MARTIN, Tenn.– The 11th season of competition for the University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian team began on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. UT Martin held its own against No. 4 Texas A&M this afternoon, but the Aggies claimed a 12-7 win in the season opener for both squads at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
The Skyhawks were narrowly edged in Hunt Seat, as Texas A&M posted a 5-4 advantage. The scores were also tight in Western, but the Aggies were able to manage four of the five team points in reining.
Monica Zoromski (77 points) claimed MOP honors in equitation on the flat while Claire Ottinger also tallied a team point with a score of 71. Randi LaChance compiled the highest score (78 points) of any participant in equitation on the flat, but she tied against Texas A&M’s Alex Desiderio.
LaChance earned a point in equitation over fences, piling up an event-best 81 points. Zoromski also picked up a team point with an 80-point effort in equitation over fences.
In horsemanship, Brittany Woodard (72 points) and Bobbie Piddock (71.5 points) accumulated team points for UT Martin. Sammi Felts also added a team point in reining with a 67.5-point performance, but ultimately two of the Aggies’ team points in reining were decided by two points or less.
Head coach Meghan Corvin, who has led UT Martin to the postseason nine different times, presided over a roster that included 12 returners and nine newcomers. In Hunter seat, the Skyhawks return seven riders and welcome five freshmen, while five returners and four freshmen rode for UT Martin in the Western discipline.
The Skyhawks hosted defending national champion and current No. 1 ranked Auburn on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 at 1 p.m. at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
The Skyhawks were narrowly edged in Hunt Seat, as Texas A&M posted a 5-4 advantage. The scores were also tight in Western, but the Aggies were able to manage four of the five team points in reining.
Monica Zoromski (77 points) claimed MOP honors in equitation on the flat while Claire Ottinger also tallied a team point with a score of 71. Randi LaChance compiled the highest score (78 points) of any participant in equitation on the flat, but she tied against Texas A&M’s Alex Desiderio.
LaChance earned a point in equitation over fences, piling up an event-best 81 points. Zoromski also picked up a team point with an 80-point effort in equitation over fences.
In horsemanship, Brittany Woodard (72 points) and Bobbie Piddock (71.5 points) accumulated team points for UT Martin. Sammi Felts also added a team point in reining with a 67.5-point performance, but ultimately two of the Aggies’ team points in reining were decided by two points or less.
Head coach Meghan Corvin, who has led UT Martin to the postseason nine different times, presided over a roster that included 12 returners and nine newcomers. In Hunter seat, the Skyhawks return seven riders and welcome five freshmen, while five returners and four freshmen rode for UT Martin in the Western discipline.
The Skyhawks hosted defending national champion and current No. 1 ranked Auburn on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 at 1 p.m. at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
