Oct. 14, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior Johnna Letchworth and junior Katherine Schmidt have been named NCEA Riders of the Month for September, it was announced on Friday. Letchworth was named rider of the month in horsemanship, while Schmidt earned the national accolade in equitation over fences.

Schmidt was named the September Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Month. She competed in two September meets, boasting a 2-0 record in the event with one MVP honor. She posted an event-high score of 87 in a win vs. No. 5 Kansas State and then tallied an event-high score of 89 vs. Fresno State, defeating her opponent by 21 points. Schmidt was the MVP in Equitation Over Fences against Fresno State, a meet in which she won both hunt seat MVP honors. She has helped South Carolina to a 4-0 record on the season. Schmidt previously was named national rider of the month in March 2013 in both equitation on the flat and equitation over fences. She was also named SEC Rider of the Month in March 2013.

Letchworth was named the September Horsemanship Rider of the Month, posting a 2-0 record in the event with an MVP honor each time she competed. She charted an event-high score of 78 vs. No. 5 Kansas State, defeating her opponent by 9.5 points, the largest margin of victory in both western events. She tied an event-high score of 77 vs. Fresno State, defeating her opponent by five points. Letchworth has helped South Carolina to a 4-0 record on the season. Last season, Letchworth named SEC Co-Rider of the Month (February) in horsemanship.

The Gamecocks (4-1, 0-1 SEC) are back in action on Oct. 25, when South Carolina travels to face Texas A&M.