May 15, 2009

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian team will be honored next week at the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet for the team’s past accomplishments and championship history. The banquet will be held Monday, May 18 at the Columbia Convention Center at 6 p.m.

At the banquet that will induct eight South Carolinians into the SC Hall of Fame – including three that spent their collegiate careers at the University of South Carolina – the Gamecock equestrian team under Coach Boo Major will also be present to receive a special recognition for outstanding excellence in athletic and scholastic endeavors.

Sponsors for recognizing the Gamecocks include the Town of Blythewood, the South Carolina Horseman’s Council and past S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame Presidents Sonny Dickinson and Pete DiVenere.

Under the direction of Coach Major, South Carolina has become a premier program in collegiate equestrian. With the advent of the Varsity Equestrian National Championships six years ago, the Gamecocks won overall national championships in 2005 and 2007, and the Hunter Seat team won three consecutive national championships from 2005 to 2007. In addition, two Gamecocks earned individual national championships in Tara Brothers (2004) and Kristen Terebesi (2008).

Also, in the five years since equestrian has been included in the SEC Spring Sports Honor Roll listings, Coach Major has placed 76 student-athletes on the list.