April 20, 2007
Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina Equestrian took home its second national championship in three years as they competed at Baylor University at the Varsity Equestrian National Championships. The Hunt Seat team won their third consecutive national championship, while the Western team earned the reserve championship title.
“It was wonderful to win our second national championship and third consecutive hunt seat championship,” said Head Coach Boo Duncan. “I am proud of both teams but my hat goes off to the Western team and Assistant Coach Ruth Sorrel. They had a difficult road to the championship, but they rode with guts and determination. Texas A&M was a tough draw, but I couldn’t be more proud of our teams.”
After earning a bye in the first round of the English division, the Gamecocks came on strong with convincing wins over Fresno State and Auburn in the next two rounds. In the championship round, it was an SEC showdown as the Gamecocks faced the Georgia Bulldogs, where they earned their third victory of the season over the Bulldogs with a 6-2 win.
Kristen Terebesi (Glenmoore, Pa.) led the scorers in equitation on the flat with a 170-161 victory over Michelle Blaire. Sarah Lowe (Augusta, Ga.) defeated Cordy Allsopp 162-147, recording the second win of the dicipline. Carly Johns (Woodstock, Ga.) fell to Haylie Jane 158-169, while Kelley Campbell (Keysville, Va.) dropped her contest 158-167. In equitation over fences, South Carolina swept the bulldogs 4-0. Terebesi improved to 2-0 on the day with her 164-161 victory over Allsopp. Megan Massaro (Summerfield, Fla.) rode to a 173-151 win over Jane. Nicole Bourgeois faced Kelley Copperthwaite, but earned a decisive 169-140 win. Finally, LIndsey Pace (Camden, S.C.) edged Logan Fiorentino 147-146.5.
In the Western division, the Gamecocks dropped their contest 2-6 to Texas A&M, earning the title of co-reserve champions. After falling 0-4 in the reining competition, the Gamecocks came on strong in horsemanship. Rebekah Roof (Lexington, S.C.), Lindsey Williams (Sand Springs, Okla.), Rachel Sternoff (Redmond, Wash.), and Allison Bradley (Lancaster, Cali.) all fell to their opponents in reining. In the horsemanship competition, Bradley got the Gamecocks on the board with a 145.5-141 victory followed by a 144-143 win by Katie Grossnickle (Winona Lake, Ind.). Katy Biffle (Orange Grove, Texas) and Sternoff dropped their contests 141.5-146.4 and 146.5-149.5.
The Hunt Seat team finished the season with an unblemished 15-0 record, while the Western team ended the season with a 7-8 record. The Gamecocks will return to Columbia tomorrow at 5:15 to the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.
Hunt Seat Road to Championship Bye vs. Fresno State (W) 7-1 vs. Auburn (W) 7-0 vs. Georgia-Championship Round (W) 6-2
Western Road to Championship vs. Texas Christian (W) 5-3 vs. Georgia (W) 990-980 vs. Oklahoma State (W) 995-991 vs. Texas A&M (L) 2-6
