FARGO, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston hunt seat equestrian team opened up the 2021 season with two impressive showings at North Dakota State University Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7. The Golden Eagles brought home High Point Team honors in both shows. The Golden Eagles were led by Rachel Johnson (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) earning High Point Rider honors Saturday, followed by her teammate Kendra Putzke (Fr., Esko, Minn.) taking home Reserve High Point Rider accolades. Sunday, Minnesota Crookston looked to Katie Buttolph (Jr., Yankton, S.D.) with High Point Rider honors.
Saturday, the Golden Eagles started out the weekend with Morgan Schelske (Jr., Zimmerman, Minn.) taking home first place in Open Over Fences, followed by Johnson in second, and Taylor Barlage (Sr., New Prague, Minn.) finishing third. In their section of Limit Over Fences, Putzke placed second Saturday, followed by Buttolph in third. In the second section of Limit Over Fences, Katie Orth (Jr., Randall, Minn.) placed second for Minnesota Crookston.
The Golden Eagles started out competition on the Flat well as Johnson placed first in Open Flat, followed closely by Barlage in second, and Schelske in third. In section one of Limit Flat, Putzke continued a big day by taking first, followed by Orth in second. In the second section of Limit Flat, Buttolph rocked her ride by placing first.
In Novice Flat, Brittney Myers (Sr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) paced the Golden Eagles with a first-place finish. In Pre-Novice Flat section one, Anna Woidyla (Sr., Swanville, Minn.) took home first place, followed by Jordan Erickson (Fr., Clontarf, Minn.) in second. In the second section of Pre-Novice Flat, Kaitlyn Fedewa (Fr., Cambridge, Minn.) placed third. UMN Crookston rounded out a strong first day as Delainey Lancaster (Fr., Watertown, S.D.) placed second in Introductory Flat, followed by Ashleigh Lueder (Fr., Rochester, Minn.) in fifth.
The Golden Eagles looked to continue an impressive weekend on Sunday. Johnson opened things up by placing first in Open Over Fences, followed by Barlage in second, and Schelske in third. In section one of Limit Over Fences, Orth led the way with a second-place finish, while Avery Dobrzelecki (So., Bismarck, N.D.) took home third. In section two of Limit Over Fences, Buttolph had a great ride to finish first.
On the flat, UMN Crookston had a strong day starting with Barlage placing first in Open Flat, followed by Schelske in second, and Johnson in third.
In Limit Flat section one, Buttolph continued a great day by taking first, followed by Dobrzelecki in third. In section two of Limit Flat, Orth placed third.
In Novice Flat, Alex Pfaffenbach (Fr., Appleton, Wis.) placed second for the Golden Eagles. In section one of Pre-Novice Flat, Woidyla continued a strong weekend by finishing first, while Fedewa took third. In section two of Pre-Novice Flat, Sydney McKee (So., New Hope, Minn.) placed second. UMN Crookston rounded out the weekend with Lancaster taking second, and Lueder fourth in Introductory Flat.
Minnesota Crookston continues the 2021 season with home shows Friday, April 9 and Saturday, April 10 at the University Teaching and Outreach Center at 4 p.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.
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