Gamecocks Set to Take on SMU in NCEA Championship Opener
OCALA, FL – The fourth-seeded South Carolina Equestrian team (10-5, 3-3) is set to take on fifth-seeded SMU (5-5) in the first round of the 2026 NCEA National Championship on Thursday, April 16. The meet will begin at 8:30 a.m. (ET), and will be streamed on ESPN+.
“I am excited about this week and we are looking forward to competing,” head coach Carol Gwin said. “I believe if we ride well that we have the talent to get it done. The team is very prepared and eager to compete.”
South Carolina finished the regular season ranked No. 2 and had an NCEA-leading five First-Team All-Americans. Grace Rabb (Fences), Natalie Jayne (Flat), Sarah Rabb (Flat), Carly Jenkins (Horsemanship) and Alexis Potts (Horsemanship) were the First-Team honorees. Amira Kettaneh (Fences) and Oliva Cardi (Reining) earned Second-Team awards. Alyssa Bauer (Fences) was awarded an Honorable Mention.
The Gamecocks kept the awards rolling with three SEC Rider of the Year nods, with Alexis Potts (Horsemanship), Grace Rabb (Fences), and Lillian Laney (Newcomer) each receiving honors.
LAST TIME OUT
The Gamecocks fell 11-9 in the semifinal of the SEC Championship to Georgia on March 27. South Carolina started the day with a 3-2 win in Flat. Vanessa McCaughley (81.00-74.33), Natalie Jayne (84.00-80.00) and Mary Hunter Millet (82.33-72.67) each won their points in the discipline. Jayne earned her second Flat MOP of the season for her victory on King.
The Gamecocks lost the lead in Reining, where the Bulldogs won the event 4-1. Olivia Cardi scored a 70.17 on Tank to score her point over Cadence Eger’s 69.33. Georgia took a 6-4 win into halftime.
South Carolina closed out Jumping Seat with another 3-2 win in Fences. Jayne won her second point of the day with an 89.67 win over Tessa P. Brown’s 84.00 on Asaro. Bella Primavera defeated Tessa Downey 81.00-64.00 on North to earn her point. Amira Kettaneh beat Madison Nadolenco 86.00-80.33 to close the gap and bring the score to 8-7 Bulldogs. Kettaneh won her sixth Fences MOP of the year for her ride on Chief.
Georgia edged out the Gamecocks in Horsemanship, where they clinched the meet with a 3-2 win. Alexis Potts (75.33-73.83) opened the event with a win on Shorty, and Ruby Voortmeyer edged out her opponent 71.00-70.00 on Dually. The Gamecocks narrowly dropped the tying point 73.33-73.17, but the Bulldogs won the final two deciding points of the meet to make the score 11-9 for Georgia.
SCOUTING THE MUSTANGS
The Mustangs (5-5) finished their regular season ranked No. 4, and won their last matchup 13-4 over then-No. 6 Oklahoma State. The team is 4-1 on the road, but has not competed in any neutral-site meets.
South Carolina and SMU have met twice this season, once in Columbia and once in Dallas. The two teams opened the season against each other, where the Gamecocks won the meet 10-9 at home (Sept. 29). South Carolina won Fences and Flat 3-2 each, and a 2-2 tie in Horsemanship made 10 points enough for a Gamecock win. Jayne (Fences) and Rabb (Flat) earned MOP honors for their rides in the season opener.
South Carolina faced SMU on its third straight day of competition on the road, and dropped the meet 12-7 (Jan. 31). The Gamecocks took a 3-2 win in Reining, and twin sisters Sarah (Flat) and Grace Rabb (Fences) swept the Jumping Seat MOPs.
FAN INFO
Fans are encouraged to follow along with in-meet updates on X and Instagram, @GamecockEQ.
