Feb. 8, 2008

Competition Schedule/Notes in PDF Format

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – South Carolina equestrian will host rival Auburn Saturday at One Wood Farm in the final home competition for the Gamecocks before hosting the Southern Equestrian Championships in March. The competition is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.

The Gamecocks are coming off a 15-4 win against New Mexico State last Saturday. Senior Kristen Terebesi earned MVP honors in equitation on the flat and over fences for her second double-MVP day of the year. Junior Rebekah Roof earned her first MVP honors in reining while leading the Western team to a 6-4 victory.

The Hunter Seat team looks to continue riding strong after posting a 9-0 sweep last Saturday. In equitation on the flat, Terebesi (3-3), Megan Massaro (2-2), Alex Haskell (2-2-1), Luci Laffitte (0-0-2) and Sarah Stephens (3-1-1) will compete for the Gamecocks. Terebesi has come on strong on the flat recently, posting a 90 and 85 in her last two rides. Massaro scored a 90 against New Mexico State. Haskell’s last ride was a win against Georgia while Laffitte has posted ties in both rides this season. Stephens has remained steady all season, with the lone blemish on her record being a close loss at Oklahoma State.

In equitation over fences, Terebesi (6-1), Massaro (4-2), Eleanor Kunsman (3-1-1), Nicole Bourgeois (2-3) and Lindsay Pace (2-3) will ride for the Gamecocks. Three of the riders have earned MVP honors over fences this season.

The Western team will begin with Allison Bradley (4-4), Katie Grossnickle (4-3), Amy Biffle (4-3), Emily Bookwalter (0-1) and Hailey Thornton (2-4). Bradley earned MVP honors in a 76-74 win against Auburn earlier this season while Grossnickle also recorded a win (72.5-72.5) for the Gamecocks.

Carolina will use the same lineup as last week in reining. Lindsay Williams (1-5), Kyla Thurlow (2-5), Roof (2-4), Chloe Gray (4-2-1) and Bradley (4-2) will compete in the final event of the day. Gray and Roof both scored points against the Tigers earlier this season. Thurlow is the only other Gamecocks to earn MVP honors in reining this season.

Auburn enters with a 6-1 record after edging Texas A&M 11-9 last weekend (H: 5-5, W: 6-4). The Tigers earned three MVP honors, including Paige Monfore who led the reiners to a 5-0 sweep against the defending Western national champions.

Carolina and Auburn competed earlier this season (Sept. 29) in a 12-8 win for the Tigers. The Carolina Western team tied Auburn 5-5 on the day, and Megan Massaro earned MVP honors in equitation over fences. The two teams will meet for a third time this season at the Southern Equestrian Championship at Blythewood from March 28-29.

The Gamecocks return to action Feb. 23 when they travel to Georgia.