Aug. 16, 2004
The Gamecocks have signed 9 Equestrians for the upcoming season. Lindsey Williams, Katy Biffle, Jamie Diamond, Michelle Grah and Allison Bradley have signed as Western Equestrians. 4 Hunt Seat Equestrians, Elizabeth Smith, Kristen Terebesi, Ashley Rohde and Ciara Stuart have also signed with South Carolina.
Lindsey Williams from Sand Springs, Oklahoma has many accomplishments to bring to the team. In 2003, she was the NRHA World Champion Youth 14-18, all American Quarter Horse Congress top 10 (NRHA 14-18), OVRHA Reserve year end champion reining youth. From 2002-2003 she served as NRHYA president.
Katy Biffle who is from Taft, Texas is bringing a tremendous amount of success to the team as well. In 2003 she was a qualifier for the youth world in 5 events and in 2002 she was a member of 2002 Youth World Cup Team.
Jamie Diamond is from Ocala, Florida with a diversified background that will add a lot of versatility to the program. Diamond was the Reserve World Champion at the Buckskin and Appaloosa Youth World Shows and has numerous top ten placings at the Buckskin and Appaloosa Youth World Shows. She is the 2004 Gold Coast Circuit Reining Champion.
Michelle Grah is joining the team from Maryville, Tennessee. She has been the TQHYA State Champion in 5 events, TQHYA Youth World Team member for 3 years. Grah served as the TQHYA Vice-President for 2 years.
Allison Bradley is bringing a great deal of experience in the show ring from Lancaster, California. In 2004 she qualified for the AqHYA World Show in Western Horsemanship and Hunt Seat Equitation. In 2003, Bradley placed in the top ten in Horsemanship, Western Riding, Trail Quarter Horse Congress at the AQHYA World Show.
Elizabeth Smith from Great Falls, Virginia is expected to be a strong contender for a starting position. From 1999-2002 Smith was the winner of the Simington Cup High Point Varsity Rider for the Madeira School I.S.C. Mid-Atlantic High Point Varsity Equestrian. She also qualified and competed in USEF equitation finals and the MaClay Finals and is currently ranked 21st in the Bates USA equitation computer rankings.
Kristen Terebesi from Glenmore, Pennsylvania is expected to do well in the varsity format that USC will be competing in this year due to her experiences in the children’s hunters. In 2004 she was a USEF medal winner at the Winter Equestrian Festival and placed 6th in the R.W. Ronnie Mutch Championship. Kristen’s father, Chris, was a golf letterman at USC in the 70’s.
Ashley Rohde will be bringing more of a hunter background than an equitation background to the team which adds variety to the group. In 2002-2003 Rohde was a Reserve GHJA children’s hunter and a Reserve GHJA junior hunter and also qualified for NAL national children’s hunter finals.
Ciara Stuart is coming from Milton, Vermont. She is currently competing on the “A” circuit in New England in equitation. In 2002 she was a Vermont representative for the Challenge of the States and was also a qualifier for the New England equitation championships.
