Friday, September 26, 2025 – 9 a.m. CT
No. 2 SMU at No. 4 South Carolina
One Wood Farm - Blythewood, S.C.
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DALLAS (SMU) – SMU Equestrian is set to start the 2025-26 season with a road battle against South Carolina on Friday, September 26 at 9 a.m. CT.
The Mustangs will travel to Blythewood, S.C. to face the Gamecocks for the first time since the NCEA Championship semifinals. Last time out, SMU defeated South Carolina 15-5 to advance to its third straight NCEA Championship title meet. The score is the largest margin of victory in the series. The two teams have a series record of 7-4 (since 2014) with SMU taking the last five wins dating back to September 22, 2018.
Last season, the Mustangs posted a 12-5 record and ended the season ranked second nationally. They made it all the way to the national title meet, ultimately falling to Georgia 8-12.
The Mustangs return 26 riders from last season's squad, including two All-Americans in Augusta Iwasaki (Flat) and Alexa Black (Horsemanship).The roster also consists of six members of the 2024-25 NCEA All-Championship Team, featuring Iwasaki, Black, Hannah Hoch, Violet Shetler, Sara Beth Filiatreau and Addi Schmersal. The team welcomes ten new riders for the 2025-26 campaign, eight freshmen and two sophomores.
Brad Kearns returns for his second season as SMU's head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the three seasons prior. The coaching staff is strengthened by Jumping Seat Coach Laura Persons, returning for her fifth season with the Mustangs, and new addition Western Coach Cathy Woosley Luse.
