Georgia Defeats South Carolina, Finishes Third at SEC Championship

Saturday, March 26

Auburn Ala.

10:00 a.m.

University of Georgia

South Carolina

Georgia Defeats South Carolina, Finishes Third at SEC Championship

March 26, 2022 | Equestrian

AUBURN, Ala. --- The University of Georgia equestrian team defeated South Carolina, 12-7, to finish third at the Southeastern Conference Championship on Saturday afternoon at the Auburn Equestrian Center.

Senior Sara Lewis and freshman Jax Bound broke SEC Championship records in today's meet. Lewis' score of 231 in Horsemanship is the best recorded with three judges in SEC Championship history. The previous high score was a 225.5, set in 2019.  Bound's score of 219.5 beats the previous high score of 215.5, also set in 2019.

Highlighting today's meet, three Bulldogs earned Most Outstanding Performer honors for their rides.  Jordan Toering earned the honor in Flat, while Lewis and Bound picked up the honors in Horsemanship and Reining, respectively.

"It was a good rebound today," Georgia head coach Meghan Boenig said. "I would definitely say we saw improvement, not only in scores, but in consistency in every single event.  Having three MOP honors and some of these record-setting scores really show the drive and spirit that we wished we had yesterday but the challenge now, always, is continuing to improve. That's what we asked our athletes to do and that's what they did.  That's what it's going to need to be leading up to the journey to the National Championship because riding like this will put us exactly where we need to be."

Georgia rode to a 4-1 lead in Flat to begin competition.  Hayley Mairano started things off with a 50-234.5 win and Sophia Pilla followed with a score of 235 to in her point.  The next point went to South Carolina. Next, Nora Andrews rode to a beautiful 262.5 to claim her point and Jordan Toering finished with the highest score of the event- a 263- and a point for the Bulldogs.

Over in the Horsemanship arena, the Bulldogs edged the Gamecocks, 3-2.  Georgia riders won the first three points, starting with Kendall Gill riding to a 225.5.  Leah Anderson followed with a 222. Lewis then scored a 231, breaking a SEC Championship record and earning MOP Honors.  South Carolina took the final two points of the event.

Georgia held a 7-3 lead over South Carolina at the break.

In Fences, Georgia and South Carolina split the points.  The Bulldogs dropped the first point before Emma Reichow pushed her point with a score of 257 against her Gamecock counterpart.  Catalina Peralta picked up a point for Georgia after scoring a 255 for her course.  The next point went to South Carolina before Rachel McMullen finished her round with a 266 to claim the final Jumping Seat point of the day.

Concluding competition in Reining, the Bulldogs outscored the Gamecocks, 3-2.  South Carolina claimed the first point before Cailtin Lyons defeated her opponent with a score of 208.  Jax Bound followed with an MOP-winning and record-breaking score of 219.5. The Gamecocks grabbed their final point before Georgia finished the day with Courtney Blumer riding to a score of 211.5 for the point.

Auburn and Texas A&M will compete this afternoon (Saturday, March 26) to determine an SEC Champion.

Georgia awaits its fate for the National Collegiate Equestrian Association National Championship set to take place April 14-16 in Ocala, Florida.

HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.