March 26, 2008

AUBURN - The Auburn equestrian team travels to the 2008 Southern Equestrian Championships at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, S.C., Friday and Saturday. Auburn will face South Carolina Friday at 1 p.m. Central, and the winner will advance to the finals to take on top seeded Georgia Saturday at 9 a.m. Central.

"The theme for the SEC's is where champions meet," said Auburn head coach Greg Williams. "The past five National Champions have come from these three teams."

The Tigers are 11-3 on the season while the Gamecocks are the defending National Champions with a record of 7-4. Both teams split the regular season. The Bulldogs are 11-2 and swept Auburn this season while only losing to South Carolina on the road.

"Our girls have to have good rides that are mistake free in order to win," said Williams. "Whoever wins Friday needs to perform even better Saturday because that is what it will take to win."

Riding for the Tigers in Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat are Chelsea Anheuser, Katie Breedlove, Ali Loprete, Coburn Park and Rebecca Rifkin. Riding in Hunt Seat Equitation over Fences are Jessica Braswell, Dottie Grubb, Ali Loprete, Jenny Reinhart and Anna Schierholz.

Riding for the Tigers in Western Horsemanship are Amy Bohan, Jessica Jones, Kylie Miller, Avery Sams and Kim Tidwell. Riding in Western Reining are Julie Gibbes, Lyndsey Jordan, Paige Monfore, Kim Pope and Kim Tidwell.