OCALA, Fla. (SMU) - SMU's equestrian team made history on Saturday, as the top-ranked Mustangs knocked off No. 2 Auburn, 11-8, to win the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) National Championship at the World Equestrian Center.
The Mustangs captured the school's ninth national championship, and first in equestrian. It also marks the first time a school outside of the Big 12 and SEC has won the equestrian National Championship. Saturday's victory is two days shy of the 20th anniversary of SMU's announcement that it would add equestrian as a sport.
"There really aren't words to describe this feeling, but I'm just so grateful to so many people who were a part of today's win," SMU head coach Carol Gwin said. "First, I can't say enough about this year's team and how much fun they've been to coach. This group has been the ultimate dream team and I'm thrilled to see them be rewarded for all of the hard work they've put in this year. They were determined to make it to Championship Saturday and to get out of here with a win and that's exactly what they did. I'm so proud of this team and it's a great feeling to see their hard work pay off. Now they'll be National Champions for the rest of their lives. When we were recruiting this group, I told them all they could go to another school and copy somebody else's history, or they come here to SMU and create their own history. I'm just so happy for all of them."
The Mustangs finished the best season in program history with a 13-1 record, breaking the program record for wins in a season of 11 that was set last season. SMU also had nine All-America selections this year along with four national riders of the month.
"I've had eight other teams since I came to SMU in 2014 and each and every one of those riders helped us on the path towards this championship today, so I'm thinking about all of them today. So many amazing young women have been a part of this program since I came here and they all laid the foundation that helped this team have such a historic season. And I know they won't take any credit for this - but our President Dr. Turner, our Athletics Director Rick Hart, and our Deputy Athletics Director Kris Harris have been 100% committed to and invested in our program since I was hired in 2014. We wouldn't be here today without the resources they've provided to us and I'm so grateful to work at a university that has invested in our program and in these young ladies so much. I also want to extend a big thanks to our entire support staff back at SMU and in the athletics department. So many people put in hard work behind the scenes to support our student-athletes, our coaches, and our horses, and I'm grateful to get to work with such wonderful people."
The Mustangs jumped out to a commanding 4-1 lead on Saturday after winning 4-of-5 reining points. While Dani Latimer's opponent's score was under review, Taylor Zimmerman won SMU's first point of the meet with her 224.5-218 victory over Auburn's Olivia Marino. Following Zimmerman's win, Latimer gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead as she defeated Kate Buchanan, 220-0. Auburn won the next point, but back-to-back wins by Maria Richards and Chalyce Head gave the Mustangs a three-point lead. Richards notched a 3.5 point victory over Auburn's Isabella Tesmer, while Head edged out Alexia Tordoff, 223.5-223.
"For the second day in a row, it was huge for us to jump out with that kind of lead and set the tone early," said Gwin. "So I was extremely proud of our reiners for delivering in such a big way and I'm just thrilled for that whole group because of how well they rode all year."
SMU extended its lead in horsemanship, as the Mustangs won 3-of-5 points.
Nya Kearns won the first horsemanship point, as she cruised to a 234-211 win over Auburn's Maddie Spak. After Auburn won the next point, Megan Waldron earned a three-point win over Madison Parduhn, 232-229. Auburn followed by winning its second horsemanship point, but SMU's Mallory Vroegh posted an event-high score of 238 to knock off Alexia Tordoff, 238-235.5, giving the Mustangs a 7-3 lead at the halfway point.
"We knew horsemanship was going to be an absolute battle today and I have to tip my hat to our horsemanship riders because they really delivered for us," Gwin said. "When we lost horsemanship against TCU on Friday, I just knew they'd bounce back today because that's one of the most resilient group of riders we've ever had. They rode so well today and I can't say enough about our western coach Brad Kearns and the job he's done with our western riders all season."
In the flat arena, SMU and Auburn each claimed a pair of points, giving the Mustangs a 9-5 lead through three events.
SMU won the first two flat points after back-to-back wins by Madigan Eppink and Miranda Seade. Eppink opened the flat with a 232-198 win over Sophee Steckbeck, and Seade followed with a 248-234 victory over Auburn's Emma Kurtz. After Hensley Humphries held her Auburn opponent to a 151-151 tie, the Tigers won the final two flat points, cutting SMU's lead to four points.
"I thought our flat team rode really well today and it was great to get out of there holding on to our four-point lead," Gwin said. "We knew this meet was going to come down to the final event so every point was critical there."
Up 9-5 and needing just one point to end Auburn's comeback hopes, Taylor Madden beat Ellie Ferrigno, 273-267. Augusta Iwasaki gave SMU an 11-6 lead when she beat Auburn's Emma Kurtz, 278-258. With the meet already clinched, the Tigers went on to win the final points, winning their only event of the meet, 3-2.
"I thought our jumping seat team rode great today in a very tense environment," Gwin said. "Coach Laura Persons had that group ready to go this weekend and they looked great today against a very tough opponent. Very happy with the way we closed this meet out and we're thrilled to be going back to the Hilltop as National Champions!"
NCEA National Championship - Most Outstanding Players
Flat - Miranda Seade
Fences - Augusta Iwasaki
Horsemanship - Mallory Vroegh
Reining - Dani Latimer
NCEA All-Championship Team
Flat - Miranda Seade, Madigan Eppink
Fences - Augusta Iwasaki, Taylor Madden
Horsemanship - Mallory Vroegh, Nya Kearns
Reining - Dani Latimer, Taylor Zimmerman
NCEA Elite Equestrian
Hensley Humphries
