Minnesota Crookston Western Equestrian Takes Reserve High Point Honors at Wisconsin-River Falls; Warner Qualifies for IHSA Semifinals
RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The University of Minnesota Crookston ended the Western Equestrian regular-season by claiming Reserve High Point Team at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls show Feb. 17 in River Falls, Wis. The Golden Eagles sent 10 riders to the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Regionals the next day, Feb. 18, with Katie Warner (Sr., Warba, Minn.) advancing to represent the Minnesota Crookston team at IHSA Semi-Finals March 17-18 in Hamburg, N.Y.
“The Golden Eagle riders started out the competition as the underdog not having a representative for Beginner Horsemanship, however our successful day in all other divisions allowed us to still bring hme a Reserve High Point Team title,” said Head Coach Kayla Krueger. “It was a great way to end the Western IHSA show season. This team has grown so much with many of our younger athletes peaking just at the right time. The young team will be a strong force in the 2018-19 IHSA season.”
The Golden Eagles opened the weekend with a stellar showing in the final regular-season show at Wisconsin-River Falls. Katelynn Robertson opened competition for Minnesota Crookston by finishing second in a very competitive Reining class, while Warner took fifth in the same class.
Robertson won her section of Open Horsemanship with Warner coming close behind in second in her class. Robertson took home High Point Rider for the Feb. 17 show.
In Advanced Horsemanship, Whitney Fenna finished sixth in her class, while EmmaRae Nelson won the section on a challenging horse. Madeline Drayna finished a strong second in her section.
In Novice Horsemanship, Shayla Marthaler had a beautiful round to win her section, while Alyssa Evavold took fourth. Whitney Weidenborner took fourth in her section, while Skyla Knudtson finished right behind her in fifth.
The Golden Eagles dominated the Intermediate II Horsemanship classes. Rae Ann Michel had one of her best rides of the season to win her class. Jordyn Newberg also had a strong showing as reeled in another win for the team.
Jayde Proffitt rounded out the day as she took second in her class of Intermediate I Horsemanship.
Minnesota Crookston had 10 riders compete the following day at IHSA Regionals in River Falls, Wis. Robertson and Warner both qualified in Open Horsemanship. Each rider had a very strong showing in a very talented class of riders. Robertson finished fifth, while Warner won the class. She advances on to the IHSA Semi-Finals in Hamburg, N.Y. March 17-18.
The Golden Eagles had five riders represent the team in Intermediate. Weidenborner, Evanvold, Jordyn Newberg, Knudtson and Marthaler all had solid rail rides but experienced challenges within the pattern portion of the class as they fell short of making the finals.
In Novice, Nelson and Drayna both had fabulous first rides in the Novice Pre-lims as both riders made finals. In the finals, Nelson finished seventh and Drayna took fifth.
Proffitt rounded out the day with a solid ride in Beginner Horsemanship finishing third, just short of the cut for Semi-Finals.
In order to qualify for IHSA Semi-Finals, riders must place in the top two of their class.
“I could not have been more proud of this team,” Krueger said. “To qualify 10 riders for the Regional competition was a huge accomplishment in itself.”
