University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Collect SEC Rider of the Year and All-SEC Honors
April 12, 2024 | Equestrian
ATHENS, Ga. --- The No. 5 Georgia equestrian team won three SEC Rider of the Year awards and eight Bulldogs were honored by the Southeastern Conference for their efforts this season as the league announced its postseason awards Thursday.
Junior Jillian Stopperich was named the SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year, marking the first time a Bulldog has received the distinction since 2016. Tessa Downey and Cadence Eger were named the SEC Fences and Reining Riders of the Year, respectively.
Stopperich rode to a 12-2 overall record and went undefeated against SEC opponents in the regular season to be named the SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year. She also collected NCEA First Team All-America honors. The Venetia, Pa. product won three MOP honors and scored an average of 74.7. Her score of 77.5 against Texas A&M tied for the highest among SEC riders this season. She picked up one SEC Rider of the Month accolade this season. She was also placed on the All-SEC team for the third time of her career.
Downey was named Freshman Fences of the Year after compiling a 6-2-1 overall record and going 2-1-1 against SEC opponents in the regular season. She added two more wins at the SEC Championship. The Houston native rode to four scores of 85 or better, three times against SEC opponents, and a high score of 88 against Auburn.
Eger was named the Freshman Reining Rider of the Year after competing in five meets this season, three of which were against SEC opponents. The Marysville, Ohio product won MOP honors against South Carolina and rode to an average score of 68.8.
Both rookies were also named to the SEC All-Freshman teams in their respective events.
An additional five Bulldogs collected six more All-SEC accolades for a total of nine honors.
Catalina Peralta secured a spot on the All-SEC Fences and Flat teams. The native of Geneva, Fla. compiled a 9-4-1 overall record and claimed five MOP honors and was also placed on the NCEA All-America First Team for Fences. She rode to an average score of 85.6 and had an average win margin of 1.5. She received two SEC Rider of the Month accolades and one from the NCEA. In Flat she also rode to a 9-4-1 record with three MOP honors. She rode to 10 scores of 85 or better.
Jordan Toering earned a spot on the Flat team for the Bulldogs. She rode to a 10-3-1 overall record and collected one MOP honor. The Waterford, Va. native notched a high score of 94 at Baylor, which was the highest score among all SEC Flat riders during the regular season, and had an average win margin of 5.5. She was also named to the NCEA All-America First Team. This is the second All-SEC Flat honor for Toering, who also has one recognition in Fences.
Sophomores Shelby Lynch and Raegan Shepherd and senior Hannah Jane Lucas were named to the All-SEC Reining Team.
Lynch, a native of McLean, Ill. compiled a 10-4 overall record. She won one MOP honor posted a season-high 71.5 against Oklahoma State.
Shepherd rode to a 8-4-2 overall record. The Clayton, N.C. native went 3-3 during the regular season against SEC opponents and 1-1 at the Championship, winning one MOP honor.
Lucas, a product of Ridgeway, S.C., went 5-2 overall this season. She won MOP honors in all four rides she won during the regular season, two of which were against SEC foes. She rode to an average score of 70.5 and collected one SEC Rider of the Month nod.
The Bulldogs are seeded fifth for the NCEA National Championship taking place April 18-20 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. The Bulldogs will face four-seed Texas A&M in the first round on Thursday, April 18 at 8:30 a.m.
Junior Jillian Stopperich was named the SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year, marking the first time a Bulldog has received the distinction since 2016. Tessa Downey and Cadence Eger were named the SEC Fences and Reining Riders of the Year, respectively.
Stopperich rode to a 12-2 overall record and went undefeated against SEC opponents in the regular season to be named the SEC Horsemanship Rider of the Year. She also collected NCEA First Team All-America honors. The Venetia, Pa. product won three MOP honors and scored an average of 74.7. Her score of 77.5 against Texas A&M tied for the highest among SEC riders this season. She picked up one SEC Rider of the Month accolade this season. She was also placed on the All-SEC team for the third time of her career.
Downey was named Freshman Fences of the Year after compiling a 6-2-1 overall record and going 2-1-1 against SEC opponents in the regular season. She added two more wins at the SEC Championship. The Houston native rode to four scores of 85 or better, three times against SEC opponents, and a high score of 88 against Auburn.
Eger was named the Freshman Reining Rider of the Year after competing in five meets this season, three of which were against SEC opponents. The Marysville, Ohio product won MOP honors against South Carolina and rode to an average score of 68.8.
Both rookies were also named to the SEC All-Freshman teams in their respective events.
An additional five Bulldogs collected six more All-SEC accolades for a total of nine honors.
Catalina Peralta secured a spot on the All-SEC Fences and Flat teams. The native of Geneva, Fla. compiled a 9-4-1 overall record and claimed five MOP honors and was also placed on the NCEA All-America First Team for Fences. She rode to an average score of 85.6 and had an average win margin of 1.5. She received two SEC Rider of the Month accolades and one from the NCEA. In Flat she also rode to a 9-4-1 record with three MOP honors. She rode to 10 scores of 85 or better.
Jordan Toering earned a spot on the Flat team for the Bulldogs. She rode to a 10-3-1 overall record and collected one MOP honor. The Waterford, Va. native notched a high score of 94 at Baylor, which was the highest score among all SEC Flat riders during the regular season, and had an average win margin of 5.5. She was also named to the NCEA All-America First Team. This is the second All-SEC Flat honor for Toering, who also has one recognition in Fences.
Sophomores Shelby Lynch and Raegan Shepherd and senior Hannah Jane Lucas were named to the All-SEC Reining Team.
Lynch, a native of McLean, Ill. compiled a 10-4 overall record. She won one MOP honor posted a season-high 71.5 against Oklahoma State.
Shepherd rode to a 8-4-2 overall record. The Clayton, N.C. native went 3-3 during the regular season against SEC opponents and 1-1 at the Championship, winning one MOP honor.
Lucas, a product of Ridgeway, S.C., went 5-2 overall this season. She won MOP honors in all four rides she won during the regular season, two of which were against SEC foes. She rode to an average score of 70.5 and collected one SEC Rider of the Month nod.
The Bulldogs are seeded fifth for the NCEA National Championship taking place April 18-20 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. The Bulldogs will face four-seed Texas A&M in the first round on Thursday, April 18 at 8:30 a.m.
Players Mentioned
Jumping Seat
/ Equestrian
Western
/ Equestrian
Western
/ Equestrian
Western
/ Equestrian
Jumping Seat
/ Equestrian
Western
/ Equestrian
Western
/ Equestrian
Jumping Seat
/ EquestrianGeorgia Equestrian vs. Auburn Postgame Interview
Friday, November 21
Georgia Equestrian at Texas A&M Postgame Video Recap
Saturday, November 08
Georgia Equestrian vs. UC Davis Postgame Interview
Saturday, October 25
Georgia Equestrian vs. South Carolina Postgame Interview
Friday, October 24