The UTM equestrian squad dominated from start to finish today, advancing to the Eastern College Athletic Conference championship meet behind a 14-2 triumph over South Dakota State.
The Skyhawks were a perfect 8-0 in the Western discipline today, sweeping both horsemanship and reining. UTM also swept all four points in flat while generating a pair of head-to-head wins in fences.
Haley Kane brought home MOP honors today in flat as the sophomore from Lexington, Kentucky, was selected as the top rider from all four teams who competed in the semifinals. She earned her second MOP of the 2020-21 season after posting 169 points (88-81).
After the two teams split the four awarded points in fences, the Skyhawks dialed up the final dozen points of the contest. Gilman’s 154 (77-77) led the way for UTM while Abbie Hopkins also earned a victory behind a 144-point (74-70) effort.
Horsemanship was next as the four Skyhawks combined to win the event by 26.5 points. Tess Baumann (149, 74-75), Devon Woods (147.5, 73.5-74), Bailey Newlin (146.5, 72.5-74) and Lucy Eier (143.5, 71.5-72) were all victorious, resulting in a 6-2 UT Martin advantage halfway through the competition.
Kane’s MOP ride set the tone in flat as she was joined in victory by Quinn Reed (165, 78-87), Gilman (162, 81-81) and Hopkins (153, 76-77). The Skyhawks clicked on all cylinders to defeat the Jackrabbits by a 649-616 margin in that event.
Having already sealed the victory going into the final event, UTM did not let up and tallied all four points in reining. Noel Meadows (73-69.5) accumulated a team-high 142.5 points and was followed by Maggie Malone’s 139.5 (70-69.5). Hannah McDonald (139, 68.5-70.5) and Baumann (129.5, 63.5-66) additionally came through for big victories.
The third-seeded Skyhawks will now face No. 1 seed SMU for the right to be called ECAC champions tomorrow at 10 a.m. All events will be ran in the indoor arena of the Ned McWherter Agricultural Pavilion.
