Feb. 16, 2018
Meet #8 – Equestrian vs. Georgia
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A two-match home stand concludes Saturday as the University of South Carolina equestrian team hosts Georgia. The eighth-ranked Gamecocks and No. 1 Bulldogs square off beginning at 1 p.m. ET at One Wood Farm, located at 1201 Syrup Mill Road in Blythewood.
The Gamecocks will host Equifest Kids Day in conjunction with Saturday’s meet. Festivities begin at 12 p.m. ET and include barn tours, horseshoe decorating and a chance to meet the Gamecocks. Plus, the Gamecock marketing team will be giving away a pair of Ariat boots. As always, admission to Saturday’s competition is free.
Saturday’s meet is the final SEC regular-season home competition of the season for Carolina. Live results for the day are available here.
LAST TIME OUT
– South Carolina fell to No. 2 Texas A&M, 12-6, on Feb. 10 at One Wood Farm.
– Despite the loss, Carolina earned two MOP awards, as Madison Brayman (equitation on the flat) and Paisley Roberts (reining) were honored for their performances.
– Carolina was most successful in both equitation on the flat and reining, where they won two points each.
– Brayman was 2-0 on the day, winning her fences point in addition to her flat MOP win.
LAST TIME vs. GEORGIA
– South Carolina fell to Georgia in its first meeting with the Bulldogs this season, 14-6, Nov. 3, 2017 in Bishop, Ga.
– Three of Carolina’s points came in jumping, where Madison Brayman, Lauren Fabiano and Chloe Schmidt were victorious.
– Carolina also earned points from Madison Thiel (horsemanship), Jordan Scott (reining) and Bailey Walters (reining)
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
– Georgia holds the top spot in this week’s NCEA national poll, and the Bulldogs have accumulated a 7-1 (3-1 SEC) record so far this season.
– UGA did suffer its first loss of the season on Feb. 9, a 12-6 home loss to Auburn.
– On the hunt seat side, Maddy Darst paces the Bulldogs with six jumping wins and 11 points overall.
– Annabeth Payne, Graysen Stroud, and Julia Spreng lead UGA’s reining team with five wins apiece, while Bailey Anderson, Stroud and Maddie Anger each own five points in horsemanship.
HISTORY VS. GEORGIA
– Georgia holds a 30-13 edge in the series between the two teams.
– Two of the biggest wins in Carolina history have come against Georgia: a 10-10 tiebreaker victory in the 2014 SEC Championship finals and a 10-6 win in the 2015 NCEA National Championship finals.
– Carolina won the last meeting between the clubs at One Wood Farm, a 9-8 victory on Oct. 9, 2016.
– Among current Gamecocks, Lauren Fabiano (flat) and Paige Stopperich (horsemanship) won MOP laurels in the last victory over Georgia.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
– South Carolina heads into the weekend 2-5 (0-4 SEC) and is ranked eighth in the latest NCEA national poll.
– Madison Brayman continues to pace Carolina’s hunt seat crew, with a 5-2 record in both flat and fences. Brayman holds a combined 7-1 SEC record and owns a pair of flat MOP honors.
– Lauren Fabiano is also 5-2 in equitation over fences, with three MOP honors.
– Bailey Walters has won five consecutive reining points and leads the western squad with a 5-2 record. She’s 3-1 in SEC rides.
– Fabiano was named SEC Rider of the Month in November for her jumping efforts, while Kate Eagleton earned the NCEA’s Standout Rider of the Month award in November.
– Horsemanship standout Reggie was named NCEA Horse of the Month for January. A member of the Carolina squad since 2012, Reggie has competed at both the SEC and NCEA Championships and has been an NCEA top-10 horse each season since 2012-13.
GAMECOCK PROGRAM HISTORY
– The 2017-18 season marks the 22nd year of the Gamecock equestrian program, as well as head coach Boo Major’s 21st season at the helm.
– The Gamecocks have won three national championships (2005, 2007, 2015).
– South Carolina has two runner-up finishes (2006, 2014).
– The Gamecocks have won two SEC Conference championships (2013, 2014).
– Carolina won the 2012 Southern Equestrian Championship, the precursor to the SEC Championship, which was added for the 2012-13 season
MEET THE COACHES
– The 2017-18 campaign will be the 21st season for head coach Boo Major, as Major celebrated the milestone mark of 20 years last year.
– In those 20 years at the helm, Major has piled up three NCEA National Championships, two SEC Championships and two National Coach of the Year awards (2014, 2015).
– Associate head coach Ruth Sorrel is in her 13th year with the Gamecocks as the leader of Carolina’s western team.
– South Carolina welcomes home Kristen Terebesi this season, as the former Gamecock equestrian standout returns to lead the hunt seat squad.
UP NEXT
The SEC regular season concludes Saturday, Feb. 24 when the Gamecocks hit the road for a matchup with Auburn.
