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Auburn Equestrian Takes Down UT-Martin
AUBURN, Ala. – The
second-ranked Auburn equestrian team got a big boost from the reining
squad, sweeping the five wins in its 15-5 victory over UT Martin,
Saturday morning at the Auburn Horse Center. Western rider Griffin
Knight won two Most Outstanding Player honors in her first competition
riding double events. Auburn improves to 2-0 on the season.
It
was a great performance for the Western side of the Auburn equestrian
roster, earning eight of the 15 wins, rides from the reiners dominating
UT Martin. With Cheyenne Cracraft out due to illness, Knight was called
on to compete for the first time collegiately in reining. She, along
with Katsy Leeman, Hailey Munger, Morgan Burns and Julianna Cook, were
victors.
“We finally have a happy (western coach) Coach
Dorsey,” head coach Greg Williams said. “The big goals they had, they
hit them and stayed penalty free. Starting last year, the western team
started bailing us out of some meets. We are a very balanced team and
that’s what we work hard to do, is to make sure (both sides) stay a
team.”
Auburn put up 19 riders in 20 matches, with Knight
being the only double rider, getting many on the roster their first
ride of the year.
“We had some outstanding rides,”
Williams added. “It was fun to get different girls out there. Griffin
Knight getting MVPs in two events was really special to watch. She
hadn’t even ridden reining before.”
Auburn took the lead
early rattling off four straight wins in equitation over fences to take
a 4-1 lead in the team competition. Christina Rachel Lin posted the
high-score for the event with an 87 and was one of three Tiger riders
to score 80 or better. Quincy Hayes scored an 86, while Jennifer Waxman
posted an 85. Demi Stiegler also got a win in her ride. Lin was named
the Most Outstanding Player.
The horsemanship squad edged
out UT Martin, 3-2 to add to the lead. Griffin Knight, who was riding
her first double today, scored a team and competition-best 72.5. Lucy
Igoe, riding for the first time this year won with a 69.5 and Danielle
Long posted a 72. Knight was named MOP.
Some big scores by
UT Martin made the equitation in the flat event a close call for
Auburn, but the Tigers pulled out three wins in the five matches. The
Skyhawks’ Reid Rickett posted a near-perfect score of 95. Megan Bifano
had an impressive ride, scoring an 88 for the win, while freshman Tory
Hoft posted an 81 in her first collegiate ride. Jennifer Delman also
added a win with a 71. Rickett was named MOP.
“We’ve been
watching (Tory Hoft),” Williams said. “She’s been finishing up her
junior year and been away for a bit. This was nice having her here to
compete and she did an outstanding job.”
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