Nov. 7, 2009
| Coach Major |
| Emily Bookwalter |
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian team defeated visiting No.10 Fresno State 14-5 at One Wood Farm on Saturday. The fifth-ranked Gamecocks improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Bulldogs fall to 1-3.
The Gamecocks’ Hunter Seat team won 7-3 and to improve to 4-1 on the season while South Carolina’s Western team won 7-2 for the second straight competition to improve to 2-3.
“This was a great day for our team today,” head coach Boo Major said. “This was our second victory of the weekend, and for our girls to ride so well two against two quality opponents says a lot about this team.”
The highlight of the day came from the Gamecocks’ Western team, which swept the Bulldogs 5-0 in Horsemanship. Saturday’s 5-0 sweep for the Horsemanship team marked the first time in team history that the Gamecocks have won a Horsemanship event 5-0.
“I’m so proud of the Horsemanship girls for the way the rode today,” Major said. “I know Coach Sorrel and those girls have been practicing very hard all season, so to see it payoff today is great. They’re a talented group of riders and I really do believe they finally have found the rhythm they have been looking to find these past six weeks.”
Led by senior captain Emily Bookwalter who won her ride 72-69.5, the Horsemanship team also picked up victories from senior Amy Biffle, junior Hailey Thornton, and sophomores Taylor Singmaster and Maggie Fortune. Biffle defeated Fresno State’s Christa Beezely 74-70.5 and was named MVP of the event.
The Western team tied the Bulldogs 2-2 in Rening. Junior Chloe Gray defeated the Bulldogs’ Sydney Colleti 69.5-62 and freshman Audrey Jewell out-rode Fresno State’s Rebecca Barnes 70.5-67. Sophomore Annie McDonald tied her head-to-head against Fresno State’s Elizabeth Thomasian, with each rider scoring a 72.
On the Hunt Seat side, the Gamecocks swept the Bulldogs 5-0 in Equitation Over Fences. Freshman Alex Arute, riding for the first time as a Gamecock scored a 13-point victory over the Bulldogs’ Marissa Mohn and was named MVP of the event. South Carolina also got victories from seniors Katie Stenberg and Megan Massaro, sophomore Paige Dekko and freshman Kimberly McCormack.
In Equitation on the Flat, the Gamecocks fell 3-2 to the Bulldogs. Seniors Alex Haskell and Carly Babcock scored South Carolina’s only two victories in the event, and Babcock’s 10-point victory over Fresno State’s Lauren Carr earned her MVP for the event.
South Carolina returns to action in two weeks when the Gamecocks travel to Las Cruces, N.M. for a pair of competitions. On Friday, November 20, the Gamecocks will compete against Baylor. On Saturday, November 21, South Carolina will ride against New Mexico State.
Horsemanship (South Carolina Wins 5-0)
Hailey Thornton def. Madison Silver (69-67.5)
Taylor Singmaster def. Nicole Roworth (72-65.5)
Amy Biffle [MVP] def. Christa Beezely (74-70.5)
Emily Bookwalter def. Allie Warkentin (72-69.5)
Maggie Fortune def. Sammie Jo Stone (71.5-66.5)
Reining (South Carolina Ties 2-2)
Lydia Roof def. by Jillian Tebbe [MVP] (70.5-72.5)
Amanda Pope def. by Shawna McClurg (71.5-72)
Chloe Gray def. Sydney Colleti (69.5-62)
Audrey Jewell def. Rebecca Barnes (70.5-67)
Annie McDonald ties Elizabeth Thomasian (72-72)
Equitation on the Flat (Fresno State Wins 3-2)
Alex Haskell def. Caitlin Marshall (75-72)
Megan Massaro def. by Nicole Roworth (72-76)
Kimberly McCormack def. by Lanie Madrazo (0-67)
Carly Babcock [MVP] def. Lauren Carr (80-70)
Kyla West def. by Jessica Kissell (66-78)
Equitation Over Fences (South Carolina Wins 5-0)
Alex Arute [MVP] def. Marissa Mohn 87-74
Kimberly McCormack def. Jessica Kissell (81-75)
Katie Stenberg def. Holly Elsbernd (78-70)
Megan Massaro def. Lisa Wells (79-67)
Paige Dekko def. Jennifer Jory (83-80)
