No. 4 Georgia Defeats No. 2 Texas A&M, 12-8, in Season Opener

Saturday, October 10

Bishop, Ga.

9 a.m.

University of Georgia

Texas A&M

Photo by: Cristina Pinnow/UGAAA

No. 4 Georgia Defeats No. 2 Texas A&M, 12-8, in Season Opener

October 10, 2026 | Equestrian

BISHOP, Ga — The fourth-ranked Georgia equestrian team defeated No. 2 Texas A&M, 12- 8, in their season opener at the UGA Equestrian Complex on Saturday.

Fast Facts

Despite the Aggies earning the first two points, Georgia answered back, taking the win in Fences 3-2. Junior Ella Witt captured the first point for Georgia, earning a career-high score of 87. Senior Madison Nadolenco followed with a score of 85 to clinch her point. Senior Tessa Downey closed out Fences an 87.25, the highest score for the Bulldogs on the day.
To kick off competition in the Western arena, Georgia defeat the Aggies 3-2 in Horsemanship. Senior Devin VanZanten earned the first point with a new career-high score of 75.75. Fifth-year Alyvia Dixon rode to a score of 74.25 to secure her point. To round out the discipline, sophomore Ava Hathaway scored a 76.25, claiming the final Horsemanship point for Georgia.
The Bulldogs defeated Texas A&M 3-2 in Flat. In her debut for Georgia, freshman Maggie King captured the first point with a score of 78, which earned MOP honors. After back-to-back points for the Aggies, senior Parker Cliff recorded a score of 82.5 to capture the next point for the Bulldogs. Fifth-year Ella Duffy secured the win in Flat with a score of 73.5.
Georgia wrapped up the meet with a 3-2 victory in Reining. Junior Caroline Fletcher made her debut with a score of 71.75 to gain the first point. After a point scored by Texas A&M, Georgia answered back with two points, thanks to senior Kennedy Buchanan's score of 71.75 and sophomore Avery Taylor's score of 72.

Key Quotes

Head Coach Meghan Boenig

On her overall thoughts on performance…
"What a day, what a meet. An absolute grind, something you have to dig really deep. You prepare when you're at home, and you not only have an advantage of riding the horses, but you know where you're laying them out, and what size to do. Everything changed today. Everything changed. There wasn't a single event that didn't have so many things we had to adjust to. Very proud for the grit of the team, and very proud for everyone pitching in, and it's always a pleasure to watch everybody compete. I'd have to say, a special thank you to Texas A&M, who came out here and was step-in-step with us with adversity, and we're great competitors as well. A ton of things that we learned today, some things to build on."

#4 GEORGIA 12, #2 TEXAS A&M 8

FENCES
Logan Thomas (TAMU)* def. Liza Cram (UGA) 87.5 - 86.5
Grace DeFoe (TAMU) def. Gabriella Curry (UGA) 85.25 - 85
Ella Witt (UGA) def. Grace Shipman (TAMU) 87 - 84.5
Madison Nadolenco (UGA) def. Kate Egan (TAMU) 85 - 81.5
Tessa Downey (UGA) def. Alida Treuting (TAMU) 87.25 - 83

FLAT
Maggie King (UGA)* def. Lauren Kolbe (TAMU) 78 - 74.5
Kate Egan (TAMU) def. Tessa Downey (UGA) 78.5 - 72
Grace Shipman (TAMU) def. Kingsley Dey (UGA) 80 - 78
Parker Cliff (UGA) def. Logan Thomas (TAMU) 82.5 - 81
Ella Duffy (UGA) def. Nicole McMillion (TAMU) 73.5 - 73

HORSEMANSHIP
Ady Kallay (TAMU)* def. Abbey Zawisza (UGA) 75.25 - 74
Devin VanZanten (UGA) def. Liz Marmor (TAMU) 75.5 - 68.75
Alyvia Dixon (UGA) def. Kendall Dirksen (TAMU) 74.25 - 73.5
Kaylynn Heitman (TAMU) def. Lyla Bellar (UGA) 73.25 - 72.75
Ava Hathaway (UGA) def. McKinney Atkinson (TAMU) 76.25 - 75.5

REINING
Caroline Fletcher (UGA) def. Anna Harris (TAMU) 71.75 - 71.25
Isabelle Gonzalez (TAMU) def. Kinsey Cooper (UGA) 72.75 - 71
Kennedy Buchanan (UGA) def. Moriah McQueen (TAMU) 71.75 - 71
Avery Taylor (UGA) def. Kennedy Marshall (TAMU) 72 - 71.75
Dylanne Rodriguez (TAMU)* def. Cadence Eger (UGA) 72.25 - 70.75

Up Next
Georgia will hit the road to face the South Carolina Gamecocks at One Wood Farm in Blythewood, South Carolina on Friday, Oct. 23.