COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina equestrian team moved up in this week’s coaches poll, as the Gamecocks are now the No. 1 team in the country for the first time since 2009.
The Gamecocks are off to a 3-0 start this season, South Carolina’s best start to a season in the dual meet era. The Gamecocks have wins over No. 6 Oklahoma State, No. 2 Auburn, and the Gamecocks defeated then-No. 1 Georgia, 11-8, on Nov. 2 at the UGA Equestrian Complex. With this year being the first season of SEC Equestrian, the Gamecocks have a perfect 2-0 conference record, and are the first team in the SEC to have two conference wins.
South Carolina last held the No. 1 spot in the coaches poll in 2009, when the Gamecocks were the top-ranked team for two weeks, before dropping to No. 2.
The Gamecocks received nine of ten first place votes in this week’s poll. Georgia received the other first place vote.
The Gamecocks will put their new ranking on the line this weekend as South Carolina will travel to Texas to compete in three meets in three days. Friday, the Gamecocks will face No. 4 Texas A&M at 3 p.m. ET at the Brazos County Expo Complex. The Aggies are the defending national champion, and also the defending Western national champion. Saturday, the Gamecocks will head to Waco to compete against No. 8 Baylor at the Willis Family Equestrian Center. Baylor is the defending Hunter Seat national champion, and in last year’s regular season meeting between the two teams, Carolina shut out Baylor’s Hunt Seat squad, 10-0, en route to a 15-4 overall victory. Sunday, the Gamecocks close out the road trip and the fall portion of their schedule when they travel to face No. 10 SMU at BuckBranch Farm in Wilmer.
The collegiate coaches competing under the National Collegiate Equestrian Association umbrella initiated the national poll. The final poll of the fall will be released on Nov. 28.
Women’s Intercollegiate Equestrian National Coaches Poll Ranking/Team/Points
1. South Carolina (99)
2. Auburn (88)
3. Georgia (77)
4. Texas A&M (68)
5. Kansas State (59)
6. Oklahoma State (49)
7. Texas Christian (38)
8. Baylor (31)
9. New Mexico State (11)
10. Southern Methodist (8)
Receiving votes – Fresno State (7), Tennesssee-Martin (7), South Dakota State (6),Delaware State (1).
