The annual Green and Gold Scrimmage at Baylor University’s Willis Family Equestrian Center brought together the Baylor equestrian teams, with Team Green emerging victorious over Team Gold with a score of 10-7. The event showcased a variety of competitions, with Team Green dominating in certain categories and Team Gold showing strength in others.
The scrimmage kicked off with the Fences event, where Team Green’s Lila Badham displayed exceptional talent, earning the Most Outstanding Performer (MOP) title with a score of 75 on her horse, Teddy. The Green team took a 4-2 lead in this segment, highlighted by impressive performances from Morgan McCarthy, who scored 76 on Petey, and Sofia Barquin, who secured a 69 against Gold’s Lily Anthes. Overall, the Green team capitalized on their strengths in both Fences and Flat events.
In Reining, however, it was a different story for Team Gold. Despite strong individual performances, the event ended without added points, marking a notable dip in team scores. Chloe Cannon and Issy Hildebrandt delivered respectable scores of 70 and 72, respectively, but the overall performance highlighted areas for growth within the Gold team.
The Flat event saw Team Gold rally back, with standout performances from several riders. Anthes achieved an impressive score of 82, surpassing Badham, and Barquin also excelled. McCarthy continued her strong showing for the Green team, topping the competition with an 84. Ultimately, the standings showed a balance of power, with Green securing an overall 8-3 score in Jumping Seat.
Horsemanship added another layer of excitement, where Team Gold claimed a 4-2 lead. Gold’s Addison Webb and MOP Anna Thron illuminated the event with strong scores, indicating their potential as key players as the season progresses. Thron’s determination and positive outlook reflected the team’s spirit as they prepared for upcoming challenges.
Head Coach Casie Maxwell commented on the scrimmage’s role in setting a foundation for the season, acknowledging both strengths and areas to improve. She emphasized the importance of using this preliminary competition to address weaknesses ahead of facing tough SEC rivals.
Senior Anna Thron echoed her coach’s sentiments, describing the scrimmage as a promising start that set a positive tone for the year. She expressed pride in her teammates’ collaborative spirit and highlighted the importance of building upon their strengths while addressing any shortcomings.
Looking ahead, the Baylor equestrian team is gearing up for its regular season opener against Georgia on October 3, followed by a match against Auburn. The team will also face conference rival TCU before returning home to compete against Fresno State on Halloween.
For updates and more information on Baylor Equestrian, fans are encouraged to follow the team’s social media channels.
