Gamecocks Down Fresno State, 13-6, on Senior Day
March 9, 2018
Meet #12 — Carolina 13, Fresno State 6
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. – The University of South Carolina finished the 2017-18 equestrian regular season with a 13-6 victory over Fresno State on Friday. With the win, the Gamecocks head into the postseason with triumphs in two of their last three meets.
Fresno State fell to 3-8 with the loss, while the Gamecocks are now 4-8.
Carolina swept the MOP awards Friday. Madison Brayman (equitation over fences) and Chloe Schmidt (equitation on the flat) won for hunt seat events, while Madison Thiel (horsemanship) and Caroline Gute (reining) led the western squad.
The day started with equitation over fences and horsemanship riding simultaneously. Jumping finished first, with the Gamecocks dominating by taking four of five points. Lizzie van der Walde was an 83-59 winner on Joe over Sierra Swaffar, and Brayman turned in an MOP effort on Batman by defeating Erica Rosinski, 90-70. Louisa Brackett knocked off Paige Pastorino, 78-56, on Tattoo, and Lauren Fabiano collected an 84-79 win on Leon over Natalie Wendt.
Two Gamecocks were victorious in horsemanship. Megan Overberg rode Jazz to a 73.5-71 win over Julia Kelly, and Thiel edged Rachel Williams on Caper, 74.5-74. Midway through the meet, the Gamecocks led, 6-3.
Carolina took control by winning four points in equitation on the flat. Brackett earned her second point of the day, 65-51, over Alex Peltier on Toby. Schmidt rode to an MOP performance with a 76-69 win on Chip over Swaffar, and van der Walde collected a 76-58 point on Cody over Kylina Chalack. Finally, Madison Sellman won her point, 75-64, on Kenny over Wendt.
Reining ran simultaneously with the flat, and Carolina won three points. Jordan Scott defeated Allison Nordvall, 73-71 on Sparky, and Bailey Walters earned a 72-70 win over Shea Gilson on Stoner. Finally, Gute secured an MOP win with her 73-68 win over Kara Gustafson on Chexy.
NOTABLE
• Gute and Schmidt have now each won MOP laurels three weekends in a row. Schmidt’s MOP was her fourth of the season.
• Friday’s competition was the final home regular-season meet for seniors Raleigh Bacharach, Madison Butehorn, Lauren Fabiano, Megan Overberg, Jaana Rasmussen, Paisley Roberts, Megan Russo, Chloe Schmidt, Aurie Engel Schmieding, Paige Stopperich and Bailey Walters
FROM THE COACH
“Our girls performed beautifully, and we’re really looking forward to SECs and our girls continuing to improve. I’ve just seen steady improvement with the hunt seat riders from January on. I think Coach Terebesi has done a great job with them. We’ve had to do some work with getting folks to do things a little bit differently here and there, but it’s been a great learning year for everybody. We’re just seeing a lot of improvement.”– Head Coach Boo Major
UP NEXT FOR THE GAMECOCKS
The Gamecocks host the 2018 SEC Championships March 30-31 at One Wood Farm. Carolina will learn their semifinal opponent when seedings are announced Monday by the conference office.
