By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
BROOKINGS, SD – Sophomore Lexi Bailey corralled MOP’s in both Western discipline events today to help No. 1 seed University of Tennessee at Martin roll to a 14-6 triumph over fourth-seeded South Dakota State in the Eastern College Athletic Conference semifinals held at the DeHaan Equestrian Center.
Less than 24 hours after she was named as one of four members on the ECAC All-Horsemanship squad, Bailey showed out today with her second MOP of the season in horsemanship and her second MOP accolade for the 2022-23 campaign in reining.
Sydney Hott, who earned All-ECAC honors in both fences and flat herself last night, gave the Skyhawks their third MOP recipient of the meet as she nabbed top status in fences.
The UT Martin group of Bailey, Haley Kane, Julia Gilman, Emma Schaefer and Kate Davis all came away with two points apiece for the Skyhawks, who defeated the Jackrabbits for the third time this season today.
Coming into the day facing a deficit after the host South Dakota State won three of five decisions in flat on Thursday afternoon, UT Martin claimed 12 of the 15 points that were awarded today. Overall, the Skyhawks swept all five fences points, won four matchups in horsemanship, took three decisions in reining and won two matchups in flat.
In flat, Kane (64-67; 131 points) and Gilman (68-71; 139) provided UT Martin with an early 2-0 lead in the meet. However, the Jackrabbits rallied to win each of the final three points in the event. Sophia Sundem (55-42; 97), Rileigh Weiss (61-66; 127) and Hott (54-49; 103) also represented the Skyhawks in the flat lineup.
Fences was the first of three events on the docket today as UT Martin quickly reestablished momentum. Hott’s 164 points (82-82) was the best in the meet as she was followed by head-to-head victories by Gilman (161; 79-82), Kane (160; 80-80), Tyler Anderson (157; 76-81) and Elizabeth Becker (159; 81-78). Overall, the Skyhawks held an 801-593 advantage in fences raw score points.
South Dakota State pulled within three points (7-4) after winning the opening decision of horsemanship but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way as UT Martin closed out the event with four unanswered victories. Davis tallied 142.5 points (70.5-72) before Bailey’s MOP performance of 147 (74.5-72.5). Schaefer (71.5-72.5) and Keely Seiter (71-72.5) accumulated wins after scores of 144 and 143.5, respectively. Paige Benson was the fifth member of the Skyhawk horsemanship lineup as she managed a solid score of 143.5 (71-72.5).
Bailey’s MOP effort of 142.5 points (71-71.5) opened UT Martin’s scoring in reining. Schaefer continued her successful day with a 139 (70.5-68.5) victory while Davis’ 138 points (70-68) also emerged victorious. Additionally, Logan Putvinski (128; 64-64) and Aubrey Malone (131.5; 65-66.5) took part in the Skyhawks’ scoring lineup in reining.
The University of Tennessee at Martin put forth a valiant effort today in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship finals but UC Davis came away with the slim 10-8 win at the DeHaan Equestrian Center.
Seeded first in the five-team field, the Skyhawks held a 3-2 lead after the first of four events (fences) today before the Aggies claimed four of five points in horsemanship. The final two events (flat and reining) were evenly split at 2-2 with one tie apiece to give No. 3 seed UC Davis the win despite UT Martin holding an 81.5-point edge (2,924.5-2,843) in raw scoring.
Senior Julia Gilman collected her second MOP of the season in flat today, piling up 158 points (81-77). Fellow senior Haley Kane also had a great day with a pair of victories in the Jumping Seat discipline while sophomore Kate Davis additionally went 2-0 in both Western discipline events. Sydney Hott was also unbeaten on the day for the Skyhawks with a 1-0-1 record in fences and flat.
Hott got UT Martin on the scoreboard with a 164-point performance (82-82) in fences. After UC Davis won the next two head-to-head decisions, Kane (155; 75-80) and Tyler Anderson (168; 82-86) gave the Skyhawks a 3-2 advantage. UT Martin’s fences lineup also included Elizabeth Becker (139; 70-69) and Gilman (147; 70-77) as the squad outscored the Aggies by a 773-695.5 margin.
The meet then moved to the horsemanship phase as UC Davis recorded the first four points before Davis (147; 73-74) secured a victory for the Skyhawks. Keely Seiter (143; 72-71), Emma Schaefer (144.5; 71.5-73), Paige Benson (140.5; 70-70.5) and Lexi Bailey (141; 71.5-69.5) each pieced together solid efforts for UT Martin in horsemanship.
In flat, the Skyhawks posted points on the final two head-to-head decisions, starting with Gilman’s MOP performance. Kane followed that with a score of 153 (75-78) to make the score 8-6 in favor of the Aggies through three events. Hott’s 126 points (64-62) was good enough for a tie while Sophia Sundem (143; 68-75) and Anderson (156; 82-74) also represented UT Martin in the event.
Davis won the opening point of reining with a 143.5-point effort (72-71.5), closing the Skyhawk deficit to 8-7 in the process. Logan Putvinski (144.5; 72-72.5) would soon tack on another victory for UT Martin but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. Bailey’s 137.5 (68-69.5) tied her head-to-head competitor while Schaefer (135; 67-68) and Aubrey Malone (139; 69.5-69.5) completed the Skyhawks’ scoring lineup.
Currently ranked No. 10 in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association poll, UT Martin has now won three consecutive ECAC reserve championships under head coach Kim Leiter.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information