Equestrian . October 4, 2019

Gamecocks Head to Georgia for SEC Opener

Columbia, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian team hits the road for the first time this season as the No. 6 Gamecocks clash with the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday. The action is set to get underway at 1 p.m. at the UGA Equestrian Complex in Bishop, Ga.

Last Time Out

The Garnet and Black opened the season with an 11-8 win over Fresno State. A trio of Gamecocks earned Most Outstanding Player honors in the win.

On the flat senior Maddie Sellman notched the first M.O.P. of the day for with a score of 76 on Tattoo as the Gamecocks prevailed on the flat, 3-1. Carolina kept up its stellar work in the jumping seat categories with a 3-2 win in fences, bolstered by junior Tyler Petrie’s 84 on Joe, securing another M.O.P win. The final M.O.P. for the Garnet & Black came from junior McKenzie Duncan’s 70 on Magnum in reining to help secure a 4-1 reining win.

Fences proved to be the most tightly contested category of the day, but an 81 from junior Louisa Brackett on Batman and Sellman’s 79 on Cita helped clinch the 3-2 win for Carolina.

The Garnet & Black got all it could handle in the flat, but sophomore Kit Cunningham’s 71 on Otis and Billi Brandner notching a 68 on Glen proved to be the difference maker in a 3-1 win.

After the Gamecocks ran into trouble in horsemanship with senior Quinn Brandt scoring the lone point for Carolina, Fresno State had three riders get disqualified in reining. Senior Jordan Scott put the icing on the cake with her 69 on Nike to help seal the 4-1 category win, and the 11-8 victory.

Early Season Hardware

A pair of Gamecocks brought home some hardware this week when Sellman and Petrie both earned SEC Rider of the Month honors for September.

Sellman came up clutch when the No. 6 Gamecocks needed her in the season opener against Fresno State, riding Tattoo to a score of 76, securing both Most Outstanding Player honors and a 3-1 win on the flat. This marks the first SEC Rider of the Month honor for the senior hailing from Honeoye Falls, N.Y.

Petrie proved to be the difference maker with her 84-point ride over fences on Joe in the Fresno State meet. The Media, Ohio native bagged M.O.P. honors that day, and claims the first SEC Rider of the Month award of her career today.

Scouting the Bulldogs

This marks the first full team meet of the season for Georgia. The Jumping Seat crew competed against Sweet Briar, riding to an 8-2 win.

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