to the equestrian program during their careers.
In Reining, the Gamecocks will compete junior Chloe Gray, sophomore Annie McDonald, and a trio of freshmen in Melissa Mull, Amanda Pope, and Audrey Jewell.
Senior captain Emily Bookwalter will lead the Gamecocks’ Horsemanship team on Saturday against the Tigers. She will be joined by senior Amy Biffle, junior Hailey Thornton, and sophomores Maggie Fortune and Taylor Singmaster. Thornton leads the horsemanship team with a 6-1 record this season. Singmaster was named MVP of the horsemanship event in South Carolina’s 8-7 victory over New Mexico State on November 21. Fortune was named MVP of the event in South Carolina’s loss to Baylor on November 20. Fortune went 5-2 in the event in the fall while earning two MVP honors.
In equitation on the flat, seniors Alex Haskell, Carly Babcock, and Megan Massaro will be joined by sophomores Paige Dekko, and freshman Kimberly McCormack. Babcock won the MVP award for the event in two of the Gamecocks’ final three competitions of the fall. She earned the honor in Carolina’s victory over Fresno State on November 7 and in the Gamecocks’ loss to Baylor on November 20.
In equitation over fences, Massaro and McCormack will remain in the lineup for the Gamecocks, and they will be joined by seniors Nicole Bourgeois and Eleanor Kunsman, and freshman Alex Arute. Bourgeois was named MVP of the event in South Carolina’s win over New Mexico State on November 21.
Directions to One Wood Farm in Blythewood: Take I-77 North to Exit 27 (Blythewood Road). Turn left and go approximately one mile. Turn right onto Syrup Mill Road. One Wood Farm is 8/10 of a mile down and is the first driveway on the left.
