MARTIN, Tenn. – It was a successful Senior Day all around for the University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian team as the No. 8 ranked Skyhawks put together a dominant 18-1 triumph over Minnesota-Crookston.
UT Martin swept all four MOP’s and produced six career- or season-high scores today in the regular season finale. Kate Mills (fences), Sophia Sundem (flat), Mia McAfoos (horsemanship) and Kate Davis (reining) each received MOP medals in their respective events to help the Skyhawks improve to 4-1 in Eastern College Athletic Conference competition.
Mills’ 86-point MOP effort in fences was good enough for her sixth win of the season while Sydney Hott’s 85 points earned her a team-best seventh victory in the event. Elizabeth Becker established a season-high with 85 points on the way to her fourth win in 2023-24 while Gabby Adams (83 points) and Haley Kane (77) notched their fourth and fifth wins of the season, respectively.
In flat, Sundem set a career-high with 88 points as part of her MOP ride – which also served as her team-best seventh win and second MOP of the season. Hott’s season-best 86 points resulted in her fifth win in 2023-24 while Becker (third win of the season with 81 points) and Kane (fourth triumph of the year with 76 points) also contributed.
McAfoos brought home the first MOP of her career courtesy of a 76-point performance, her sixth horsemanship win of the season. Bailey (season-high score for her team-best seventh victory) and Ava Newson (career-best tally on the way to her third win of the season) each compiled 75.5 points while Emma Schaefer didn’t follow too far behind with a 75 that gave her five wins on the season. Davis’ 73 points – her fourth triumph in 2023-24 – completed the sweep in the event for UT Martin.
Davis’ 70 points in reining was not only a season-high score but also good enough to be awarded her second MOP in 2023-24. Logan Putvinski was responsible for a team-high 70.5 points while delivering her seventh win of the season while Schaefer’s 68 points resulted in her team-high eighth victory in 2023-24. Aubrey Malone secured her third win of the season with 66.5 points while Bailey’s score of 67 tied her head-to-head competitor.
Following the meet, the Skyhawks’ eight seniors – Hott, Ava Laplante, Natalie Marques, Mannetta McAvaddy, Emmy Reed, Schaefer, Sundem and Bridget Vieau – were all honored as part of Senior Day festivities.
UT Martin will now turn its attention to the upcoming ECAC Championship, which will be held in Davis, Calif. on Monday, March 25 through Wednesday, March 27.
