Minnesota Crookston Hunt Seat Equestrian Earns Reserve High Point Team

1342

Minnesota Crookston Hunt Seat Equestrian Earns Reserve High Point Team Saturday and Sunday

 

Picture – Monika Frame (Credit Terry Tollefson)

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston hunt seat equestrian team opened up the 2017-18 show season as the Golden Eagles took Reserve High Point Team in both shows Sat., Sept. 30 and Sun., Oct. 1. Minnesota Crookston was just one point shy of earning High Point Team honors during Sunday’s show.

Monika Frame (Sr., Polson, Mont.)

The Golden Eagles opened up Saturday’s show with four riders competing against each other in Open Equitation over Fences. Mazie Pini (Jr., Grayslake, Ill.) won the class, with Selena Young (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) taking third, Monika Frame (Sr., Polson, Mont.) fourth and Rachel Johnson (Fr., Stillwater, Minn.) earning fifth. All had solid riders with tough competition.

“It is never easy competing against your teammates, however these four riders do it well,” said Head Coach Kayla Krueger.

Ellie Waagen (Fr., Bottineau, N.D.) competed in Novice Equitation over Fences and earned fourth place.

Megan Motter (Jr., Cooperstown, N.D.) and Madeline Haeg (Fr., Collegeville, Minn.) competed together in their section of Novice Equitation over Fences. Haeg put together a solid ride to finish second, while Motter came in just behind Haeg with a third-place finish.

Frame, Pini, and Johnson all rode together again in a deep class of Open Equitation on the Flat. Frame earned second-place with a beautiful ride. Pini came in right behind her with a third-place finish, while Johnson finished just outside of placings after drawing a tough horse.

Young amd Motter competed for the Golden Eagles in Intermediate Equitation on the Flat. Young had a flawless ride to win the class aboard a university-owned three-year-old mare that she spent a great deal of time working with last semester. Motter also had a great ride earning fifth.

Waagen finished second in Novice Flat, while Haeg earned fourth in her section of Novice Flat.

The Golden Eagles had strong rides in Walk/Trot/Canter on Saturday. Kristina Schroeder (So., Mankato, Minn.) picked up a win in her class of Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter. Melissa Eastman (Jr., Superior, Wis.) and Sierra Coons (So., Donnybrook, N.D.) rode in the same section of Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter with Eastman winning the class and Coons coming in right behind in second. Sarah Cartier (Fr., Woodbury, Minn.) tallied another win for the Golden Eagles as she took her section of Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter. Megan Doughty (So., Hackensack, Minn.) faced a tough draw, but worked through to finish a strong fourth in her section of Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter. Amanda Olson (Fr., Winsted, Minn.) rounded out the day by making her debut in Beginner Walk Trot, finishing fourth.

“We had a solid first show of the season by earning Reserve High Point Team Saturday,” Krueger said. “We had some errors along the way but made up ground throughout the day.”

On day two of Minnesota Crookston’s weekend home shows, the Golden Eagles started out well with strong performances in Open Fences. Young led the way as she won a competitive Open class. Frame and Pini were right behind her in second and third place. Johnson rounded out the group with a fifth-place finish.

Motter represented the team in Intermediate Fences but ran into some challenges, landing her just shy of places. Haeg earned third place in her section of Novice Fences. Waagen pulled the same horse as the day prior and earned a second-place finish in her section of Novice Fences with a beautiful round.

In Open Equitation on the Flat, Johnson rode confidently to a second-place finish with Young coming in close in fourth in a very large class.

Motter put together a great ride in Intermediate Flat, finishing second in a deep class. Haeg was fifth in her section of Novice Flat. Waagen earned second-place in her section of Novice Flat.

The Golden Eagles again dominated in the Walk/Trot/Canter classes as Eastman took her section of Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter. Schroeder also took the title in her section of Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter. Cartier and Doughty rode together in a section of Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter with Cartier winning the class and Doughty taking third. Coons also had a great ride to win her section of Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter. Olson rounded out the day jumping ahead from the day before as she finished second in her class of Beginner Walk/Trot.

“The Golden Eagles took home Reserve High Point Team, falling just shy of High Point Team by one point,” Krueger said. “I could not have been happier with our team’s debut for the season. We had some mistakes in day one and were able to rise above those mistakes on day two. That is what makes a great team. All riders rode confidently for their first meet of the year, which is always a nerve wracking experience. I am excited to see what our girls will do at our next meet at Wisconsin-River Falls. It’s going to be a great year.”

Minnesota Crookston returns to action Oct. 28 and 29 at University of Wisconsin-River Falls in River Falls, Wis.