JACKRABBITS OUSTED BY TOP-SEEDED UT MARTIN

Friday, March 28

Martin, Tenn.

10 a.m.

South Dakota State University

UT Martin

Lillie Wallis Equestrian Reining Photo 2025-03

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

3/28/2025 8:24:00 PM | Equestrian

MARTIN, Tenn. — The South Dakota State equestrian team went down to the wire against top-seeded UT Martin in the ECAC semifinals, but finished their season with an 11-9 loss Friday. The fourth-seeded Jackrabbits end the year 4-9 in head-to-head competition.

UT Martin, 7-6 overall, took fences, 3-2, featuring an 84-point ride by the Skyhawks' Kate Mills against Sarah Gould, who scored an 82. Gabby Adams notched a win over Hannah Steele, 80-78, while Bridget Vieau took down Isabelle Malick, 76-68.

Samantha Aisenberg and Juliana Gullo defeated their opponents for the Jackrabbits' two points in fences. Aisenberg outscored Emerson Maier, 79-77, and Gullo won 78-75 over Elizabeth Becker.

Similar to fences, UT Martin took the flat discipline, 3-2, but SDSU's Gullo went home with the Most Outstanding Performer award after she beat Vieau, 79.5-74.5. Steele tallied SDSU's other point with a win over Rileigh Weiss, 75-66.

For UT Martin, Payton Lussen took down Kayla Scherer, 69-65.5; Becker beat Elizabeth Wagner, 72-67.5, and Adams out-rode Kendyl Rudolf, 72-70, to round out flat.

In horsemanship, the Jacks scored three of the five points with riders Paige Wellendorf, Brighton McBride and Hannah Dutton each scoring. Wellendorf beat Lillian Laney, 73-67.75; McBride was victorious over Ava Newsom, 72.5-69.5, and Dutton notched a win against Lexi Bailey, 71-69.

Skyhawk rider Kate Davis scored the event high of 73.75 in horsemanship to beat Grace Gerbus and her score of 72.25 while Anna Minich fell to Mia McAfoos, 74-72.

SDSU scored the first two points in the reining discipline, but Logan Putvinski, Elise Mason and Davis swept the final three rides to give UT Martin the win.

Putvinski beat Emma Riggs, 70-69.5; Mason scored against Ada Hirschfeld, 68.25-65.75, and Davis earned the MOP by beating Lydia Loken, 71-69.

Lillie Wallis and Emilie Strahm scored for the Jacks as Wallis beat Aubrey Malone, 69.75-67.25, and Strahm's ride of 67 earned her a win over Bailey's 64.5.

UT Martin will face defending champion UC Davis in Saturday's championship competition.

UT MARTIN 11, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 9
Fences
Samantha Aisenberg (SDSU) def. Emerson Maier (UTM), 79-77 [Doug]
*Kate Mills (UTM) def. Sarah Gould (SDSU), 84-82 [Ziggy]
Gabby Adams (UTM) def. Hannah Steele (SDSU), 80-78 [Archie]
Juliana Gullo (SDSU) def. Elizabeth Becker (UTM), 78-75 [Zazu]
Bridget Vieau (UTM) def. Isabelle Malick (SDSU), 76-68 [Denny]
Flat
Payton Lussen (UTM) def. Kayla Scherer (SDSU), 69-65.5 [Pickles]
*Juliana Gullo (SDSU) def. Bridget Vieau (UTM), 79.5-74.5 [Pork Chop]
Elizabeth Becker (UTM) def. Elizabeth Wagner (SDSU), 72-67.5 [Rebel]
Hannah Steele (SDSU) def. Rileigh Weiss (UTM), 75-66.5 [Finn]
Gabby Adams (UTM) def. Kendyl Rudolf (SDSU), 72-70 [Chad]
Horsemanship
*Kate Davis (UTM) def. Grace Gerbus (SDSU), 73.75-72.25 [Winnie]
Paige Wellendorf (SDSU) def. Lillian Laney (UTM), 73-67.75 [Jim]
Brighton McBride (SDSU) def. Ava Newsom (UTM), 72.5-69.5 [Dinero]
Hannah Dutton (SDSU) def. Lexi Bailey (UTM), 71-69 [Luke]
Mia McAfoos (UTM) def. Anna Minich (SDSU), 74-72 [Lance]
Reining
Lillie Wallis (SDSU) def. Aubrey Malone (UTM), 69.75-67.25 [Scarlet]
Emilie Strahm (SDSU) def. Lexi Bailey (UTM), 67-64.5 [Ruby]
Logan Putvinski (UTM) def. Emma Riggs (SDSU), 70-69.5 [Amos]
Elise Mason (UTM) def. Ada Hirschfeld (SDSU), 68.25-66.75 [Cobra]
*Kate Davis (UTM) def. Lydia Loken (SDSU), 71-69 [Chloe]
Notes: * denotes Most Outstanding Performer (MOP); horse's names in brackets

-GoJacks.com-