Jan. 7, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina equestrian coach Boo Major has announced the signing of Bailey Mierzejewski (Mount Sterling, Ohio/Madison Plains) to a national letter of intent to join the Gamecocks for the 2013-2014 season. Mierzejewski will be competing with South Carolina’s western team in Horsemanship.

“Bailey comes to us from a great family and we are thrilled to have her join us for next season,” Major said. “She has been very successful during her youth career, and her trainers Judd and Jennifer Paul have done a great job to prepare her for competing in college. She’s been extremely successful in every discipline she has shown in, and we think she’s going to be a great addition for us.”

Earlier this year at the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship, Mierzejewski was a finalist in trail and put up top-five finishes in both the 15-18 and NYATT Horsemanship at the American Quarter Horse Congress.

In 2011, she was in the top ten in the country in Youth Trail and Youth All-Around, and earned an AQHA championship and performance championship. Mierzejewski also earned superiors in trail, horsemanship, and showmanship.

In 2010, she she was a finalist in showmanship at the AQHYA World Show and also earned an AQHA championship.

As a freshman in 2009, Mierzejewski was a finalist at the AQHYA World Show in western riding, and earned an AQHA performance championship with her horse, ML Dynamic Venture.

“Bailey is going to be a great addition to our team, and we are excited to have her and her family join our program,” associate head coach Ruth Sorrel said. “She has had the opportunity to ride a variety of horses during her youth career, and that experience is going to benefit her greatly as she transitions to competing at the collegiate level.”

During her career Madison Plains High School, she was a member of the Spanish club, FFA, and National Honor Society. She was the Vice President of the Key Club and Vice President of the Student Council. She was a four-year letterwinner in girl’s tennis and was on three league championship doubles teams. She was a scholar athlete, and was named agricultural top scholar with a GPA of 4.17.

Mierzejewski is the daughter of Sam and Jolene Mierzejewski. She trains with Judd and Jennifer Paul at Judd Paul Training Stables. Mierzejewski chose South Carolina over Auburn, Texas A&M, and Ohio Northern. She will be a pharmacy major while at South Carolina.