Gute and Vogt Earn M.O.P. Honors on “Toni Day Day”
Blythewood, S.C. – Senior Caroline Gute and sophomore Sloane Vogt came up big for the No. 7 South Carolina equestrian team on Friday, earning Most Outstanding Player honors as the Gamecocks fell to the No. 1 Auburn Tigers in SEC action at OneWood Farm.
The meet also served as “Toni Day Day” where the team was able to honor the longtime administrative assistant, and Gamecock staff member, Toni Day.
“I think, as a whole, our girls rode well,” head coach Boo Major said after the meet. “We had some folks coming in and competing for the first time in a while. You’re never pleased with a loss, but we continue to improve. The girls did not ever give up. I’m looking forward to our next competition against Texas A&M next week. We’re ready to go and we’ll just keep on trucking.”
Today’s M.O.P. honors are the first for both Gute and Vogt this season. Gute earned hers in her specialty, reining, where she’s notched 10 M.O.P. wins over her career with the Gamecocks. This is the first M.O.P. win of Vogt’s career and it came in horsemanship.
The Gamecocks knew they’d have their hands full with the Tigers today, and those expectations were met quickly when Auburn took four of the five points on the flat, with Kit Cunningham securing the lone point for Carolina with her 70-point ride on Joe.
Reining was a different story, however, as both teams brought the fury. Gute, the M.O.P., notched a 74 on Wrangler to secure a point, while Vogt showed that she wasn’t a one trick pony with her 71 on Stoner to win her matchup. Auburn took the other three points to win it 3-2, but those three wins came by a combined two points, proving that the Gamecocks came to compete.
The Tigers took control when the teams went over fences, clinching four points with Caroline Bald’s 84 on Cita securing the lone Carolina point.
Back on the western side the Gamecocks continued to ride hard with Vogt earning her M.O.P. with a cool 75-point ride on Frosty. Quinn Brandt backed her up with a 75-point ride of her own on Jazz, but Auburn took the other three points to seal the 14-6 win.
The Garnet and Black are back in action next week when they travel to College Station, Texas to clash with the Aggies of Texas A&M. The action is set to get underway at Noon ET.
