By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian squad began its two-meet homestand on a high note Friday, downing Eastern College Athletic Conference foe UC Davis by an 11-8 margin at Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
Ranked No. 9 in the latest National Collegiate Equestrian Association poll, the Skyhawks picked up three MOP’s and at least two head-to-head victories in all four events. Haley Kane (career-best 86 points in fences), Julia Gilman (career-high 89 points in flat) and Emma Schaefer (career-best 76.5 points in horsemanship) each earned MOP status in their respective events to help UT Martin improve to 5-5 on the season.
The Skyhawks took four of the five points in flat, headed by Gilman’s third MOP and sixth victory of the 2021-22 campaign. Kelby Kane (84 points) cruised to her fifth win of the season while Sophia Sundem notched her second victory after a 78.5-point performance. Tyler Anderson tallied her team-best seventh win in the event with a 69.5-point effort. Haley Kane also represented UT Martin in the event, collecting a score of 63.5 points.
In horsemanship, Schaefer’s first career victory and MOP set the tone for the Skyhawks. Kate Davis (71.5 points) and Paige Benson (53.5 points) registered their third and second wins of the season, respectively. Katelyn Schultz came away with 73 points while Keely Seiter’s 68 points completed UT Martin’s scoring lineup.
Haley Kane (third MOP and sixth win of the season) and Elizabeth Becker (career-best 85 points on the way to her third victory of the year) paved the way for the Skyhawks in fences. Kelby Kane collected 81 points while UT Martin also saw Gilman (74 points) and Anderson (70 points) earn solid scores.
A pair of freshmen accounted for Skyhawk victories in reining. Logan Putvinski’s 68-point ride was good enough for her team-best fourth win of the season while Aubrey Malone dialed up a career-high 67 points for the first victory of her young career. Brooke Bradley (67.5 points), Davis (66 points) and Lexi Bailey (no score) additionally took part in the event for UT Martin.
The No. 9 ranked University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian team gave No. 1 Oklahoma State all it wanted Saturday afternoon at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion but the Skyhawks narrowly fell by a 13-7 margin.
For the second straight day, freshman Emma Schaefer stood out as the New Virginia, Iowa native soared to MOP accolades in horsemanship. Her 74-point performance was good enough for her second MOP and second victory of the season.
As a team, UT Martin piled up three victories in fences, two in reining, one in flat and one in horsemanship. The Skyhawks trailed 6-4 at halftime before the Cowgirls won seven of the final 10 points. Five of UT Martin’s losses in the Western discipline were by two points or less as Oklahoma State escaped by the slimmest of margins.
The trio of Haley Kane (career-best 87 points, seventh win on the season), Elizabeth Becker (career-high 86 points, fourth victory of the year) and Kelby Kane (83 points, team-best 10th win) were all victorious in fences for the Skyhawks. Julia Gilman also accrued 85.5 points while Tyler Anderson managed a score of 75 points in the event.
In reining, the freshman pair of Logan Putvinski and Lexi Bailey delivered victories for UT Martin. Putvinski’s 68 points were good enough for her team-best fifth win of the season while Bailey’s career-high score of 68 resulted in her first collegiate victory. Aubrey Malone additionally produced a career-best tally of 67 points but fell by 0.5 points to her head-to-head competitor. Kate Davis (67 points) and Brooke Bradley (64 points) performed well for the Skyhawks but fell by 2.0 and 1.5 points, respectively.
Schaefer’s MOP effort in horsemanship was the highlight for UT Martin in that event. Katelyn Schultz and Davis each put together 73 points apiece but were edged out by one and two points, respectively. Paige Benson tallied a 69 while Keely Seiter did not record a score for the Skyhawks.
Claiming her team-high seventh win of the season in flat was Gilman, who rolled to 85.5 points today. Kelby Kane (81.5 points), Anderson (77.5 points), Haley Kane (76 points), Sophia Sundem (71.5 points) completed the scoring lineup for UT Martin in the event.
The Skyhawks travel to Oxford, Ohio for an exhibition against Miami (Ohio) on Feb. 18 before resuming their regular season schedule on March 5 at No. 5 Georgia.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information