Sept. 30, 2011

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BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The Gamecock equestrian team continued its early season success on Friday, as South Carolina defeated TCU, 14-6, at One Wood Farm. The Gamecocks improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Horned Frogs fall to 0-2.
 

South Carolina’s Hunt Seat squad dominated the Horned Frogs on Friday, winning 9-1. In Western action, both teams tied, 5-5, but TCU won on raw scores, 698-583.5. The Hunt Seat team is now 2-0, and the Western squad is 1-1.

“Overall, I’m very happy with the way we rode today,” South Carolina head coach Boo Major said. “TCU has a great Western team and they showed it today. We made a few mistakes that cost us a few points in Western today, and against a team like TCU, they’ll make you pay. But we really are riding very well right now, and I think you can tell our girls have been preparing well.”

The Gamecocks started strong on Friday, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead after sweeping Equitation on the Flat.

Kimberly McCormack scored the first point for Carolina, as she defeated her TCU opponent, 74-62. Sophomore Kelsey Hart followed McCormack with an event-high score of 86, as she defeated TCU’s Caitlin Ader, who scored a 52. Hart was named MVP for the event. Emma Johnson picked up a two-point win over the Horned Frogs’ Haley Jacobi, and sophomore Logan Holler extended the lead to 4-0 with her one-point win over Callie Selchau. Freshman Katherine Schmidt, who went 2-for-2 last Friday against Fresno State, won her first of two points on Friday with a 14-point win over Kaitlin Perry.

Carolina’s Hunt Seat riders picked up four of five points in Equitation Over Fences, winning the Hunt Seat competition, 9-1. Amber Henter earned MVP honors for her event-high score of 90, giving her a 22-point win over her TCU opponent. Schmidt completed her second straight 2-for-2 competition with an 88-80 win over Perry. McCormack, who also went 2-for-2 last week in Hunt Seat action, completed her perfect day with a 77-74 win over Courtney Motz.

Through the first two competitions of the season, the Gamecocks have outscored opponents in Hunt Seat action, 18-2.

In Western action, the Gamecocks started off with a 3-2 win in Horsemanship. Freshman Sam Chiodo, in her first competition as a Gamecock, scored an event-high 77.5 to win MVP honors. Sophomore Johnna Letchworth followed Chiodo’s win by defeating TCU’s Kate Peterson, 75-73.5, improving her record to 2-0. Alison Ceresani also improved her record to 2-0, as she defeated the Horned Frogs’ Alexie Estrada, 76.5-69.

TCU forced the Western tiebreaker by winning three of five points in Reining. Despite Layla Choate and Melody Malbin both improving to 2-0 on the season, TCU won the remaining three rides. The Horned Frogs’ Kolby Simonson won MVP with an event-high score of 74.5. Choate defeated TCU’s Devin Spencer, 73-65.5, and Malbin picked up a seven point win over the Horned Frogs’ Carrie Schimpff.

“We had a chance to win on the Western side, and some mistakes by our girls proved to be the difference,” Major said. “We’ll need our veteran riders to step up this week in practice as we get ready to prepare for a really strong Auburn team.”

The Gamecocks return to action on Sat., Oct. 8 when they travel to Auburn.