NCEA Week 6 Recap
Oct. 25, 2026 – A final-ride victory, a tiebreaker, and two wins over higher-ranked opponents highlighted the sixth week of National Collegiate Equestrian Association competition.
In Dual Discipline action, No. 1 Auburn held off No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 3 South Carolina defeated No. 2 Georgia, and No. 6 TCU edged No. 9 Baylor on raw scores. Delaware State also earned a decisive home victory over No. 10 South Dakota State.
On the Single Discipline side, No. 1 Dartmouth remained undefeated with a win over Sacred Heart.

Oct. 22 – Delaware State Defeats No. 10 South Dakota State
DOVER, Del. – Delaware State defeated No. 10 South Dakota State 14-5 at the Dovington Training Center, sweeping Flat and winning three of the four events.
The Hornets claimed all five Flat points, led by Lily Kosal’s 94 on Carl against Sumire Talik-Martinez’s 87. Kendall Very scored a 93 on Tito to defeat Heidi White’s 91, while Daicey Richardson matched that mark on Quinn to top Isabelle Malick’s 87. Nola Jones added a 90-76 victory on Baxter, and Emma Claire Johnson earned an 80-69 win on Cali.
Delaware State continued its strong Jumping Seat performance with a 4-1 advantage in Fences. Melissa Acker led the Hornets with an 89 on Gino, defeating Sydney Chmel’s 78. Richardson completed a two-point day with an 87-70 victory on Mr. Nibbles. Madison Goodrow scored an 85 on Big Ben to top Brooke Borges’ 81, while Sabina Clutter earned an 84-79 win on Todd.
The Hornets took Horsemanship 3-1, with one tied matchup. Kirsten Buckwalter and Cheyenne Brand each scored a 75 to defeat their opponents’ 71.5s, while Hallie Prater posted a 77 on Maverick to top Hannah Dutton’s 74. Emily Firth tied Anna Minich at 77 on Fudge.
Cambrey Hedges and Isabella Topetzes supplied Delaware State’s two Reining points. Hedges scored a 63.5 on Kong against Dutton’s zero, while Topetzes earned a 70-66 victory on Izzy.
South Dakota State won Reining 3-2 behind Emma Riggs, Lillie Wallis, and Maryn Mead. White earned the Jackrabbits’ Fences point, while Addison Saterbak supplied their Horsemanship victory.

Oct. 23 – No. 3 South Carolina Tops No. 2 Georgia
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 3 South Carolina defeated No. 2 Georgia 12-6 on Friday afternoon at One Wood Farm, earning its first SEC win of the season and extending its home winning streak to 11 meets.
The Gamecocks improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in SEC competition. The victory marked their third top-10 win of the season.
South Carolina opened with a 4-1 victory in Fences. Amira Kettenah earned the first point with an 81.5 on Q against Ella Witt’s 71. Grace Rabb added an 80-73 win on MJ, while Alyssa Bauer scored an 84 on Tito to top a 79. McKayla Brombach recorded a season-high 86 on Dobby, earning her first Most Outstanding Performer honor of the year.
Georgia took Horsemanship 3-2. Alyssa Kladny supplied South Carolina’s first point with a 72.75-64.5 victory on Z, and Alexis Potts added a 73.75-69.5 win on Dill Pickle.
The Gamecocks earned a 3-2 advantage in Flat. Paris Levy scored an 84 on Goose to defeat a 72.5 and collect her first MOP honor of the season. Kettenah earned her second point of the day with an 85-81.5 victory on Major. Vanessa Mc Caughley added an 84.5 on Murphy to defeat Tessa Downey’s 81.5.
South Carolina kept Georgia off the scoreboard in Reining, earning three points and two ties. Potts scored a 54.75 on George against a zero, while Olivia Cardi posted a 66.25-65.5 win on NiteNite. Emily Patton closed the event with a 68.75 on her ride to defeat Kennedy Buchanan’s 63.25 and earn her second MOP honor of the season.
Emma Zgrebnak tied Kinsey Cooper at 71 on Giallo, while Gracie Mae Stingle and Caroline Fletcher each scored a 61.75 on Yogi.

Oct. 23 – No. 1 Auburn Holds Off No. 4 Texas A&M
AUBURN, Ala. – No. 1 Auburn secured an 11-9 victory over No. 4 Texas A&M on Friday at the Auburn University Equestrian Center, with Ariana Marnell delivering the deciding point in the final ride.
Holding a 10-9 lead, the Tigers needed Marnell to top her opponent’s 78.5 in Fences. The junior delivered an 84.5 to seal the victory and keep Auburn undefeated at 3-0 overall and 2-0 in SEC competition.
“First of all, I’d love to thank the Auburn crowd that came out,” head coach Jessica Braswell said. “We had an awesome crowd today. The energy really helps us and it was huge for us and gave us a big advantage. We knew Texas A&M would compete hard, but I’m really proud of our team for sticking with it and finishing it off with a win.”
Auburn’s Western riders earned seven of the team’s 11 points. The Tigers also collected three Most Outstanding Performer awards, with Callie Hogg receiving the Horsemanship honor, Sofia Tieche winning in Reining, and Taylor Cawley earning the Flat award.
The Tigers opened with a 3-2 advantage in Reining. Landri Lisac earned a 70.75-70.5 victory, and Tieche matched her career high with a 72.25 to defeat Moriah McQueen’s 71.5. Michelle Fumagalli improved to 3-0 on the season with a 69.5-62 win before Texas A&M claimed the final two points.
Auburn earned two Flat points in an event that featured nine of 10 scores in the 90s. Cawley recorded a career-high 95.5 to win by five points and collect MOP honors. Marnell added a 93-91 victory.
The Tigers took Horsemanship 4-1. Sydney Swallom led with a 76.75-73.75 win, followed by Maddie Rippeon’s 75.25-73 victory. After an Aggie point, Charlie Brooks edged Karly Humbert 75.5-75. Hogg closed the event with a 76.75-68.25 MOP win.
Caroline Olsen supplied Auburn’s other Fences point with an 81.5-80.5 victory over Logan Thomas before Marnell’s final ride secured the team win.
“Ariana is riding great right now,” Braswell said. “There’s probably no one else I would’ve liked in that position except for her today. She handled the pressure great and came through for her team.”
 
Oct. 23 – No. 6 TCU Edges No. 9 Baylor on Raw Scores
WACO, Texas – No. 6 TCU earned a road victory over No. 9 Baylor on Friday at the Willis Family Equestrian Center, prevailing 1494-1369 on raw scores after the teams finished tied at 10-10.
The Horned Frogs won Fences, Flat, and Reining by 3-2 margins and swept the Most Outstanding Performer awards. Kyla Sullivan earned the Fences honor, Laurel Ann Piombo received the Flat award, Piper Keller won in Horsemanship, and Calla Thomas took the Reining honor.
The meet opened with Flat and Reining, where TCU built a 6-4 halftime lead. Piombo, Madi Lo Porto, and Amy Krebs supplied the Horned Frogs’ Flat points. Adele Cunningham, Cassie Hacking, and Thomas added victories in Reining.
TCU followed with another 3-2 event win in Fences behind Sullivan, Maggie Dumrauf, and Lilly Goldstein.
Keller earned TCU’s lone Horsemanship point, while Baylor claimed the event 4-1 to tie the overall score at 10-10. The Horned Frogs’ raw-score advantage secured the victory.

Oct. 25 – No. 1 Dartmouth Remains Unbeaten With Win Over Sacred Heart
ETNA, N.H. – No. 1 Dartmouth improved to 5-0 with a 7-2 victory over Sacred Heart on Sunday, winning both events and collecting both Most Outstanding Performer awards.
After Camilla Jerng tied her Flat matchup at 82, Ellie Sadrian, Cassidy Exner, Grace Russo, and Lucinda Exner earned four consecutive points to give Dartmouth a 4-0 lead.
Sadrian edged her opponent 80-79, Cassidy Exner posted a 90-76 victory, and Russo earned a 72-71 win. Lucinda Exner closed the event with a 91-85 victory to receive her first career MOP honor.
“That lineup has been awesome this year,” head coach Tenley Walsh said. “They continue to transfer really good practices into really good results in the ring.”
Dartmouth added three Fences points to secure the victory. Jerng earned an 86-85 win, Cassidy Exner edged her opponent 74-73, and Sadrian scored a 90 against an 82 to collect the Fences MOP award.
“We turned in some really great rides today,” Walsh said. “Lucy picking up that 91 really showcased how good she’s been on the flat this year, and Ellie continues to set a new personal best each meet.”
Cassidy Exner extended her unbeaten record to 10-0 on the season. She joined Mary Haferd and Olivia Hochberg in receiving recognition following the meet as part of Dartmouth’s senior day.
“I’m incredibly proud of this group,” Walsh said. “It’s a quick turnaround to play them again, so right now we’re just focused on finishing the fall. It’s not over yet.”

About the National Collegiate Equestrian Association
The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) is a nonprofit governing body advancing collegiate equestrian competition nationwide. Recognized by the NCAA as an emerging sport for women at the Division I and II levels, the NCEA administers competition rules, championship formats, and national rankings while ensuring the sport operates in alignment with all NCAA policies and procedures.
NCEA competition features a unique head-to-head format across Jumping Seat (Fences and Flat) and Western (Horsemanship and Reining), where riders compete on the same randomly assigned horse, emphasizing skill, adaptability, and horsemanship. Through championship competition and national visibility, the NCEA champions opportunity, competitive excellence, and the continued growth of women’s collegiate athletics.
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