April 5, 2007

Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina equestrian team will travel to Auburn, Ala. to compete in the Southern Equitation Championship this weekend, April 6-8. USC is looking for their first SEC title in the competition. The Gamecocks will face Georgia and Auburn in the event.

South Carolina has split the series between both schools, defeating Auburn Sept. 30 and Georgia March 3, which was the first loss for the Bulldogs. The Hunt Seat comes into the competition as the only undefeated team in the nation, posting a sterling 11-0 record. The Western team owns a 4-6 record, with victories over Georiga, TCU, New Mexico State, and Fresno State.

Riding for the Gamecocks in the Hunt Seat division will be Kristen Terebesi (Glenmoore, Pa.), LIndsey Pace (Camden, S.C.), Nicole Bourgeois (Sherwood, Ore.), and Megan Massaro (Summerfield, Fla.) in equitation over fences. In equitation on the flat, Gamecock riders will be Sarah Lowe (Augusta, Ga.), Kelley Campbell (Keysville, Va.), co-captain Carly Johns (Woodstock, Ga.) and Terebesi. Alternate riders will be Sarah Stephens (Chalfont, Pa.) in equitation over fences and Carly Babcock (Deer Harbor, Wash.) in equitation on the flat.

For the Western team, competing for the Gamecocks in horsemanship will be co-captain Rachel Sternoff (Redmond, Wash.), Allison Bradley (Lancaster, Cali.), Katie Grossnickle (Winona Lake, Ind.), and Katy Biffle (Orange Grove, Texas) with Kristina Papendick (Rapid City, S.D.) as the alternate rider. In reining, Lindsay Williams (Sasnds Springs, Okla.) and Rebekah Roof (Lexington, S.C.) will join Sternoff and Bradley for the Gamecocks. Biffle will be the alternate in the reining competition.

South Carolina will travel to Waco, Texas to compete in the Varsity Equestrian National Championship April 18-20 where the Western team is the No. 7 seed and Hunt Seat team is the No. 1 seed.