Devon Woods and Tess Baumann, both juniors on the UTM equestrian team, were spotlighted by the Eastern College Athletic Conference as Riders of the Week today. Woods earned the distinction in horsemanship while Baumann garnered the award in reining.
This marks the fifth and sixth ECAC Rider of the Week honorees for the Skyhawk program in 2019-20, as Baumann (horsemanship/reining) and Abbie Hawkins (flat/fences) also swept the awards on Sept. 25.
Together, the Western pair of Woods and Baumann helped UTM go 2-0 last week as the Skyhawks defeated South Dakota State (9-8) and No. 10 Delaware State (11-9). Both Woods and Baumann went undefeated in their respective events, helping set the tone with four big points in a pair of close victories.
An Escondido, California native, Woods obtained her first most outstanding player (MOP) of the season (third of her career) against South Dakota State last Thursday. Her season-best score of 74.5 points topped the Jackrabbitsā Callyn Fox by 1.5 points. Against No. 10 Delaware State, Woods opened up a three-point victory over Kelsey McArthur, receiving a 72.5 from the judges.
On the season, Woods sports a 71.9 scoring average to go along with two victories and a co-team-best one MOP in horsemanship.
Baumannās remarkable season continued last week, as she pushed her reining winning streak out to three. The Ellensburg, Washington product notched her seventh career MOP (third in reining) courtesy of a 72.5-point effort on Thursday against South Dakota State, winning her matchup over Morgan Allan by four points. She followed that with another decisive three-point triumph over Delaware Stateās Anastasia Brugger after a 65.5-point ride.
Baumann paces the Skyhawks in victories (three), scoring average (70.4) and is tied for the team lead with one MOP in reining this season.
UTM returns to action exactly one month from today when it travels to current No. 7 ranked South Carolina on Nov. 15
