UT Martin Sweeps Western MOP’s Against Defending National Champion Georgia

Friday, January 30

Martin, Tenn.

9:30 a.m.

UT Martin

Georgia

Photo by: Ellie Wilburn

UT Martin Sweeps Western MOP’s Against Defending National Champion Georgia

1/30/2026 8:04:00 PM | Equestrian

Results

MARTIN, Tenn. – The 2025-26 spring opener for the University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian squad took place today at the Ned McWherter Agricultural Complex as the Skyhawks put up a fight but fell 13-5 to No. 2 Georgia.

UT Martin saw Ruby Gunderson and Claire Carpenter earn MOP honors in the Western discipline as Gunderson accrued 73 points in horsemanship and Carpenter generated 68.5 points in reining. It marked the team-high fourth win and first MOP of the season for Gunderson while Carpenter nabbed her team-best fourth triumph and second MOP medal.

Overall, the Western discipline was a draw as the Skyhawks and Bulldogs each tallied four head-to-head wins with a pair of ties. UT Martin won two decisions (with a tie) in horsemanship, two (and a tie) in reining and one in flat. Overall, Georgia narrowly edged the Skyhawks in raw score (1,447 to 1,445).

Gunderson's MOP effort led the way for UT Martin in horsemanship while Olivia Wynn came away with her third win of the season via a score of 73.5 points. Ava Jo Glenn established a career-high with 76.5 points on the way to a draw while Kailyn Veale (71 points, 0.5 away from a draw) and Carpenter (62) also represented the Skyhawks in that event.

In reining, Carpenter's MOP guided a strong performance for UT Martin. Payton Bundy (62.5 points) notched her team-best fourth win after her opponent received a no-score. Elise Mason's 70.5 points equaled her head-to-head competitor while Stevie Brown (68 points) and Abby Tibbits (63.5) completed the Skyhawk scoring.

Kathleen DeGenova struck for her team-best third win of the 2025-26 campaign in flat, dialing up 77 points. Lydia Jordan (team-best 81 points), Shelby Davis (75), Kate Mills (71) and Averey Pritchard (career-high 69) additionally took part in flat for UT Martin.

The Skyhawks turned in solid rides in fences, paced by a career-best scores out of Daphne Stavig (85) and Audrey Morris (84). Pritchard amassed a score of 82 points while DeGenova and Mills posted 72 and 60 points, respectively.

UT Martin returns to the arena tomorrow as its matchup against No. 1 Auburn has been pushed up to 9:30 a.m.