May 7, 2004

Columbia,S.C. – The University of South Carolina equestrian team is performing well at this year’s Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championship, which is being held in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Gamecocks have received solid performances from junior Tara Brothers and senior Kyra Hufford.

Brothers finished second in the nation in Open Equitation Over Fences. Brothers also competed in the prestigious Cacchione Cup on Thursday and placed seventh in the flat phase. Kyra Hufford has also ridden well for the Garnet and Black by finishing seventh in the nation in the Hunt Seat Walk/Trot/Canter division.

On Friday, Brothers won the jumping phase of the Cacchione Cup, which then propelled her into the lead. She is currently holding a 4 point advantage over Meredith Houx of Texas A&M. Brothers has 184 points to Houx’s 180. In third place is Vanessa Stevenson of Conneticut College with a point total of 176. The final round of the Cacchione Cup will take tomorrow with the top ten riders competing.

Beside Brothers USC still has two more riders who have yet to compete, Freshman Rachel Sternoff will compete in Open Horsemanship and senior will compete in Individual Intermediate Hunt Seat On the Flat.