Caroline Gute Named NCEA Reining Rider of the Year
South Carolina equestrian senior Caroline Gute has been named the National Collegiate Equestrian Association’s Reining Rider of the Year, NCEA officials announced on Tuesday.
“Caroline has worked very hard this year in both horsemanship and reining with reining being her specialty,” head coach Boo Major said. “Her commitment to the team and always trying to improve led her to this award. It is most rewarding that the coaches of the NCEA thought highly enough of Caroline to name her the reining rider of the year. Assistant coach Jennifer McGrath has done a great job in her first season with us improving our team and it is apparent with Caroline receiving this honor. What a great way for her to end her four-year career here at South Carolina.”
In her swan song season Gute posted a 10-1-1 record in reining, leading the Gamecocks in wins. Gute notched one Most Outstanding Player honor this season in her win 74-64 win over Auburn’s Jen Kasper on Oct. 25, bringing Gute’s career reining M.O.P. total to 10, the third highest total in the program history and just one behind the program record of 11.
Gute wraps up her Gamecock career as one of the most decorated reining riders in program history, with her NCEA Reining Rider of the Year honor putting the exclamation point on a loaded résumé. As a freshman Gute won the SEC Reining Rider of the Year award to go along with her NCEA All-America First Team honor for the year. The Dublin, Ohio native continued her stellar riding through her sophomore and junior seasons racking up more wins as she climbed the leaderboard for reining wins in a career. With her 10 wins this season Gute moved up to 39 career wins, tied for second in program history.
It wasn’t just the competition arena where Gute shined, however, as she earned NCEA and SEC academic honors every year she was eligible. Caroline Gute leaves Columbia with a slew of awards and honors, truly one of the best Gamecocks to ever wear a pair of spurs.
