Oct. 6, 2007
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BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian team displayed its best showing in the current point-scoring format as the Gamecocks defeated South Dakota State 14-3 Saturday at One Wood Farm in Blythewood. Kristen Terebesi, Kyla Thurlow and Victoria Middleton earned MVP honors for South Carolina in equitation over fences, reining and equitation, respectively.
The showing was the best for the Gamecocks since they defeated Georgia 15-3 on March 3, 2007 in Blythewood.
“Today was a very solid performance by our team,” head coach Boo Duncan said. “We rode a lot of freshman and used a lot of different riders this time to see how things shaped out.”
Carolina shutout the Jackrabbits in the Hunter Seat division, going 8-0 in equitation and equitation over fences. It was the fourth shutout in the past two years for the Hunter Seat team. In equitation, Middleton led the Gamecocks with a 77-62 win, her second double-digit victory of the season. Courtney Reese and Megan Massaro both scored a 76 in their wins while Ciara Stuart earned her first victory of the season with a 72-65 win. Freshman Luci Laffitte tied an event high with a 77 in her first collegiate ride, but the ride ended in a draw when South Dakota State’s Marian Michalson also recorded a 77 to lead the Jackrabbits.
Terebesi earned her third MVP honor of the season with an 84-80 win in equitation over fences. Massaro, Ashley Rohde and Eleanor Kunsman also recorded victories in their first rides of the season in equitation over fences. Kunsman, a sophomore transfer from Centenary College (N.J.), notched an 80-68 victory in her first ride for the Gamecocks.
After recording two consecutive 5-5 ties to begin the season, the Western team defeated the Jackrabbits 6-3 for their first win of the season. Rachel Stas, Amy Biffle, Michelle Grah and Katie Grossnickle all earned points in horsemanship to lead Carolina to their most points scored in horsemanship since sweeping Georgia, 5-0, on March 3, 2007. The win was the third straight for Grossnickle.
Thurlow continued her strong riding in her freshman season to record a 74.5-73.5 victory in reining, a Western division high score Saturday. The win was the second of the season for Thurlow, and she has improved her score with each ride. Freshman Chloe Gray also recorded her second win of the season with a 73-67.5 victory. Allison Bradley and Emily Bookwalter also rode for the Gamecocks in reining.
“It was nice to have both the Western and Hunter Seat teams come out with a win this time,” Duncan said. “We’re happy with the end result. We have very few mistakes, and when you have very few mistakes you usually end up on top. South Dakota State has a very respectable team and were much improved from the last time we competed against them.”
The Gamecocks are now 2-1 on the season and hold a 2-1 record in the Hunter Seat and 1-2 record in the Western division. Carolina will next compete when they go on a two-day road trip at the end of the month. Carolina travels to Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 27, and will head north the next day to take on Kansas State on Sunday, Oct. 28.
