Jan. 4, 2012

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian program has signed Hunt Seat rider Emily Reynolds (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West High School) to a National Letter of Intent, Gamecock head coach Boo Major announced today. Reynolds will join the Gamecocks as a freshman for the 2012-2013 season.

Born in Chicago, Ill, Reynolds trains with Frank Madden and Steve Weiss.

“Emily is a seasoned competitor with four appearances in the Medal/Maclay finals and twice in the USET Finals East with a 12th place finish in the 2010 ASPCA Finals. She has also received her Bronze medal in USEF Talent Search wins,” said Hunt Seat coach Carol Gwin. “Emily rides with Frank Madden and Steve Weiss and has been fortunate to sit on numerous types of horse over the years so she should bring a level of experience, consistency, and polish that we look for in a seasoned competitor.”

Reynolds brings an impressive resume to South Carolina’s Hunter Seat squad. In 2011, she was the ASPCA Maclay Winner at Hamptons, while also finishing seventh at the Zone 2 Regionals. She also earned a ninth-place finish at the Kathy Scholl Equitation Championship in Lake Placid. Reynolds was named the best child rider at the 2011 Ox Ridge Charity Horse Show.

In 2010, Reynolds earned a 12th place finish at ASPCA Maclay Finals and also finished in the Top-40 at the USEF Medal Finals. She competed in the George Morris Excellence in Equitation the past two years, along with the USET Finals East, and Medal/Maclay Finals four times. Reynolds also earned the bronze medal for USET.

A senior at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill., Reynolds chose to ride for the Gamecocks over Texas A&M, Texas Christian, and Georgia. She is the daughter of Mike and Karen Reynolds, and has a half-sister, Mary Kathryn, and a half-brother, Michael.

At South Carolina, Reynolds will be a broadcast journalism major in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.