Feb. 23, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian team will host its final home competition of the season as the Baylor Bears come to OneWood Farm in Blythewood. The event is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start. On Saturday, USC will travel to Athens, Ga. to face the Georgia Bulldogs in a 2 p.m. competition.

This marks the second meeting for the Western team this season. USC defeated Baylor at the Big 8 Western Tournament in College Station, Texas back in January. In that meeting, Katy Biffle led the Gamecocks as she won both her horsemanship and reining competitions.

Also on Friday, the 2006 senior class will be recognized prior to the start of the event. The 2006 class includes Courtney Borton (Bridgeton, N.J.), Tara Brothers (Bend, Ore.), Ashleigh Collins (Blackville, S.C.), Chelsea Koornick (Roswell, Ga.), Laura Pipkin (Hampton, Va.) and Ashley Williams (Blythewood, S.C.).

Competing in Equitation on the Flat will be Williams, Cate Sands, Ciara Stuart, Jessica Boll and Claire Sharp. The Over Fences lineup includes Carly Johns, Koornick, Sarah Lowe, Ashley Rohde and Ellen Hogate.

On the Western side, Katie Grossnickle, Borton, Allison Bradley, Michelle Grah and Katy Biffle will ride in horsemanship. In reining, Lindsay Williams, Jamie Diamond, Pipkin, Rebekah Roof and Rachel Sternoff.

Once the Gamecocks conclude the Baylor meet, the team will then travel to Athens, Ga. for a competition against the Georgia Bulldogs. USC lost to the Bulldogs in the Big 8 Tournament and also earlier in the season, when they competed back in October. The Gamecocks are looking to record their first overall victory against UGA this season. The Western team won in the October meeting, but the hunt seat team fell short.