The Auburn Tiger equestrian team won another equestrian national championship in their closest call yet. They beat out No. 6 Georgia, 8-7 for the 2019 NCEA Championship. For the sixth time in program history, Auburn equestrian has won the national title and it's the program's second straight national title and sixth overall — 2006, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 and now 2019. This is the first time any equestrian program has finished a full season without a loss.
It came down to the final rider of the day, Ashton Alexander. The team was deadlocked at 7-7 with one ride left in Equitation Over Fences.
The Montgomery Advertiser interviewed Alexander and tells us,
"I made sure that everyone knew at the start of the day I didn't want it to all come down to me, but that obviously wasn't the case," Alexander said. "I was slightly terrified to say the least. I sat by myself and took a deep breath and went in with an 'all or nothing' attitude. I didn't know if my ride was good enough until the scores came in. Afterwards, it was tears of joy. To know that I was able to do it and to have all my teammates there was amazing."
The Auburn equestrian team credit their seniors for being a big part of the consistent wins this season.
247Sports.com interviewed coach Greg Williams about the winning ride. Coach Williams has said the 2018-19 senior class is a special one and he noted it was fitting that a senior came through with the pressure on her. "It was a storybook ride," the coach said. of Alexander stepping up when the team had to have a very strong performance to win.
The scores from the Equitation Over Fences,
- Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Emma Mandarino (UGA), 266-205
- Ali Tritschler (UGA) def. Caitlin Boyle (AU), 213-120
- McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 248-204
- Ashton Alexander (AU) def. Maddy Darst (UGA), 255-242
Taylor St. Jacques and freshman McKayla Langmeier each won both of their rides in the hunter seat competition. Hayley Iannotti, a senior, scored the other hunt seat point with an equitation on the flat victory.
Here are the scores:
Equitation on the Flat,
- Maddy Darst (UGA) def. Caitlin Boyle (AU), 241-239
- Taylor St. Jacques (AU) def. Ali Tritschler (UGA), 245-240
- Hayley Iannotti (AU) def. Madison Newman (UGA), 246-228
- McKayla Langmeier (AU) def. Hayley Mairano (UGA), 238-207
We recently wrote about Auburn equestrian team's SEC Championship win! They defeated Texas A&M 11-6 to win! (They beat South Carolina that Friday to advance).
The Tigers celebrated an 18-0 season in Waco. Go Tigers! Congrats to the seniors and to senior Ashton Alexander for such a strong performance. Auburn University and head coach, Greg Williams must be so proud!
Do you know someone that goes to Auburn? Did we miss any of the highlights from the competition? Please leave in the below comments!
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