UMC Western Equestrian Earns Reserve Regional Team Championship

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UMC Western Equestrian Earns Reserve Regional Team Championship; Guimont Advances to IHSA Semi-Finals

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston western equestrian team finished off their Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) by earning Reserve Team Champion honors in the region at end of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities show Saturday. They followed that up with Amanda Guimont (Sr., Nowthen, Minn.) advanced to the Western Semifinals in Findlay, Ohio after a strong showing at IHSA Regionals.

“I could not be happier with this team,” said Head Coach Kayla Krueger. The love they have for the sport, as well as the support they show one another could not be stronger. Even though our season did not finish with a Regional Championship, we are determined to learn from our mistakes and come back next Fall ready to claim the title.”

The weekend started out with the Golden Eagles putting up a strong showing at the University of Minnesota show. Saturday’s competition was the last day for UMC to accumulate team points before the Regional Championship could be awarded. Amanda Guimont (Sr., Nowthen, Minn.) and Chloe Nelson (Sr., Little Falls, Minn.) started out the day with fantastic rides in Open Reining. Both riders went one and two with Guimont finishing second and Nelson winning the class.

Katie Warner (So., Warba, Minn.) made her debut in Advanced Horsemanship and finished with a solid second place. The sophomore has flown through the division double pointing out this season in the Intermediate and Novice division. Cathy Ackroyd (Fr., Spirit Lake, Iowa) also had a strong showing to win her section of Advanced Horsemanship. Ackroyd entered the day needing five points to qualify for regionals which she managed to do with ease.

Freshman Anna Johnson rode to a flawless first-place finish in her section of Intermediate Horsemanship. Hannah Copple (Fr., Rochester, Minn.) rode confidently to a well-earned second-place finish in her section of Intermediate Horsemanship. Lastly, Skyla Knudtson (Fr., Blooming Prairie, Minn.) continued to dominate the walk trot class, riding boldly to a first-place finish.

The Golden Eagles were able to earn the Reserve Champion in the region after their performance on Saturday.

Minnesota Crookston had seven riders qualify for the IHSA Regional Championship on Sunday. Guimont started off the day with an excellent go in the Individual Reining. Her talent for the event showed through, greatly allowing her to win the class. Guimont advances to the western semi-finals March 19-20 in Findlay, Ohio.

The rest of the day was filled with strong rides as well as solid learning experiences. Nelson and Guimont were just shy of moving on to the semi-finals with Nelson finishing third and Guimont in fourth in Open Horsemanship. Ackroyd finished fourth in Advanced Horsemanship. After a strong ride in the Novice Horsemanship pre-lims, Warner made the finals in Novice Horsemanship to finish with a solid fifth-place finish.