SKYHAWK EQUESTRIAN RANKED 10TH IN NCEA PRESEASON POLL
9/14/2021 2:00:00 PM | Equestrian
MARTIN, Tenn. – Just 10 days ahead of its season opener, the University of Tennessee at Martin is making national waves as the Skyhawks were voted 10th in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association preseason top-10 rankings.
Auburn will enter the 2021-22 campaign ranked No. 1 and is followed by No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 SMU, No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 6 TCU, No. 7 Fresno State, No. 8 Baylor, No. 9 South Carolina and No. 10 UT Martin.
Under the direction of reigning Eastern College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Kim Leiter, the Skyhawks return 30 riders from last season's squad and welcome in eight newcomers. Six of those returners (Mahalia Alascio, Paige Benson, Julia Gilman, Haley Kane, Maggie Malone and Katelyn Schultz) gained valuable experience as members of the UT Martin lineup in 2020-21, combining for 19 victories and six MOP accolades.
Last spring, the Skyhawks went 3-5 – with two of those losses coming in raw points tiebreakers – against a stacked schedule that included three nationally ranked opponents. UT Martin brought home the ECAC reserve championship after making its first ECAC Championship finals appearance, falling to eventual national runner-up SMU in the title matchup.
The Skyhawks kick off the 2021-22 season at home, hosting No. 8 Baylor on Friday, Sept. 24 at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
Auburn will enter the 2021-22 campaign ranked No. 1 and is followed by No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 SMU, No. 4 Oklahoma State, No. 5 Texas A&M, No. 6 TCU, No. 7 Fresno State, No. 8 Baylor, No. 9 South Carolina and No. 10 UT Martin.
Under the direction of reigning Eastern College Athletic Conference Coach of the Year Kim Leiter, the Skyhawks return 30 riders from last season's squad and welcome in eight newcomers. Six of those returners (Mahalia Alascio, Paige Benson, Julia Gilman, Haley Kane, Maggie Malone and Katelyn Schultz) gained valuable experience as members of the UT Martin lineup in 2020-21, combining for 19 victories and six MOP accolades.
Last spring, the Skyhawks went 3-5 – with two of those losses coming in raw points tiebreakers – against a stacked schedule that included three nationally ranked opponents. UT Martin brought home the ECAC reserve championship after making its first ECAC Championship finals appearance, falling to eventual national runner-up SMU in the title matchup.
The Skyhawks kick off the 2021-22 season at home, hosting No. 8 Baylor on Friday, Sept. 24 at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
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