The Georgia Equestrian team captured their eighth national title in Ocala, Florida two weekends ago—the most by any program in the nation! With this dominance in the sport, head coach Meghan Boenig’s legacy is cemented in Georgia lore as one of the great coaches to lead the red and black.
I attended former men’s tennis head coach Manny Diaz’s retirement party at the Georgia Theatre a few weeks ago. Athletic Director Josh Brooks alongside Governor Brian Kemp, MC Jeff Dantzler and many others spoke at the ceremony, recognizing Coach Diaz’s legendary run as head coach at Georgia. Two years prior, former women’s tennis head coach Jeff Wallace held his retirement party at the same venue with many of the same faces in attendance.
At Coach Diaz’s ceremony, Athletic Director Brooks noted all of his coaches shouldn’t get this notion that they are guaranteed an event like Diaz and Wallace’s at their retirements. They have to win like Diaz and Wallace did with tons of SEC crowns, multiple national titles, countless All-Americans, numerous professionals at the next level and unprecedented success.
Well, it’s safe to say, Coach Boenig, you have earned one of these ceremonies come retirement, but don’t hang up the saddle yet… Win the Bulldogs a few more national championships before calling it!
“It’s just grateful, gratitude, it’s that final breath, it’s the realization of a dream, it is a legacy continued,” said Boenig following her eighth title. “This means we have another class again, not leaving without a championship ring.”
Boeing arrived on campus in October 2001 as the first head coach of the newly added 21st varsity sport at UGA: equestrian. In her time, she has captured eight national titles, six Southern Equestrian championships, seven reserve championships and three Southeastern Conference titles. Talk about a resumé…
This 2025 team, however, might be her most impressive job to date. In the regular season, the Bulldogs were 7-5. The stacked SEC with then No. 1 Auburn (11-2 overall) and No. 5 Texas A&M (7-6 overall) provided a gauntlet of a schedule. Georgia went 1-1 against both aforementioned opponents in the regular season, but the Aggies bounced the Bulldogs from the SEC tournament in an early first round exit.
Boeing and her 2025 squad got their revenge.
Slated for a first round bout with No. 2 Auburn, Georgia upset the Tigers 13-4. Next, the daunting No. 6 Aggies awaited. Georgia’s dominance in upset fashion carried over to the second round, taking down Texas A&M 16-4.
Then, for all the marbles, it was No. 1 SMU, the back-to-back defending national champs, in the 2025 NCEA national championship. The Bulldogs sealed the Reigning competition 3-2 with a career high 72.2 from sophomore Kennedy Buchanan and a season high 72.7 from sophomore Cadence Eger. Georgia then swept the Flat competition 5-0 for the second meet in a row, and Tessa Downey’s 90 on Fences secured the national title for Georgia.
The Bulldogs claimed the English competition 8-2 and defeated the Mustangs 12-8 overall to bring home the NCEA trophy.
UnderDawgs, you might call them. Boeing and her team weren’t surprised, however. This was hard work, dedication and gratitude for the sport that earned the Dawgs their second title in five years!
“These ladies, these two seniors sitting beside me, they’ve set a tone for this postseason that was just absolutely phenomenal and coming in here and just laying down ride after ride,” said Boenig. “In some ways, I don’t feel surprised. The foot that’s been on the gas at the end of this tournament here, but in other ways, the work that goes into it, the dedication that these guys have brought, I just would sum it up with so much gratitude.”
Boenig was also inducted to the NCEA Hall of Fame on Friday before claiming her eighth title.
The legend of Meghan Boenig is forever engraved in collegiate equestrian!