Brown and Schmidt Named SEC Riders of the Month for March
March 26, 2014
COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina senior Jordan Brown (reining) and junior Katherine Schmidt were both named SEC Riders of the Month for March, it was announced today. This is Schmidt’s third career SEC Rider of the Month honor, while Brown received the conference award for the first time.
“Heading in to the SEC Championship this weekend, this is exciting news and we’re all very happy for Jordan and Katherine,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “For Jordan, she’s really had a great senior year and it was special for her to win her first carer MVP at home on Senior Day, and then go out in the next meet and win the MVP again at UT-Martin. And with Katherine, she’s 21-2-1 this year and that’s a pretty remarkable record, and it speaks volumes about the type of competitor and hard worker that she is.”
In earning her first career SEC Rider of the Month award, Brown went 2-0 in reining for the Gamecocks earlier this month. In South Carolina’s 12-7 win over Auburn on March 1, Brown earned her first career MVP when she posted an event-high score to defeat her opponent, 70-68.5. In the Gamecocks’ 13-7 regular season finale win at Tennessee-Martin on March 8, Brown posted another event-high score to win her second straight MVP, winning her point, 73.5-72.
Schmidt, picking up her third career SEC Rider of the Month award and second of the season, also posted a perfect 2-0 record for the Gamecocks, going undefeated against the Tigers and Skyhawks. In the win over Auburn, Schmidt defeated her Tiger opponent with an event-high score, 81-76. In the regular season finale at Tennessee-Martin, Schmidt picked up her seventh MVP of the season with a 84-55 win.
Schmidt was previously named SEC Rider of the Month in October 2013 and March 2013. All three of her SEC Rider of the Month awards have come in equitation over fences.
The Gamecocks return to action this weekend when South Carolina and the Town of Blythewood host the 2014 SEC Equestrian Championship. This year’s Championship will run March 28-29 at One Wood Farm, and admission is free all weekend. The Gamecocks (11-2, 4-2 SEC) earned the No. 1 seed at this year’s Championship, and will face No. 4 seed Texas A&M on Friday at 10 a.m. ET. The winner will advance to the championship meet on Saturday, March 29 to face the winner of the Georgia/Auburn meet. Saturday’s championship meet will begin at approximately 1:40 p.m. ET, preceded by the consolation meet, which will begin at 9 a.m. ET.
South Carolina – SEC Riders of the Month (All-Time)
• March 2014 – Jordan Brown (reining)
• March 2014 – Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences)
• February 2014 – Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship)
• February 2014 – Alexa Anthony (equitation over fences)
• November 2013 – Layla Choate (reining)
• October 2013 – Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences)
• October 2013 – Johnna Letchworth (reining)
• March 2013 – Katherine Schmidt (equitation over fences)
• February 2013 – Johnna Letchworth (horsemanship)
• November 2012 – Amber Henter (equitation over fences)
• November 2012 – Kelsey Urban (horsemanship)
