Jan. 25, 2012

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian program has signed Hunt Seat rider Madison Cameron (Portland, Ore./Jesuit High School) to a National Letter of Intent, the Gamecocks announced today. Cameron will join the Gamecocks for the 2012-2013 season with four years of eligibility.

“Madison is a rider we have been recruiting for quite a while. We have had tremendous success with riders from the Northwest part of the country over the years, so we are thrilled to have Madison join our team.” assistant Hunt Seat coach Carol Gwin said. “She has been a consistent competitor in both the jumper and the equitation ranks, winning the Maclay Regionals in her Zone, receiving a Silver medal in the USEF Talent Search, and venturing into the Grand Prix ring. Madison has competed all over the country while maintaining an excellent GPA in high school and receiving numerous academic awards so we are very excited to have her become a Gamecock.”

Cameron brings an impressive resume to South Carolina’s Hunter Seat squad. Training with Shelley Campf Jeff Campf and Tara Niculescu. Gamecock fans will remember Niculescu under her former name, Tara Brothers. As a rider on the Gamecock equestrian team from 2002-2005, Niculescu is regarded as one of South Carolina’s top equestrians in program history. She was a team captain during the 2004-2005 season, leading the Gamecocks to their first of two overall national championships and first of three consecutive Hunt Seat national championships. During the 2003-2004 season, Niculescu won the Cacchione Cup as she won the IHSA Hunter Seat National Title, while also winning her section at the NCEA National Championships.

“Shelley and Jeff are two of the top trainers around, and they have really helped Madison become an elite rider,” said head coach Boo Major. “And Tara’s connection to our program makes this even more special for me, because this is the first time one of our former riders has gone on to help train one of our newcomers. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have Madison join our team and we look forward to watching her develop.”

Some of Cameron’s many riding accomplishments include:

2011
– Maclay Regional Finals Winner
– Silver Medal, USEF Talent Search Wins
– Half-Circuit and Grand Circuit 16-17 Equitation Champion at HITS Thermal
– WSHJA Junior Jumper Year-End Champion
– WSHJA Elite Equitation Year-End Champion

2010
– Maclay Regional Finals Reserve Champion
– WSHJA Junior Jumper Year-End Champion
– WSHJA Elite Equitation Year-End Champion
– OHJA Sportsmanship Award

Cameron chose to ride for the Gamecocks over Georgia, Auburn, and Baylor.

A senior at Jesuit High School in Portland, Ore., Cameron has maintained a 3.6 GPA. She was named an Ignatius Student, inducted in the Spanish National Honor Society, the National Charity League, and served as the OHJA Junior Rep in 2010 and 2011.

She is the daughter of Charles and Carolyn Cameron, and has three siblings – Alex, Elizabeth, and Jen.

At South Carolina, Cameron will major in public relations in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications.