MARTIN, Tenn. – The No. 10 ranked University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian team gave No. 1 TCU a battle today at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex but the Skyhawks fell by a 12-7 margin to the Horned Frogs.
UT Martin took three out of five points in reining and tied TCU in fences. The Skyhawks also picked up a pair of head-to-head wins in flat but the Horned Frogs were able to claim all five points in horsemanship.
Junior Kate Davis collected her fourth career MOP in reining as the junior from Williamston, Mich. amassed a season-high 69.5 points. It was also her second reining victory of the 2023-24 campaign.
Davis’ performance helped the Skyhawks outscore TCU by a 340.5-337 margin in reining. Lexi Bailey posted a victory with 69 points while Emma Schaefer came away with her team-best third win of the season after a 68.5-point effort. Logan Putvinski (67 points) and Aubrey Malone (66.5 points) also made up the UT Martin starting lineup in that event.
Haley Kane’s season-best 85-point ride in fences was good enough for a victory while Sydney Hott clinched her team-high third triumph of the season with 84 points. Gabby Adams’ 79 points were good enough for a draw while Elizabeth Becker (season-high 83.5 points) and Bridget Vieau (career-best 76 points) completed the Skyhawk lineup.
The duo of Sophia Sundem (86 points) and Hott (84 points) each tallied their team-high fourth wins of the season in flat. Kane managed a season-high score of 80 points and narrowly fell by one point to her head-to-head competitor. Becker and Vieau also competed for UT Martin with tallies of 81 and 76 points, respectively.
Four of the five matchups in horsemanship were decided by two points or less. Schaefer notched a season-high 76 points but fell by 0.5 points. Ava Newsom registered a career-high 75 points while Davis and Mia McAfoos each generated 73 points apiece. Bailey’s 68 points completed the scoring for the Skyhawks.
UT Martin returns to action tomorrow at noon when it hosts the No. 5 ranked Georgia Bulldogs at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex.
