The No. 1 Auburn equestrian team wrapped up a packed weekend with another strong performance, defeating No. 9 UT Martin 11-6 on Saturday at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
“We had a great crowd today and I want to thank the Auburn fans for supporting this team,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “Today was a good win. We had some mistakes we will have to correct before we go into conference play next week. I think the team understands the urgency we need to practice with this week.”
The Tigers (8-1) once again dominated the Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) awards, with repeat honors going to senior Mary-Grace Segars and junior Caroline Fredenburg. Segars secured her second consecutive MOP award in Fences, while Fredenburg was recognized for her back-to-back standout performances in Horsemanship.
“Mary-Grace (Segars) had an outstanding weekend in both events and it was great to have her riding so well,” Braswell said. “Caroline (Fredenburg) continues to prove that we can rely on her consistency and I’m so proud of her performances these two days.”
In addition, fifth-year competitor Ellie Ferrigno was named MOP for her Flat victory, while junior Alexia Tordoff earned the honor in Reining.
Caroline Fredenburg, riding Chopper, competes in the horsemanship event against UT Martin on Feb. 8, 2025 at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
The Tigers built a 5-3 lead early in the meet, securing key victories in Reining and Flat.
Reining started strong with a 3-1-1 performance. Tordoff led the way with a 72-71.5 MOP victory, followed by junior Caroline Buchanan’s 70-69.5 win. Freshman Catie Reached added another point with a 69.5-69 decision, while fifth-year Olivia Bradley finished in a 71-71 tie with UTM’s Aubrey Malone.
Flat contributed two more wins from Ferrigno and Segars. Ferrigno opened with an 87-78 triumph, and Segars followed with an 88-76 victory. Sophomore Avery Glynn added a tied score of 78-78 against her opponent.
Auburn extended its advantage in Fences, delivering a commanding 4-1 performance to establish a 9-4 lead heading into the final event.
Glynn kicked off the second half with a 76-73 victory, followed by senior Sophee Steckbeck’s 74-point win. Ferrigno continued the momentum with a 75-point performance, and Segars capped off the event with an impressive MOP-winning ride, scoring 89-78.
In Horsemanship, Auburn closed the day with a 2-2-1 split against the Skyhawks. Fredenburg secured a 74.5-72 win, while Tordoff edged out her opponent 74-73. Sophomore Brooke Jolstad rounded out the event with a 73.5-73.5 tie.
Mary-Grace Segars, riding Rico, competes in the fencing event against UT Martin on Feb. 8, 2025 at the Auburn University Equestrian Center.
Auburn returns to competition on Saturday, February 15, when they host No. 8 South Carolina at the Auburn University Equestrian Center. The meet is scheduled for 11 a.m. CST, and admission is free to the public.
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Grace is a Sophomore majoring in Speech Language Hearing Sciences. She joined the Plainsman in the spring of 2024.
