Tigers’ equestrians open season vs. Ole Miss in exhibition
AUBURN, Ala. (auburntigers.com) – The No. 1 Auburn equestrian kicks off the 2016-17 season at home with an exhibition meet vs. Ole Miss. The Tigers and the Rebels will face off Friday, Sept. 23, at 3 p.m. CT at the Auburn University Horse Center. Admission is free.
ENHANCED GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE
There is a lot of “newness” to the Auburn team that features 12 freshmen and one junior transfer. Along with the new faces, however, the Tigers have a couple new additions to the Auburn University Horse Center that will boost the gameday experience for both fans and the team alike.
Highlighting the new adds is a state-of-the-art videoboard that is located between the two arenas. The Auburn program is the first equestrian team in the nation with a full-sized, permanent videoboard.
“We really wanted to elevate this sport and enhance the gameday experience for our fans,” Williams said. “My passion is trying to make this sport more mainstream not just at Auburn, but across the country. To do this, we felt that we needed to bring the ultimate gameday experience to our facility for our fans and this videoboard is going to be a big part of that.”
In addition, the team has added a Scholarship Lounge, which is currently being finished. The building is going to be a covered, open-aired terrace with TVs streaming the videoboard feed as well as improved amenities for fans. Tickets will be used for admission to the lounge when it’s completed.
FIFTEENTH SEASON OF VARSITY EQUESTRIAN
The 2016-17 season marks the 15th year of varsity equestrian at Auburn. Head coach Greg Williams has guided the Tigers since the program was recognized by the Athletics Department and has amassed an impressive 118-48 overall record.
In 14 years, Auburn has earned four NCEA Championships (2006, 2011, 2013, 2016), one Southeastern Conference title (2016), three Southern Equestrian Conference crowns (2004, 2010, 2011) and three NCEA Hunt Seat championships (2008, 2011, 2013).
Individually, Auburn boasts 41 All-Americans and 34 All-SEC selections. The Southeastern Conference first began sponsoring equestrian in 2012-13.
AUBURN LINEUP
The Tigers will feature a handful of new faces for their meet vs. Ole Miss.
Joining sophomores Megan Rauh and Lauren Diaz in Horsemanship are freshmen Cydney Benes and Kara Kaufmann and junior transfer Kelsey Jung. The Reining lineup will boast a handful of veterans in sophomores Ali Fratessa and Blair McFarlin and junior Alexa Rivard. Diaz and classmate Betsy Brown will also compete in the event.
Senior Jacqueline Shilen, junior Abby Wagner, sophomore Alex Ladove, and freshmen Bailey Brasington and Becky Kozma will ride in Equitation Over Fences. The Flat lineup will feature junior Caitlin Creel, sophomore Kennedy Knapic, and freshman Anna Claire Smith, along with Ladove and Kozma.
UP NEXT
The Tigers take to the road for a Thursday meet at UT-Martin, Sept. 29. Auburn and the Skyhawks will square off at 1 p.m. CT in the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
