By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
DANBURY, Conn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin came away with three of the four Eastern College Athletic Conference Rider of the Month awards for the sport of equestrian in October, the league office announced today. Julia Gilman (fences), Sydney Hott (flat) and Kate Davis (horsemanship) each received ECAC recognition to cap off a successful opening month for the Skyhawks.
A senior from Barrington, Ill., Gilman chalked up an 81.2 scoring average in fences in October. Over six meets, she picked up five head-to-head victories and one MOP – accomplishing that feat with a career-best 88 points against No. 7 South Carolina on Oct. 28. She also generated wins over Dartmouth (78 points on Oct. 1), against No. 1 TCU (76 points on Oct. 13), at Delaware State (78 points on Oct. 14) and against Lynchburg (86 points on Oct. 29).
Hott has been one of the team’s best Jumping Seat options, particularly in flat. The junior out of Defiance, Mo. began the season with back-to-back MOP’s (80 points against Dartmouth on Oct. 1, career-best 93 points against No. 1 TCU on Oct. 13) and is the team leader in both wins (four) and scoring average (83.8). She additionally dialed up head-to-head victories over Delaware State (91 points on Oct. 14) and against No. 7 South Carolina (86 points on Oct. 28). She was named ECAC Flat Rider of the Week on Oct. 18.
A two-time ECAC Horsemanship Rider of the Week (Oct. 18, Oct. 25) already in 2022-23, Davis has secured a team-high two wins in four chances. The Williamston, Mich. native earned a MOP accolade following a 75-point effort at Delaware State on Oct. 14 and also defeated her counterpart with 73.45 points in the Oct. 22 meet at No. 6 Auburn. The sophomore accounted for a 72.3 scoring average during the month.
The No. 10 ranked Skyhawks close out the fall with a Nov. 18 matchup against South Dakota State at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information