BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference has announced its 2015 equestrian awards, recognizing standout performances throughout the past season. The awards were voted on by the league's four head coaches and announced on Tuesday.
The SEC Riders of the Year included: Auburn's Elizabeth Benson (Equitation Over Fences); Georgia's Kylee Arbuckle (Equitation On the Flat); Georgia's Paige Stawicki (Horsemanship); and Georgia's Lauren Garmon (Reining).
The SEC Freshman Riders of the Year included: Texas A&M's Alex Desiderio (Equitation Over Fences); Georgia's Addyson Cord (Equitation On The Flat); Georgia's Bailey Anderson (Horsemanship); and Georgia's Kyndall Harper (Reining).
Desiderio posted an 8-5 record in equitation over fences, which tied her for the most wins on her team in that event. She holds her team's second-highest score of the season at 86. Six of Desiderio's eight wins came against top-10 programs and four of those were by a double-digit margin.
2015 SEC Equestrian Awards
Coach of the Year: Meghan Boenig, Georgia
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Allie Dusha, Auburn
Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Year: Elizabeth Benson, Auburn
Equitation On The Flat Rider of the Year: Kylee Arbuckle, Georgia
Horsemanship Rider of the Year: Paige Stawicki, Georgia
Reining Rider of the Year: Lauren Garmon, Georgia
Freshman Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Year: Alex Desiderio, Texas A&M
Freshman Equitation On The Flat Rider of the Year: Addyson Cord, Georgia
Freshman Horsemanship Rider of the Year: Bailey Anderson, Georgia
Freshman Reining Rider of the Year: Kyndall Harper, Georgia