SWEEP IN FENCES PROPELS SDSU PAST HORNETS

Saturday, February 7

Brookings, S.D.

11:30 a.m.

South Dakota State University

Delaware State

A South Dakota State equestrian rider competes in the jumping seat event of fences as the horse clears a barrier.

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

2/7/2026 8:27:00 PM | Equestrian

South Dakota State opened with a sweep in fences and held off Delaware State, 11-8, Saturday to close out a weekend of collegiate equestrian competition at the DeHaan Equestrian Center.

With the win, the Jackrabbits improved to 4-5 overall in head-to-head competition and 4-2 against ECAC opponents. The victory also marked the first for SDSU under new head coach Julia Werkhoven. Coupled with a 9-5 loss earlier in the day to TCU, Delaware State dropped to 2-4-1 overall and 2-2 versus ECAC foes.

The Jackrabbits built a big early lead by winning all five matchups in fences. Each of SDSU's riders tallied at least 77 points in the event, with Most Outstanding Performer Sarah Gould leading the way with a score of 87 aboard Thomas. Isabelle Malick also topped the 80-point mark with an 81. Brooke Borges (79), Juliana Gullo (78) and Heidi White (77) notched the other Jackrabbit victories.

As a team, SDSU racked up a season-high 402 points in the fences category.

Delaware State trimmed the deficit to 6-3 at the halfway mark by winning three of the four points awarded in horsemanship. Grace Gerbus was the lone winner for the Jackrabbits with a score of 77 on Snaps. Anna Minich tied the Hornets' Madison Wojcek with a score of 71.

The Jackrabbits regained the momentum with a 3-2 advantage in reining. Hailey Hanson led the way with a score of 71.5 on JoJo, while Lillie Wallis (71) and Adisyn Kuxhaus (70.5) also posted winning scores. Kuxhaus, was selected as the reining MOP, improved to a team-best 6-2-1 in head-to-head matchups this season.

Gullo and White each turned in their second victories of the day with wins in flat as SDSU recorded another team-high total with 409 points. A senior from Itasca, Illinois, Gullo secured the Jackrabbit victory by winning her matchup with a score of 88 on Mack. White, a freshman from Senoia, Georgia, claimed an 84-77 victory over Sarah Hoffmeyer on Elton.

UP NEXT
South Dakota State wraps up the home portion of its schedule Feb. 21 versus UC Davis. Start time for the Senior Day competition is tentatively slated for 9 a.m.

#10 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 11, DELAWARE STATE 8
Fences
Isabelle Malick (SDSU) def. Elizabeth Hopkins (DSU), 81-75 [Mambo]
Heidi White (SDSU) def. Kendall Very (DSU), 77-40 [Sunday]
*Sarah Gould (SDSU) def. Grace Mangrum (DSU), 87-85 [Thomas]
Brooke Borges (SDSU) def. Lily Kosal (DSU), 79-41 [Archie]
Juliana Gullo (SDSU) def. Melisa Acker (DSU), 78-76 [Charlie]
Flat
Juliana Gullo (SDSU) def. Lily Kosal (DSU), 88-74 [Mack]
*Kendall Very (DSU) def. Isabelle Malick (SDSU), 88-80 [Leo]
Grace Mangrum (DSU) def. Kayla Scherer (SDSU), 79-72 [Mia]
Elizabeth Hopkins (DSU) def. Sierra Elliott (SDSU), 87-85 [Chase]
Heidi White (SDSU) def. Sarah Hoffmeyer (DSU), 84-77 [Elton]
Demo Ride: Lucy Puhalla (SDSU), 58 [Nemo]
Horsemanship
Grace Gerbus (SDSU) def. Paityn Holm (DSU), 77-69.5 [Snaps]
Kirsten Buckwalter (DSU) def. Hailey Hanson (SDSU), 69-68.5 [Knight]
Emily Firth (DSU) def. Avery Bergan (SDSU), 77-74 [Bullitt]
Anna Minich (SDSU) tied Madison Wojcek (DSU), 71-71 [Chip]
*Claire Andrews (DSU) def. Hannah Dutton (SDSU), 76.5-70 [Sweet Pea]
Demo Rides: Kathleen Schmitz (SDSU), 67/71 [Igor]
Reining
*Adisyn Kuxhaus (SDSU) def. Bailey Henderson (DSU), 70.5-68.5 [Rooster]
Estella Estus (DSU) def. Maryn Mead (SDSU), 70-68.5 [Aggie]
Anna Payne (DSU) def. Emma Riggs (SDSU), 67.5-66.5 [Snoop]
Lillie Wallis (SDSU) def. Cambrey Hedges (DSU), 71-70 [Lash]
Hailey Hanson (SDSU) def. Claire Andrews (DSU), 71.5-69.5 [JoJo]
Notes: * denotes Most Outstanding Performer (MOP); horses' names in brackets

-GoJacks.com-