Spring Break
Georgia equestrians win Southern Championships
Issue date: 4/6/09 Section: Sports
For the second straight day, Georgia won all four events, including another 5-0 sweep in Western Horsemanship, to defeat Auburn 15-5 and win the 2009 Southern Equestrian Championship here Saturday afternoon.
Georgia's title was the program's fifth straight at the Southern Championships, which equate to the SEC title meet. On Saturday, the top-ranked Bulldogs (12-4) had beaten South Carolina by an identical 15-5 tally.
"This was just a beautiful day all around," Georgia coach Meghan Boenig said. "The weather was ideal, the riding conditions were terrific, and the level of competition was extremely high on both sides. I'm just really, really pleased at how our girls performed today. It was a great momentum builder for Nationals."
The Bulldogs were led by their entire Western squad, which won nine of a possible 10 points. Senior Kelley Mundrick won her second straight MVP honor by posting a score of 153.5, the highest number of any Horsemanship rider and good enough for a 4.5-point victory over Auburn's Jessica Jones. Lauren Love also picked up an MVP honor in Horsemanship, and other winners included Katelyn Van Allen, Dana Kennedy and Alician Shrum.
"Kelley was really on her game both days this weekend but especially today," said Georgia's Western coach Carly Veldman. "She and our other senior, Dana Kennedy, had no mistakes, rode correctly and aggressively and set the bar high for their teammates."
Georgia's reiners were nearly as impressive in their 4-1 victory, and again, seniors carried the day. Kate Stewart and Nichole Grant each posted MVP rides. Sarah Locker and Diandra St. Hilaire also won reining points for the Bulldogs.
The competition on the Hunt Seat side was much closer between these two rival programs, but Georgia prevailed in both events by 3-2 margins. Haylie Jayne, the nation's top-seeded Fences rider, won points in both events for the Bulldogs and earned an MVP honor in her specialty. Freshman Michelle Morris and sophomore Kacy Jenkins also posted winning rides in the Fences event for Georgia.
Morris later returned to score winning ride in Equitation on the Flat, as did fellow rookie Emma Lipman, whose 157 earned MVP honors in the event.
Georgia will take the next 10 days to prepare in its quest for a fourth national championship. The Varsity EQ National meet will take place April 16-18 in Waco, Texas.
- Georgia Sports Communications
Georgia's title was the program's fifth straight at the Southern Championships, which equate to the SEC title meet. On Saturday, the top-ranked Bulldogs (12-4) had beaten South Carolina by an identical 15-5 tally.
"This was just a beautiful day all around," Georgia coach Meghan Boenig said. "The weather was ideal, the riding conditions were terrific, and the level of competition was extremely high on both sides. I'm just really, really pleased at how our girls performed today. It was a great momentum builder for Nationals."
The Bulldogs were led by their entire Western squad, which won nine of a possible 10 points. Senior Kelley Mundrick won her second straight MVP honor by posting a score of 153.5, the highest number of any Horsemanship rider and good enough for a 4.5-point victory over Auburn's Jessica Jones. Lauren Love also picked up an MVP honor in Horsemanship, and other winners included Katelyn Van Allen, Dana Kennedy and Alician Shrum.
"Kelley was really on her game both days this weekend but especially today," said Georgia's Western coach Carly Veldman. "She and our other senior, Dana Kennedy, had no mistakes, rode correctly and aggressively and set the bar high for their teammates."
Georgia's reiners were nearly as impressive in their 4-1 victory, and again, seniors carried the day. Kate Stewart and Nichole Grant each posted MVP rides. Sarah Locker and Diandra St. Hilaire also won reining points for the Bulldogs.
The competition on the Hunt Seat side was much closer between these two rival programs, but Georgia prevailed in both events by 3-2 margins. Haylie Jayne, the nation's top-seeded Fences rider, won points in both events for the Bulldogs and earned an MVP honor in her specialty. Freshman Michelle Morris and sophomore Kacy Jenkins also posted winning rides in the Fences event for Georgia.
Morris later returned to score winning ride in Equitation on the Flat, as did fellow rookie Emma Lipman, whose 157 earned MVP honors in the event.
Georgia will take the next 10 days to prepare in its quest for a fourth national championship. The Varsity EQ National meet will take place April 16-18 in Waco, Texas.
- Georgia Sports Communications
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