MARTIN, Tenn. – Sophomore Gabby Adams brought home MOP awards in both Jumping Seat events as the No. 9 ranked University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian squad soared to a 13-6 triumph over Delaware State today.
Adams, who received MOP accolades in both fences and flat, was one of three Skyhawks to earn MOP status today as UT Martin swept all four top honors. Lillian Laney established a career-high with 77 points to collect her first career collegiate MOP in horsemanship while Lexi Bailey garnered the 14th MOP of her spectacular collegiate career, achieving that honor in reining.
The Skyhawks tallied four points in both reining and flat while adding three head-to-head victories in fences and two individual wins (plus a tie) in horsemanship. UT Martin has now won nine straight regular season meets against Eastern College Athletic Conference rivals dating back to last season, including all six opportunities in 2024-25.
Bailey corralled her team-best fourth MOP of the season and sixth victory in reining with a 72-point effort, winning MOP honors for the third time in the last four meets. Logan Putvinski (season-best 72 points) and Elise Mason (69.5) each generated their team-best eighth win apiece while Kate Davis’ score of 69 was good enough for her fifth victory of the season. Aubrey Malone (67.5) was the fifth member of the Skyhawk lineup, narrowly falling by 0.5 points.
In flat, Adams’ 88-point performance gave her a team-high four MOP’s and eight victories in that event. Bridget Vieau won for the fifth time this season after a score of 88 points while Rileigh Weiss (season-high score) and Payton Lussen (third win in a row) both posted identical 81-point performances for their third victories of the season. Elizabeth Becker completed UT Martin’s lineup with 61 points.
Adams accounted for her first MOP and second victory of the season in fences after turning in a score of 84 points. Kate Mills (fifth win of the season) and Vieau (first triumph of the season) each won after 80-point efforts while Becker and Emerson Maier rounded out the scoring with 78 and 76 points, respectively.
Laney’s sixth win of the season in horsemanship set the tone for the Skyhawks in that event as she bested her competitor by a whopping 20.5 points. Bailey (76.5 points) followed right behind with 76.5 points for her sixth victory of the season while Davis’ 74.5 points tied her head-to-head opponent. Ava Newsom produced a season-high 73.5 points while Mia McAfoos was responsible for 68 points to complete the team scoring.
The Skyhawks are back in action tomorrow as the start time has been pushed back to 10:25 a.m. UT Martin will battle No. 4 SMU with a Senior Day ceremony honoring Bailey, Becker, Davis, Malone, McAfoos, Putvinski and Weiss taking place afterwards.
