No. 7 Gamecocks Take Down No. 9 Delaware State 14-4
FELTON, DE – The No. 7 South Carolina Equestrian team (1-0) took down No. 9 Delaware State (0-1) on Friday 14-4 to open up the 2024-25 season. The victory marked the first in the new era under head coach Carol Gwin.
“I am super excited to start of the season with a win on the road,” Gwin said. “This team is talented and shows up each day with great attitudes. Shout out to Coaches Duda, Luse and Potts for having them ready to go with our first meets on the road.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
FENCES
The meet got going with Fences, with junior Bella Primavera grabbing the first available point with an 87-78 victory on Polo over DSU’s Lily Kosal. Junior Natalie Jayne followed suit, putting up an 88 on Cory for a massive 24-point win over Victoria Croston’s 64. Newcomer Alyssa Bauer then earned her first collegiate point, blowing past Chloey Prichard 84-67 on Cici to make things an early 3-0 for the Gamecocks.
The Hornets responded, with Olivia Brown barely edging out fifth-year Alexa Aureliano 85-85 on Tillie. Sophomore Grace Rabb rounded out the event with another point for South Carolina, taking down Grace Mangrum 87-76 on Geo to put the Gamecocks ahead 4-1.
For her ride, Jayne earned her first MOP of the season in Fences.
HORSEMANSHIP
Carly Jenkins and Julia Lee picked up the first two points in the events to give to the Gamecocks, with Jenkins defeating Aniela Cortinia 74-73, and Lee coming out on top 73-72.5 against Kiersten Buckwalter. Jordyn Humbert then tallied a career-high of 74.5 on Baby, but was met by the same score from DSU’s Ashley Grasso for a tie. Alyssa Jipping picked things back up, posting a 73-70 win on Ellie Mae over Hallie Prater. Jipping earned her first career MOP following her victory.
The Gamecocks led the Hornets 7-2 at the half.
FLAT
South Carolina had a huge outing on the Flat, sweeping the event 5-0 over DSU. Ellie Beard picked up the first point with her 16-point win over Prichard 86-70, followed by Mary Hunter Millet’s monstrous 94-74 victory against Lily Kosal. Millet’s 94 marked a new career-high, in addition to tying for the highest score ever on the Flat (for one judge) in program history. Millet also received the Flat MOP for her ride.
Newcomer Amira Kettaneh then made waves in her first collegiate start, picking up her point with a 92-76 win on Braavos. Her 92 ties for the third-highest score on the Flat in the South Carolina record book. Senior Sophie Mitchell defeated Victoria Croston 89-82, and Natalie Jayne secured the sweep with an 82-69 win against Grace Mangrum.
REINING
Haley Turner got things going for the Gamecocks in the event, taking her point 72-70 on Wally over Estella Estus. Rookie Olivia Cardi kept the points coming, taking down Anna Payne 64.5-63.5 on Cricket to make things 6-1 overall.
DSU took the next two available points, and the event ended in a 69-69 tie between Chloe VanStone and DSU’s Claire Andrews on Lyle.
UP NEXT
The Gamecocks will face Minnesota Crookston, competing the first half of the meet on Friday, Sept. 27 followed by the remaining half on Saturday, Sept. 28 beginning at 8:45 a.m.
