Jan. 2, 2008

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Paige Dekko (Naples, Fla.) has signed a National Letter of Intent to compete for the South Carolina equestrian team beginning in the 2008-09 season. Dekko is one of five Hunter Seat riders to sign with the Gamecocks in the fall.

“Paige not only is an excellent rider, but also an excellent student,” head coach Boo Duncan said. “She will add more depth to our Hunter Seat team on the flat and over fences. She has a lot of miles in the hunter divisions as well as the equitation division. We are thrilled to have such a great rider coming to us from the state of Florida.”

Dekko was named the 2007 Class champion at the Washington, Harrisburg and Capital Challenges. In addition to earning 2006 USEF National Champion and Zone 4 Champion, she has been named a Circuit champion in 2005, 2006 and 2007, all in Large Pony Hunters. In 2005, Dekko was named USEF National Reserve Champion in Large Pony Hunters and was named Best Child Rider at the Devon Horse Show. Dekko has earned three Grand Champion awards – two at the Washington International Horse Show (2003, 2006) and one at the Devon Horse Show (2006).

A senior at Barron Collier, Dekko is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club and Mu Alpha Theta. She is in the top six percent of her high school class and has earned multiple English, French and psychology student of the year awards. She is trained by Don Stewart.