No. 4 Gamecocks Host No. 5 Aggies for Equifest Meet

Columbia, S.C. – The No. 4 South Carolina equestrian team gets back to SEC competition this weekend when the No. 5 Texas A&M Aggies come to town. The meet gets underway at 9 a.m. on Saturday at OneWood Farm in Blythewood.
 
Last Time Out
 
The Gamecocks pulled double duty last weekend, hosting the Sweet Briar Vixens for a jumping seat competition on Friday, and finished the weekend with non-conference action against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Saturday.
 
Carolina downed the Vixens, 7-2, thanks in part to junior Tyler Petrie’s career high 87 on the flat, earning her the first Most Outstanding Player on the flat honor of her career. The Gamecocks swept the M.O.P. honors on Saturday with sophomore Grady Lyman winning on the flat, freshman Madeline Schaefer taking the over fences honors, freshman Kiersten Beckner winning for horsemanship and junior Addie Cromer rounding out the winners in reining.
 
Equifest 2020!
 
Saturday’s meet is also the annual Equifest meet. The activities get underway at 9 a.m. and include barn tours and horseshoe decorating. Fans are invited to bring their families and have a great day at OneWood Farm while the Gamecocks compete with the Aggies!
 
What You Need To Know
 

• Carolina knocked off then No. 2 Texas A&M, 10-9, when the teams met earlier this season in College Station. The Gamecocks rallied from a 7-3 halftime deficit, including a 5-0 sweep on the flat, to clinch the comeback win.
• The Garnet and Black moved up to No. 4 in the NCEA Farnam team rankings this week, tying the highest rank for the team this season.
• Freshman Madeline Schaefer has made an impact on the jumping seat side in quick fashion. The Westminster, Md. native has two M.O.P. honors this season, best amongst the Gamecock freshmen.
• Grady Lyman proved that the sophomore slump wouldn’t be a thing for her as the San Diego native has four M.O.P. wins on the flat this season, leading the team in M.O.P. honors.
• Junior Billi Brandner has proven to be vital to Carolina’s success on the flat as she’s posted a 7-1-0 record. Her 85-point ride against South Dakota State last weekend is the seventh-best flat score on the team this season.
• In just the second flat ride of her career junior Tyler Petrie tallied an 87, tied for the third-highest flat score of the season.
• Junior Addie Cromer bounced back from a rough end to the fall season to notch a career-high 71 and earn the first M.O.P. for reining of her career against South Dakota State.

 
Scouting the Aggies
 
Texas A&M (3-3, 2-2 SEC) is coming off a 9-9 tiebreaker win over No. 3 Georgia last weekend in College Station. Senior Darby Gardner notched the highest reining score for the Aggies this season with her 73.5 in the meet. The Aggies hold a pair of wins over Georgia and a victory over TCU this season.
 
Live Coverage Info
 
You can follow along from home with live scoring and via both Twitter and Instagram.