Minnesota Crookston Hunt Seat Squad Improves from Day One to Day Two at Pair of U of M Shows
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston hunt seat equestrian team competed Oct. 13 and 14 at a pair of shows at the University of Minnesota. The Golden Eagles were paced by key wins on the weekend by Katherine Buttolph (Fr., Yankton, S.D.), Amanda Olson (So., Winsted, Minn.), and Anna Woidyla (Fr., Swanville, Minn.).
Saturday’s show opened up with Rachel Johnson (So., Stillwater, Minn.) earning fourth place in Open Equitation over Fences and fifth in Open Equitation on the Flat.
In Open Flat, Kayley Melton (Fr., Yuma, Ariz.) began her collegiate career by placing second in the field. While in Intermediate Fences, Morgan Schelske (Fr., Zimmerman, Minn.) claimed a fourth-place finish.
In Novice Flat, Sarah Cartier (So., Woodbury, Minn.) finished fifth, while Taylor Barlage (Fr., New Prague, Minn.) took second in her collegiate debut.
Buttolph claimed the first win of the season for the Golden Eagles as she took the blue ribbon in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter with a great ride for her first time out as a freshman.
Olson followed suit by taking first in Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter, while Brittney Myers (Jr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) took fifth in her section.
In Walk/Trot, Rebecca Eichhorn (Fr., West Bend, Wis.) placed fifth, while Woidyla took home second.
“It was a challenging day for us in our first time out on the season,” said Head Coach Kayla Krueger. “We made some mistakes along the way, however we had some outstanding showings from both our freshman riders, as well as out lower level division riders.”
The Golden Eagles rebounded with a better day two. Selena Young (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.) opened up Sunday by taking second in Open Fences, and fifth in Open Flat. Mazie Pini (Sr., Grayslake, Ill.) placed fifth in a challenging draw on Open Fences, while she placed second in Open Flat.
Melton had a tough draw for the second day in a row, but she had a strong ride as she took second in Intermediate Fences.
Sierra Coons (Jr., Donnybrook, N.D.) and Kristina Schroeder (Jr., Mankato, Minn.) both put together good rides in Novice Flat, as Schroeder took third, while Coons claimed fourth.
Buttolph notched a fifth-place finish in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter. Olson finished second in Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter, while Katie Orth (Fr., Randall, Minn.) finished second in her section of Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter/
The Walk/Trot riders rounded out the weekend with solid placings as Woidyla took first in her section of Walk/Trot, while Eichhorn finished third in her section.
“Overall, I was pleased with our weekend,” Krueger said. “Our team had some great showings. We were able to pin point our strengths and weaknesses, allowing us to prepare harder for our next meet. It is going to be a great year for the hunt seat squad.”
Minnesota Crookston returns to action in a NCEA event Nov. 3 at 9 a.m. at South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D. The next IHSA event for the Golden Eagles takes place Nov. 10 and 11 at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in River Falls, Wis.
