COLUMBIA, S.C. –The University of Tennessee at Martin is receiving votes in the preseason Women’s Intercollegiate Equestrian National Coaches Poll.
Meanwhile, the Southeastern Conference era in equestrian does not officially begin until next week, but one thing is clear – the SEC teams are getting some early respect. All four SEC schools claimed the top four spots in the preseason coaches poll, with Georgia and Texas A&M tied at No. 1. Adding to the drama – the Bulldogs and Aggies will compete in the first ever SEC meet on Sept. 30.
Auburn will begin the season ranked third, while South Carolina comes off its Southern Equestrian Championship debuting at No. 4.
Defending Big-12 champion Oklahoma State is ranked fifth, as the Cowgirls open their season with back-to-back road meets at Auburn (Sept. 28) and South Carolina (Sept. 29). The Cowgirls are the only Big-12 school that will compete at an SEC school this year.
Baylor debuts at No. 6, as the Bears look to defend their Hunt Seat championship from a season ago. Baylor assistant Hunt Seat coach Stacy Lane-Sanderson was named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association’s Coach of the Year last season, after the Bears made an impressive postseason run to win the school’s first ever Hunt Seat title.
Kansas State is ranked seventh and begins its season with back-to-back home meets against SMU and UT Martin on Sept. 28-29.
TCU moved in to a new facility over the summer, and will open it on Sept. 23 when the eighth-ranked Horned Frogs host New Mexico State. Fresno State is ranked ninth in the preseason poll, and New Mexico State will debut at No. 10.
The poll will be released bi-monthly with the next announcement scheduled for Oct. 3, 2012.
Rank Team Points
T1. Georgia 82
T1. Texas A&M 82
3. Auburn 63
4. South Carolina 61
5. Oklahoma State 57
6. Baylor 40
7. Kansas State 35
8. TCU 31
9. Fresno State 13
10. New Mexico State 12
Receiving votes –SMU (8), Delaware State (5), UT Martin (3), South Dakota State (2), West Texas A&M (1)