
By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BROOKINGS, SD – In a tight two-day meet featuring the University of Tennessee at Martin and South Dakota State, the Skyhawks prevailed by a 11-9 margin at the DeHaan Equestrian Center.
UT Martin won for the second time in as many tries against the host Jackrabbits, also defeating South Dakota State (13-6) in Martin on Nov. 18. With today’s victory, the Skyhawks improved to 3-0 in the Eastern College Athletic Conference standings.
UT Martin took four of five points in flat and three points apiece in horsemanship and fences. The Skyhawks also posted one head-to-head victory in reining.
Individually, UT Martin earned one MOP as that honor went to sophomore Kate Davis in horsemanship. The Williamston, Mich. native earned 74.5 points for her second MOP and third triumph of the 2022-23 campaign.
In flat, Sydney Hott managed a team-best 82 points on the way to her team-high sixth win of the season. Sophia Sundem dialed up her fifth victory of the year after an 80-point effort while Rileigh Weiss followed with 78 points for her fourth win of the season. Julia Gilman contributed another victory for the Skyhawks, nabbing 72 points. Haley Kane also represented UT Martin in the event and tallied a strong score of 79 points.
Davis’ MOP set the tone for the Skyhawks in horsemanship. Paige Benson piled up a team-best 76.5 points for her first victory of the season while Lexi Bailey (75 points) also earned a head-to-head win for her team-best fourth triumph in 2022-23. Keely Seiter (73.5 points) was narrowly defeated by one point while Emma Schaefer posted 62.5 points.
Logan Putvinski equaled a career-high with 74 points – claiming her team-best sixth win – while her opponent did not record a zero on the same horse. The other four duals were all close as they were each decided by 3.5 points or less. Davis managed a 71.5-point performance but fell to a 73 while Schaefer tied a career-best with 71 points (falling to a 72.5). Aubrey Malone (64 points) was defeated by 3.5 points while Bailey’s score of 63.5 was bested by the slimmest of margins – 0.5 points.
Fences was the lone event that took place today as UT Martin clinched the win by edging out South Dakota State, 3-2. Kane and Hott each registered their fifth victories of the season with scores of 82 and 78 points, respectively. Gilman was responsible for her team-high eighth win after a 74-point performance. Elizabeth Becker and Grace York both accounted for matching scores of 68 to complete the Skyhawk lineup.
UT Martin concludes the regular season with a pair of scrimmages on March 10-11. The Skyhawks will host Bridgewater on Friday, March 10 and Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, March 11 at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information