By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian team saved up one of its best performances of the fall campaign for last, making short work of the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in a 13-6 triumph at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
Ranked No. 9 in this week’s National Collegiate Equestrian Association poll, the Skyhawks accumulated three MOP’s on the day. Sydney Hott garnered her second MOP of the season with 85 points in fences while Julia Gilman produced a whopping 97 points to nab top honors in flat – her first of the season. Lexi Bailey also came away with an MOP accolade following a 76-point effort in horsemanship – her second MOP honor of the year.
UT Martin tallied a commanding 8-2 advantage in the Jumping Seat discipline to go along with a 5-4 edge in points during the Western events.
The Skyhawks secured four individual victories in fences – topped by Hott’s fourth victory of the season. Gilman was responsible for her team-high sixth fences victory after an 84-point performance. Haley Kane (81 points) and Elizabeth Becker (76.5) also posted their fourth wins of the season apiece while Tyler Anderson (78 points) also represented UT Martin in the event.
Gilman’s historic ride in flat was the highlight of the day as the senior from Barrington, Ill. blew past her previous career-high of 89 points – set twice last season. Hott (89 points) and Kane (77 points) each notched their team-best fifth win of the 2022-23 season while Sophia Sundem’s score of 82 gave the Skyhawks four wins in five tries in the event.
In horsemanship, Bailey’s 76 was her second victory of the year, tying Emma Schaefer (72.5 points) for the team lead in that category. That UT Martin duo was the only two individuals to nab head-to-head wins in horsemanship as Keely Seiter (68.5 points), Kate Davis (66.5) and Paige Benson (64.5) were narrowly defeated.
Bailey continued her successful day with a career-high 72-point score in reining, earning her second win of the season in that category. Logan Putvinski equaled a season-high with 71 points, compiling her team-best fifth win of the 2022-23 campaign in the process. Davis’ 68.5-point performance was good enough for her fourth win of the season while Marci Leath (career-best 69 points) and Aubrey Malone (64.5) completed the Skyhawk lineup.
UT Martin will now take the next two-plus months off from official competition, opening their spring slate with a Jan. 27-28 swing through the Lone Star State for meetings against Baylor and SMU.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information