Georgia Opens Spring Competition With Two Wins

Saturday, February 4

Bishop, Ga.

11 a.m.

University of Georgia

South Carolina

February 04, 2023 | Equestrian

BISHOP, Ga. --- The No. 7 University of Georgia equestrian team opened spring competition with two wins at the UGA Equestrian Complex on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs upset No. 5 South Carolina, 14-6, to start the day before the Jumping Seat squad defeated Sweet Briar, 8-1.

Georgia's record improved to 5-3 overall with a 2-2 mark against Southeastern Conference opponents and a 2-0 record in Jumping Seat only competition.

Junior Sophia Pilla completed a beautiful Flat pattern, scoring a 99, which is tied for the best score in program history. The last Georgia rider to earn the near-perfect 99 was Grace Bridges in 2019.  Junior Emma Reichow jumped to a score of 92- her best score in Fences and the highest Fences mark from a Bulldog since 2019.  Both riders earned Most Outstanding Performer honors against South Carolina along with Sara Lewis who received the distinction in Horsemanship.

Senior Ceci Bresch rode to a score of 97 in Flat in both meets of the day.  The scores matched her career best that she previously set in her freshman year, also against Sweet Briar.

In the meet against Sweet Briar, Bresch and freshman Tessa Brown earned MOP honors for their rides. Brown rode to a score of 87 in Fences to earn the honors, the first of her Bulldog career.

"It was a great day to be out here riding and competing," Georgia head coach Meghan Boenig said. "It was so good to come out and show the hard work, the talent and determination this team has. We know that this is in them. We've just been really waiting for that opportunity to do so. I'm expecting more of this- those dominant rides, those huge high scores, riding through difficulties, all of the above. It took a lot of people coming out here and riding hard. Being willing to be risky. Being willing to push things regardless of the horse or the ride. And that's going to take us to where we need to be for championship season."

GEORGIA VS. SOUTH CAROLINA
Competition started in Fences with the Bulldogs jumping to a 3-2 lead. Georgia dropped the first point before grabbing the next three.  Junior Emma Reichow rode to a 92, followed by an 87 from sophomore Catalina Peralta.  Senior Rachel McMullen received a score of 89 for her course- her best of the season.

Meanwhile in Horsemanship, Georgia added another three points. Georgia riders won the first three Western points.  First in the ring, senior Sara Lewis received a 74.5 and won MOP honors for her ride. Senior Kendall Gill took the next point with a score of 75.5 and sophomore Jordan Davis rode to a 74.

The Bulldogs held a 6-4 lead after two events.

Georgia started riding away with the meet in Flat, winning four of the five points.  Junior Nora Andrews topped her Gamecock counterpart, 86-75.  South Carolina won the next point.  Pilla then rode to an impressive 99, winning MOP honors. Peralta followed with an 82 and Ceci Bresch finished the event with a pristine 97.

The Bulldogs secured the meet in Reining with a four to one tally in favor of Georgia.  Junior Sophie Lucas won the first point after scoring a 75 against a zero.  After a Gamecock point, junior Hannah Jane Lucas won another point for Georgia with a score of 71, also against a zero.  Senior Caitlin Lyons and sophomore Jax Bound both won their rides with scores of 74.5 and 73, respectively, to finish the meet.

GEORGIA VS. SWEET BRIAR
Starting in Fences, the Bulldogs jumped to a 4-1 lead.  The Vixens took the first point of the meet before Georgia won the next four rides.  Junior Emma Reichow received an 85 for her course to top her opponent's 65.  Freshman Tessa Brown rode to a score of 87 to win the point and earn MOP honors, the first of her Bulldog career. Sophomores Melissa Deryn Foster and Catalina Peralta rode to scores of 88 and 82 to finish the event.

Finishing the day with Flat, Georgia added another four points to the total. The Bulldogs and Vixens pushed the first point after junior Nora Andrews and her counterpart both rode to a score of 81.  Catalina Peralta rode to a score of 83, followed by an 87 from Tessa Brown for two points.  The last two rides came from Ceci Bresch and Sophia Pilla who won their points with scores of 97 and 95, respectively.

Georgia is on the road next week as the Bulldogs travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma to take on the No. 6 Oklahoma State Cowgirls on Saturday, February 11 with competition starting at 11 a.m. ET.

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.