LENGTHY HOMESTAND BEGINS THIS WEEK WITH TWO COMPETITIONS FOR SKYHAWK EQUESTRIAN

Thursday, October 11

Martin, Tenn.

10 A.M.

UT Martin

South Dakota State

Photo by: UT Martin University Relations

LENGTHY HOMESTAND BEGINS THIS WEEK WITH TWO COMPETITIONS FOR SKYHAWK EQUESTRIAN

10/9/2018 10:49:00 AM | Equestrian

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian team returns to the arena this week with a pair of home matchups, hosting South Dakota State on Thursday, Oct. 11 and Sweet Briar College on Friday, Oct. 12. Both competitions will start at 10 a.m. at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex.

The Skyhawks will be in search of their first win of the young 2018-19 season, as the team has battled against a stacked early schedule that featured three top-8 teams. UT Martin has accounted for 12 wins in the Western discipline (seven in reining, five in horsemanship) and nine victories in the Hunter Seat discipline (six in equitation on the flat, three in equitation over fences).

In reining, the Skyhawks have been led by sophomore Noel Meadows, whose 4-0 record earned her the National Collegiate Equestrian Association Rider of the Month award for September. Meadows and Hannah McDonald (two wins) have each captured an MOP honor while Maddie Mykolaitis (team-high 67.3 scoring average, one victory) has also heavily contributed to the reining attack.

Lucy Eier (three) and Bobbie Piddock (two) have combined for each of UT Martin's five victories in horsemanship. Devon Woods also carries a team-best 71.5 scoring average in the event for the Skyhawks.

Equitation on the flat has been led by Abbie Hopkins' three victories while Randi LaChance, Monika Zoromski and Kelby Kane have each pitched in one win apiece. Hopkins and LaChance have both earned one MOP accolade while LaChance boasts a team-high 74.3 scoring average.

In equitation over fences, Kane has dialed up the Skyhawks' lone MOP performance. Kane, Zoromski and Brooke Pfeiffer have each contributed wins while Pfeiffer's 77.0 average score ranks as the best on the squad.

South Dakota State will be making its season debut this week, as the Jackrabbits were tabbed No. 10 in last week's NCEA poll before falling out of the rankings today. This week's competition will be the first of two matchups this season between UT Martin and the Jackrabbits, as the two sides will also face each other in Auburn, Ala. on Feb. 8. Ellie Wilkins enters her fourth season as South Dakota State's head coach.

In its second season as a full-fledged member of the NCEA ranks, Sweet Briar College comes to Martin with an 0-2 season record. The Vixens fell 6-3 to No. 6 SMU in their season-opener on Sept. 21 before narrowly falling 5-4 at No. 8 Delaware State on Sunday. Head coach Mimi Wroten is in her eighth season at the helm of the Sweet Briar program.