Lyman Takes M.O.P. Honors at No. 2 Oklahoma State
Stillwater, Okla. – Sophomore Grady Lyman earned her third Most Outstanding Player honor of the month as the No. 4 South Carolina equestrian team gave the No. 2 Oklahoma State Cowgirls all they could handle in a 12-7 loss on Saturday at Totusek Arena.
Lyman put the finishing touches on a huge month with her third M.O.P. win on the flat this month, notching an 86 on Sparky. The San Diego, Calif. native took M.O.P. honors in her first two meets of the month, at then No. 2 Texas A&M and at home against then No. 9 UT Martin.
“We had a bit of a slow start this morning that resulted in us getting quite behind,” head coach Boo Major. “We needed to be stronger in horsemanship and fences today and although we fought hard again today, it was too little too late. Congratulations to Grady for anchoring our flat squad with a lovely ride today. The flat squad definitely shined today. I’m confident that we can get all four events with more winning rides. This team has made a lot of adjustments this semester, all for the better. I am constantly amazed at their resilience and am expecting bigger things from them in the spring.”
Freshman Natalie Vargo got the Gamecocks started off right in horsemanship with her 73.5-point ride on Hogan to win the point. From there the Cowgirls took control despite strong rides from the Gamecocks, including back-to-back 72-point rides for freshman Cora Wyers and junior Taylor Kellam. Senior Caroline Gute tallied a 69 on Snip, while Gabby Brassard scored 71.5 on Rudy but Vargo’s point was the only to fall South Carolina’s way as OSU took a 4-1 lead.
Fences proved to be more of the same with Carolina posting high scores, but not bringing home the points. Sophomore Grady Lyman tallied an 84 on Oakley, while freshman Jordan Allen notched an 86 on Ginger, but the lone fences point came from junior Tyler Petrie’s 86-point ride on Caraway as Caroline went into the break down 8-2.
The Gamecocks made things interesting when the action moved to the flat with junior Billi Brandner taking the first point with her 77-point ride on Ethon. Junior Louisa Brackett followed that with an 87 on Sunny, and senior Madison Sellman kept the wave going with her 84 on Bunni. Lyman secured the fourth point on the flat with her 86-point ride on Sparky, making it 9-6 Oklahoma State.
Junior McKenzie Duncan kept Carolina in the thick of things during the reining competition with her 70 on Dillon, earning a tie. The Cowgirls took control after that, securing three straight points to make it 12-6 before senior Caroline Gute snagged a final point for the Gamecocks to make the final score 12-7.
The Gamecocks are done for the fall and return to action in January with a meet against Sweet Briar at OneWood Farm in Blythewood.
