March 25, 2017

AUBURN, Ala. — The University of South Carolina equestrian team fell to Texas A&M on Saturday, 12-8, in the consolation round of the 2017 SEC Championship. With the setback, the Gamecocks are now 6-8 on the season.

Despite the loss, three Gamecocks earned MOP accolades on Saturday. Bailey Walters was the reining honoree for the second consecutive day, while Chloe Schmidt (equitation on the flat) and Ashley Reichert (horsemanship) were also honored for strong rides.

Texas A&M is now 9-5 on the year.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Boo Major

“I know our score doesn’t really show the effort that the girls made today, but we really wanted them to ride aggressively. We had nothing to lose today, so a lot of what we wanted them to do was to have a better performance than yesterday. If that meant they overdid it, so be it. We just felt like yesterday we weren’t aggressive enough with the horses, weren’t aggressive enough with our cheering, frankly with everything. Today we got much more aggressive. We paid more attention to detail, and we were much more focused. Point-wise, we didn’t lose by much.”

EQUITATION OVER FENCES RECAP

The Gamecocks earned three points in jumping to start the day off right. Madison Sellman improved to 2-0 at the SEC Championship with a 160-80 win over Haley Webster on Bo. Madison Butehorn followed on Lola with a 135-122 victory over Alex Desiderio, and Sydney Smith added a 162-153 win over Kai Devoglaer on Valducchy.

HORSEMANSHIP RECAP

Carolina added three more points in horsemanship. Paige Stopperich collected a 148-146 victory on Abner over Rachel Lucht, and Reichert added a 151.5-145 triumph on Bella over Kaci Fisher. The third point came from Madison Thiel, 150.5-148, over Avery Ellis on Whiz. Midway through the meet, Carolina led, 6-4.

Reichert’s victory was her second this weekend, and she was named MOP at the end of the day. It’s the first MOP award of her collegiate career.

EQUITATION ON THE FLAT RECAP

Texas A&M was able to take the lead by winning four points on the flat. The Gamecocks got their lone victory from Schmidt, who defeated Rebekah Chenelle, 177-173, on Vinnie.

Schmidt went 2-0 at the SEC Championship and was awarded MOP honors Saturday, her second top honor of the season. Heading into the final five reining riders, the competition was 8-7, with Texas A&M in front.

REINING RECAP

Carolina needed to rally in the final event of the day, but they collected just one point. Walters defeated Madison Bohman, 144-138, but the Aggies finished with the 12-8 win. Still, Walters was named MOP for the fourth time this season and ninth time as a Gamecock.

NOTABLE

• Schmidt’s flat victory was her 10th this season in the discipline, leading the Gamecocks in all events.
• Walters is now 4-0 in her career at the SEC Championship, with four MOP honors.

UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS

South Carolina will end the season at the 2017 NCEA Championship, April 13-15 in Waco, Texas. The Gamecocks are in the hunt for their fourth national championship as a program after taking the title in 2005, 2007 and 2015.