March 30, 2007

Columbia, S.C. – The University of South Carolina Equestrian team travels to Ft. Worth Texas as the take on the Texas Christian Horned Frogs Saturday in the first of two competitions this weekend. The Gamecocks saw their last action two weeks ago in an SEC showdown against Georgia. The two events mark the end of the regular season for USC.

This weekend’s western match-up will preview the Varsity Equestrian National Championship competition as the Gamecocks are the No. 7 seed and TCU is the tenth seed.

South Carolina will compete in the second of two competitions Sunday, as they take on Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Western riders for the Gamecocks will be Allison Bradley (Lancaster, Calif.), Rachel Sternoff (Redmond, Wash.), Katy Biffle (Orange Grove, Texas), Amy Biffle (Orange Grove, Texas), and Kristina Papendick in horsemanship. Rebekah Roof (Lexington, S.C.) will join Bradley, Sternoff, A. Biffle, and K. Biffle in the reining competition.

In equitation on the flat, riders will be Cate Sands (Lebanon, Pa.), Ciara Stuart (Milton Vt.), Alex Haskell (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Lisa Bourbonniere (Toronto, Ontario). Courtney Reese (Tryon, N.C.), Ellen Hogate (St. Charles, Ill.), Megan Massaro (Summerfield, Fla.) and Katie Stenberg (Rehoboth, Mass.) will compete for USC in equitation over fences.

Carly Babcock (Deer Harbor, Wash.) and Ashley Rohde (Alpharetta, Ga.) will join the Gamecocks in Dallas, competing in equitation on the flat and equitation over fences respectively.

The Gamecocks will compete in the Southern Equestrian Championship in Auburn Ala. April 4-6. South Carolina will face Auburn University and the University of Georgia in this competition.