WACO, Texas – The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) saw nine meets take place in the sixth week of competition, featuring four upsets.
Read below to see how the weekend's competitions panned out!
MEET OF THE WEEK
10/31 – Bridgewater Knocks Off No. 3 Sweet Briar
STAUNTON, Va. - The Bridgewater College Equestrian team defeated No. 3 Sweet Briar 5-5 on Friday via total score 775-769.
Sweet Briar opened by taking three of the five points over fences. Margaret Brown and WIllow Wright scored points for BC, while Piper Harris' 80 just missed scoring.
Bridgewater responded over fences as Wright and Margartia Trukhina picked up points, but SBC responded with a pair of scorers to send the meet down to the final ride. Brown delivered in the final chance for BC as her 80 was enough to get the team point and gave BC the victory by total score 775-769.
Brown was named the meet's most outstanding performer over fences and Wright earned the honor on the flat.
MEET OF THE WEEK
10/31 – UT Martin Defeats South Dakota State
MARTIN, Tenn. – The 2025-26 home opener for the University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian team was a successful one as the Skyhawks rolled to a 15-5 Eastern College Athletic Conference triumph over South Dakota State at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex today.
UT Martin captured all four MOP’s today as Audrey Morris (fences), Kathleen DeGenova (flat), Kailyn Veale (horsemanship) and Claire Carpenter (reining) each nabbed the first MOP of their careers.
As a team, the Skyhawks claimed four points in fences, four victories in flat, four triumphs in reining and three more wins in horsemanship. Overall, 10 UT Martin riders established new career-high scores as part of a complete victory.
Morris’ career-best score of 84 led the Skyhawks in fences as the junior out of Flower Mound, Texas coasted to a 24-point win over her head-to-head competitor. Kate Mills (81 points) and Averey Pritchard (78) each managed their third victories in as many tries in 2025-26 while DeGenova earned her second win of the season with a career-high 80-point effort. Daphne Stavig (77 points) also represented UT Martin in the fences lineup.
In flat, DeGenova’s career-best 86-point performance was not only good enough for her first collegiate MOP but her first career victory in that event. Shelby Davis notched her second win of the season with a career-high 83 points while Lydia Jordan’s career-best 82-point effort also resulted in the second triumph of her junior campaign. Mills (career-high 80 points) was also victorious for her first win of the season in that event while Morris’ 74 points completed the scoring.
Three more Skyhawk riders accumulated career-best scores in reining. Carpenter’s career-high 72.5 points clinched MOP accolades and her second win of the season while Payton Bundy’s career-best 72.5 points earned the sophomore from Tallahassee, Fla. her first collegiate victory. Abby Tibbits (career-high 72 points) and Elise Mason (70.5) both tallied their second wins of the season while Stevie Brown (69 points) was the fifth member of UT Martin’s scoring lineup.
Veale’s season-high score of 75.5 points and MOP performance set the tone for the Skyhawks in horsemanship. Ruby Gunderson improved to 3-0 on the season with a career-best 74 points while Ava Newsom (73 points) posted her first win of the young season. Carpenter and Olivia Wynn each dialed up 72 points to round out UT Martin’s scoring lineup.
10/31-11/1 – No. 2 South Carolina Downs South Dakota State, UT Martin
MARTIN, TN – No. 2 South Carolina (5-1) had a strong outing on the road, going 2-0 on the weekend after picking up wins over South Dakota State and UT Martin.
“We had really solid wins this weekend,” head coach Carol Gwin said. “I am very happy with where we are mid-season. I feel like road wins are always hard in our sport, so it is nice to come out with two on this trip.”
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
The Gamecocks won the two-day battle 12-3, with South Carolina picking up three MOPs. Amira Kettaneh earned the honors in Fences, Mary Hunter Millet in Flat, and Lillian Laney with her first as a Gamecock in Horsemanship.
On the Flat, South Carolina took the event 3-1. Millet got the points started for the Gamecocks, picking up an 84-77 win on Finnley. Natalie Jayne then earned her point on Ziggy, winning 82-77. Kettaneh rounded things out, taking down her opponent 85-79 on Finn.
In Reining, a 70-70 tie between Gamecock Olivia Cardi and Jackrabbit Adiysn Kuxhaus kept things close, but South Carolina edged out SDSU 2-1. Gracie Mae Stingle earned the first point, 71-68.5 on Tia, followed by Emerson Madonia picking up a 70.5-69 win on Yeti.
Over in Horsemanship, the Gamecocks got the sweep at 4-0, with Ruby Voortmeyer (74.5-73), Lillian Laney (76-74), Alexis Potts (75-72), and Carly Jenkins (73.5-72.5) all earning points.
The meet concluded Saturday morning with Fences, which South Carolina won 3-1. Alyssa Bauer got points rolling with her 86-84 win on Finley, followed by Amira Kettaneh’s five-point win on Finn, 87-82. Grace Rabb finished the meet out on top, emerging victorious 85-83 on Doug.
UT MARTIN
The Gamecocks kept the wins coming Saturday, defeating the Skyhawks 15-4. The Gamecocks swept the MOPs, with Kettaneh bringing home both Flat and Fences, Carly Jenkins in Horsemanship and Haley Turner with Reining.
The morning began on the Flat, with South Carolina nabbing a 3-1 win overall. Kettaneh picked up a massive win for the Gamecocks, defeating Kate Mills 90-82 on Rose. Sarah Rabb then took down Kat DeGenova 84-78 on Revel, while Mary Hunter Millet tied 84-84 on PorkChop for no point. Natalie Jayne rounded things out with an 83-76-win Pickles.
Over in Fences, the Gamecocks swept the Skyhawks 5-0. Kettaneh was the first to grab a point, 86-81 on Denny, followed by Jayne on Ziggy, winning by 10, 84-74. Alyssa Bauer followed suit with an 85-78 victory on Pearl, and Bella Primavera edged out Averey Pritchard 83-82 on Rafiki. Grace Rabb earned her point 88-80 on Kate Mills to make things 8-1 at the half.
South Carolina continued its success over in Horsemanship to open the second half, winning that battle 4-1. Carly Jenkins (76-71), Alyssa Jipping (72-70), Alexis Potts (75.5-74) and Ruby Voortmeyer (75-74.5) all picked up points.
The Gamecocks ended the day with the Reiners, who defeated UT Martin 3-2. Haley Turner won her point 73-67.5 on Cobra, and Mattie McNeill edged out Elise Mason 71.5-71 on Chloe. The Gamecocks challenged Skyhawk Claire Carpenter’s ride, and the point went to Olivia Cardi (71-70) to make the score 15-4.
10/31 – No. 10 Baylor Upends No. 6 Fresno State
WACO, Texas – No. 10 Baylor equestrian defeated No. 6 Fresno State, 12-5, on Friday at the Willis Family Equestrian Center in Waco.
The Bears made use of a strong first half that included a 5-0 sweep in Flat and a 3-0 shutout in Reining, then carried momentum into the latter stages picking up four more points in Fences for their first win of the season.
Jumping Seat senior Lauren Reid continued her hot streak to open the 25-26 campaign with her fourth Most Outstanding Performer award in as many meets after posting an 89 in Fences to match her personal best. Fifth-year Jumping Seat senior Lauren Stebbins earned her first-career MOP with a career-high 82.5 in Flat. Reining senior Kalena Reynolds collected her second-career MOP honor with an event-high 71.5.
THE RUNDOWN
Baylor got out to a hot start with a 5-0 sweep in Flat behind points from Reid (81), Morgan McCarthy (80), Grace O’Connell (78.5), Caroline Robelen (77.5) and MOP Stebbins (82.5) who posted an event-high score after a re-ride.
“It definitely threw my plan off, because the two horses were really different” Stebbins said of the re-ride. “But just was thinking of all that I worked on in practice this week, staying calm and being confident. We’ve put in a lot of work, so I just felt ready.”
Meanwhile in Reining, Reynolds (71.5), Bella Hehr (71.25) and Sadie Peters (70) put points on the board while Britt McIlnay (69) and Riley Cachat (68) each tied their matchups to shut the Bulldogs out and take an 8-0 lead into the halftime break.
“Really good showing from them today,” said head coach Casie Maxwell of the reiners. “They’ve been working incredibly hard to be able to clean up the work they’re doing without leaving doors open and leaving space to get beat. Just really proud of them and their execution today.”
Horsemanship kicked of the second stage of the meet and Fresno State cut into the deficit with a 4-0 event win. Anna Thron was the bright spot for the Bears, tying her point at 71.25 to avoid an event sweep.
To round out the meet, BU pulled away in Fences with a 4-1 event victory behind Reid’s stellar 89 ride and more points from McCarthy (85.5), Katie Smith (85.5) and Lauren Jorgensen (79).
HIGHLIGHTS
• Baylor picked up its first event win of the year in Flat, a 5-0 sweep.
• This marks Flat’s first 5-0 sweep since March 7, 2025, at South Dakota State.
• BU also earned its first event win of the year in Reining, a 3-0 shutout.
• This marks the Bears’ first Reining shutout since Feb. 4, 2023, against Minnesota-Crookston and first such shutout with at least three points since Sept. 30, 2022, at Georgia.
• Baylor’s Fences collected its second-consecutive 4-1 event win.
• Sophomore Grace O’Connell made her 2025-26 season debut in Flat and won her point with a career-high 78.5.
• Jumping Seat freshman Morgan McCarthy set a career high with an 85.5 in Fences.
• Reining junior Sadie Peters scored a season-high 70.
• Jumping Seat senior Lauren Reid tied her career high in Fences with an 89.
• Reining senior Kalena Reynolds scored a season high with a 71.5.
• Jumping Seat sophomore Katie Smith scored a career-high 85.5 in Fences.
• Fifth-year Jumping Seat senior Lauren Stebbins scored a career-high 82.5 in Flat.
STAT OF THE DAY
3-0 – Baylor claimed Reining 3-0 for the event’s first shutout with at least three points scored in over three years.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Casie Maxwell
On collecting the first win of the season…
“This was a hard-earned and much-deserved win for this team. Playing three on the road to open the season is incredibly hard, and against three really good teams, but our team has just been getting better every single day. To be able to see that externally now is exactly what they needed, to have that boost of confidence. We have a very capable team and they didn’t let off the gas today, so very proud of them. We’ve got to continue to grow, continue to get better and we’re going to continue to see hard opponents, but this was definitely a big step in the right direction.”
On what Lauren Reid means to this team…
“It’s indescribable. She’s exactly what you look for in a student-athlete. She’s a great leader, she’s a great teammate, she’s a great role model, she’s a great example, she’s a great supporter. She just does everything so well at such a high level. She competes against herself every single day and that’s what sets her apart. She won’t settle for anything less than what she’s capable of, that’s just who she is as a competitor. She’s easy to coach, she’s fun to coach and I just really appreciate having her.”
Jumping Seat Senior Lauren Reid
On what’s inspired her hot start to the season and being a leader on the team…
“I think just riding with all I have. It’s my last year, trying not to dwell on that, taking it as an opportunity to leave it all out there in the arena this year for sure. I feel like I’ve definitely stepped up into a leadership role over the past couple of seasons, and I think really this year it’s just leading by example has been a big part of it.”
Jumping Seat Fifth-Year Senior Lauren Stebbins
On the 5-0 sweep in Flat…
“It’s a great day to be a Bear. We were all so fired up. It’s been a lot of work in and out of the saddle, but it’s been so fun so we’re super excited.”
10/31 – No. 3 Auburn Defeats No. 7 TCU
BURLESON, Texas – No. 3 Auburn equestrian defeated seventh-ranked TCU, 12-6, on Friday behind a strong second-half performance at Bear Creek Farms in Burleson, Texas. Auburn took four of five points in Fences, Horsemanship and Flat in the road victory.
“This was a huge win on the road against an extremely good team that is tough at home,” Auburn head coach Jessica Braswell said after the win. “We were able to win three of four events and two MOPs. I’m so proud of this team and their consistency over the last eight days. It was a tough road stretch and they handled it very well.”
Auburn junior Avery Glynn earned her third Most Outstanding Performer honor of the season on the Flat, while junior Sydney Swallom picked up her second Horsemanship MOP of the season.
In Fences, Glynn scored an 86 for her fourth consecutive victory in the event to start the season. Sadie Berkhout added an 83-77 win, Ariana Marnell scored an 85-40 victory and Caroline Olsen earned a 78-76 win. Kate Hagertynarrowly fell 87-85 in her ride.
TCU took three of five points in Reining, leading to a 4-4 tie at the halfway point of the meet. Alexia Tordoff tied Anna Clausen at 71, while Sofia Tieche also forced a tie with a 70.
Auburn claimed the majority of Horsemanship points for the fourth consecutive dual-discipline meet to begin the season, going 4-1. Swallom’s MOP ride on Snoop Dog led to a 76.5-75 win over Peyton Staat. Tordoff won 75-70, Caroline Fredenburg earned a 74-71.5 victory, and Callie Hogg edged out her opponent 73-72.
On the Flat, Glynn scored her highest ride of the season in a 94-85 win. Baylee Mckeever and Caroline Olsen each claimed narrow 89-88 victories, while Berkhout posted a season-high 87 in an 87-83 win. Marnell fell 94-89 in her matchup.
The win improves Auburn’s overall record to 3-1 this season and 2-1 on the road. The victory also extends the Tigers’ lead in the all-time series over the Horned Frogs to 10-2.
11/1 – No. 4 Texas A&M Pushes Past No. 6 Fresno State
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The No. 4 Texas A&M equestrian team defeated No. 6 Fresno State, 13-5, Saturday morning at the Hildebrand Equine Complex.
The Aggies (3-1, 1-1) started the meet with a strong 4-1 performance in Horsemanship. Kendall Dirksen led the way with a score of 75 on Max, earning MOP honors. Kaylynn Heitman followed closely with a 74.5, while Kaitlyn Bloom and Meagan Braun each added scores of 73.5 to secure an early lead.
In Flat, a tied score of 2-2 brought the overall advantage to 6-3 heading into the break. Devan Thomas earned MOP honors with an 83 on Diablo, while Nicole McMillion added a 76 to round out points in the discipline.
After the half, the Maroon & White extended their lead with a 4-1 victory in Fences. Kate Egan (86), Grace DeFoe (80) and Alexa Leong (72) each contributed points, with Grace Shipman garnering MOP honors with her ride of 87 on Celsius.
Texas A&M concluded the meet with a 3-1 victory in Reining, making the final score 13-5. Mattie Gustin (72), Moriah McQueen (72.5) and Gracie Casebolt (69.5) each tallied points for the Aggies. McQueens’ ride on Rocky completed the MOP sweep for Texas A&M across all events.
11/1 – No. 2 College of Charleston Falls at No. 4 Dartmouth
The Dartmouth Equestrian team defeated the College of Charleston 7-3 on Saturday, improving the team’s record to 2-0 on the season.
In a rematch of last year’s national championship, the Big Green jumped out to an early 3-2 lead after the fences portion of the meet. Cassidy Exner ’27, Grace Russo ’29, and Elise Stephens ’28 won their matchups 78-66, 72-68, and 78-75 respectively.
“Charleston is a great team,” said head coach Tenley Walsh. “Building a lead going into the half was important for us.”
While the Big Green entered the second half up 12 points on raw score, the tie breaker was not needed as Exner, Camilla Jerng ’29, Samantha Takacs ’27 and Stephens won their individual contests (72-68, 66-62, 76-75, and 89-74) resulting in the 7-3 team win.
Stephens was named the meet’s Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) on the flat.
“Elise was excellent,” said Walsh. “And I’m really happy with how we have flatted as a team to start the year.”
11/2 – Sacred Heart Upsets No. 2 College of Charleston
NORWALK, Conn. - The Sacred Heart University equestrian team delivered a statement performance on Sunday afternoon, knocking off the No. 2-ranked College of Charleston in a dramatic 5-5 tiebreaker at Silvermine Farm.
Final Score:
Sacred Heart 5 (812)
College of Charleston 5 (790)
Of Note:
After the two teams finished even through 10 rides, the result came down to raw score, and the Pioneers rose to the moment. SHU totaled 812 points to Charleston's 790, securing one of the biggest NCEA wins this season.
Making her collegiate debut, Erin Phillips was sensational in the Flat, earning Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) honors after posting a meet-best score of 91. Her standout ride proved pivotal in the Pioneers' victory and stood as the highest individual performance of the day across both squads.
The win marks Sacred Heart's first victory over a nationally ranked opponent this season in NCEA competition. The Pioneers, who entered the weekend unranked, will look to break into the NCEA Coaches Poll when new rankings are released next week.
In Fences, Sacred Heart secured two points while Charleston earned three to take the early lead heading into the short break. Carina Muratore and Rebecca Skelton each contributed key rides for the Pioneers in the opening round. Muratore, riding Remi, delivered a sharp round that scored 85, while Skelton picked up her point aboard Ollie with a strong 80.
Coming out of the break, SHU tallied three more points to complete the comeback. Erin Phillips, riding Ollie, impressed once again in her debut performance, while Kylie Hwalek and Muratore added crucial Flat victories. Hwalek posted an 84 on Alfie, and Muratore matched that mark with an 84 aboard Solo, helping Sacred Heart rally to tie the meet and force the decisive tiebreaker.
About the NCEA
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing collegiate equestrian, an emerging NCAA sport for women. In partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), the NCEA provides opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level while achieving excellence in academics and athletics.
To stay up to date all year long on all things NCEA Equestrian, follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NCEA_Equestrian and @ncea_eq.
- collegiateequestrian.com -