Coach, Rider of the Year Nods Highlight Equestrian All-SEC Honors
April 14, 2025 | Equestrian
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Georgia equestrian graduate Sophia Pilla and head coach Meghan Boenig highlighted the annual Southeastern Conference postseason awards, as the league announced its Rider and Coach of the Year and All-SEC accolades on Monday.
Four-time SEC Coach of the Year, Boenig has led the Bulldogs since the program's inception in 2001. Throughout her tenure at the helm, Georgia has collected seven national titles, six Southern Equestrian championships and three SEC crowns. Boenig owns an 89-16 dual-meet regular season record at home. Under her tutelage, Boenig has coached 98 NCEA All-Americans, 123 All-SEC selections and 24 SEC Riders of the Year.
Following the 2025 SEC Championship, Pilla was recognized for her efforts in the classroom as the Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the third Bulldog to earn this honor. The graduate has also picked up the Flat Rider of the Year recognition for her performance in the arena this season. This is Pilla's first rider of the year nod. She has amassed a 9-3 season record, going 5-2 in conference competition. Pilla has recorded four of the top five Flat scores for the Bulldogs this season, leading the event in wins and Most Outstanding Performer honors with three.
Emma DeJong was recognized for her newcomer status, earning a spot on the All-Freshman team in Horsemanship. DeJong received the starting nod to start the spring season and competed in five meets. She rode to a career-high score of 74 at SMU, which earned her a spot on the top-10 list in the Horsemanship results this season.
An additional four Bulldogs with Pilla collected more All-SEC accolades.
Junior Tessa Brown secured a spot on the All-SEC Fences team. The Bloomfield, Connecticut native led the Bulldogs in Fences wins this season with nine. She recorded seven scores of 85 or higher to earn a pair of MOPs.
Pilla earned All-SEC Flat recognitions in addition to her other honors. This is her second All-SEC Flat award.
Junior Alyvia Dixon was awarded her first All-SEC honor with a spot on the Horsemanship team. She notched a 5-1-1 conference record, with six wins to lead the event. The Hickory Corner, Michigan native rode to her season-high score of 76 against No. 1 Auburn to tie her for the third-highest score of the season in the event. This is the 29th All-SEC Horsemanship recognition for Georgia.
Sophomore Cadence Eger earned her second career All-SEC recognition with a spot on the Reining team. Eger owns an undefeated, 3-0, conference record. She was a mainstay in the lineup before sitting out the spring season due to injury. The Marysville, Ohio native made her return to the arena at the SEC Championship.
Brown became the 10th Bulldog Equestrian to earn a spot on the SEC Community Service Team. The Public Relations majors co-heads the team's community service committee. She is responsible for organizing service opportunities for the team to give back and connect with the Athens community.
In the Fall of 2023, Brown created an initiative to become more involved with the Athens youth surrounding the UGA community though a PenPal Program. This project includes 10 fourth grade students at Barrow Elementary School. With a group of Georgia student-athletes, Brown has worked to create a relationship with the community.
In addition to the letters, she has been teaching lessons about health, balance, respect, happiness and what it means to take care of your mind and body. This goal of the program is to unite and empower young minds through a relationship that works toward growing each day. Brown was also responsible for organizing a variety of drives at Georgia Equestrian home meets. She coordinated with visiting teams to collect donations for different groups in need of supplies.
The Bulldogs are seeded seventh for the NCEA National Championship taking place at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. The Bulldogs will face two-seed Auburn in the first round on Thursday, April 17.
HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
JOIN OUR MANE DAWGS FUND: Mane Dawgs Fund contributions make a direct impact in supporting our student-athletes and equines at the Georgia Equestrian program. A gift to the Mane Dawgs fund helps provide resources such as equipment upgrades for our student and equine athletes, travel assistance, and enhance overall team experiences. Contributions to the Mane Dawgs provide benefits such as membership gifts and information about upcoming special events. Click here for more information.
Four-time SEC Coach of the Year, Boenig has led the Bulldogs since the program's inception in 2001. Throughout her tenure at the helm, Georgia has collected seven national titles, six Southern Equestrian championships and three SEC crowns. Boenig owns an 89-16 dual-meet regular season record at home. Under her tutelage, Boenig has coached 98 NCEA All-Americans, 123 All-SEC selections and 24 SEC Riders of the Year.
Following the 2025 SEC Championship, Pilla was recognized for her efforts in the classroom as the Equestrian Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the third Bulldog to earn this honor. The graduate has also picked up the Flat Rider of the Year recognition for her performance in the arena this season. This is Pilla's first rider of the year nod. She has amassed a 9-3 season record, going 5-2 in conference competition. Pilla has recorded four of the top five Flat scores for the Bulldogs this season, leading the event in wins and Most Outstanding Performer honors with three.
Emma DeJong was recognized for her newcomer status, earning a spot on the All-Freshman team in Horsemanship. DeJong received the starting nod to start the spring season and competed in five meets. She rode to a career-high score of 74 at SMU, which earned her a spot on the top-10 list in the Horsemanship results this season.
An additional four Bulldogs with Pilla collected more All-SEC accolades.
Junior Tessa Brown secured a spot on the All-SEC Fences team. The Bloomfield, Connecticut native led the Bulldogs in Fences wins this season with nine. She recorded seven scores of 85 or higher to earn a pair of MOPs.
Pilla earned All-SEC Flat recognitions in addition to her other honors. This is her second All-SEC Flat award.
Junior Alyvia Dixon was awarded her first All-SEC honor with a spot on the Horsemanship team. She notched a 5-1-1 conference record, with six wins to lead the event. The Hickory Corner, Michigan native rode to her season-high score of 76 against No. 1 Auburn to tie her for the third-highest score of the season in the event. This is the 29th All-SEC Horsemanship recognition for Georgia.
Sophomore Cadence Eger earned her second career All-SEC recognition with a spot on the Reining team. Eger owns an undefeated, 3-0, conference record. She was a mainstay in the lineup before sitting out the spring season due to injury. The Marysville, Ohio native made her return to the arena at the SEC Championship.
Brown became the 10th Bulldog Equestrian to earn a spot on the SEC Community Service Team. The Public Relations majors co-heads the team's community service committee. She is responsible for organizing service opportunities for the team to give back and connect with the Athens community.
In the Fall of 2023, Brown created an initiative to become more involved with the Athens youth surrounding the UGA community though a PenPal Program. This project includes 10 fourth grade students at Barrow Elementary School. With a group of Georgia student-athletes, Brown has worked to create a relationship with the community.
In addition to the letters, she has been teaching lessons about health, balance, respect, happiness and what it means to take care of your mind and body. This goal of the program is to unite and empower young minds through a relationship that works toward growing each day. Brown was also responsible for organizing a variety of drives at Georgia Equestrian home meets. She coordinated with visiting teams to collect donations for different groups in need of supplies.
The Bulldogs are seeded seventh for the NCEA National Championship taking place at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. The Bulldogs will face two-seed Auburn in the first round on Thursday, April 17.
HOW TO FOLLOW GEORGIA EQUESTRIAN: For complete information on Georgia equestrian, follow the team on its social media channels via @UGAEquestrian on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
JOIN OUR MANE DAWGS FUND: Mane Dawgs Fund contributions make a direct impact in supporting our student-athletes and equines at the Georgia Equestrian program. A gift to the Mane Dawgs fund helps provide resources such as equipment upgrades for our student and equine athletes, travel assistance, and enhance overall team experiences. Contributions to the Mane Dawgs provide benefits such as membership gifts and information about upcoming special events. Click here for more information.
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