Minnesota Crookston Hunt Seat Equestrian Claims Third-Straight IHSA Regional Championship; Earns High Point Team Honors Saturday and Sunday

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Photo – Rachel Johnson

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston hunt seat equestrian team wrapped up their 2021 regular-season Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11 with two home shows and the IHSA Regional Championship at Charles H. Casey Equine Arena at UTOC. The Golden Eagles claimed the Zone 7, Region 3 Championship for the third season in a row. In addition, Rachel Johnson (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.) earned the Cacchione Cup for Zone 7, Region 3. The Golden Eagles were named High Point Team on Saturday, led by Johnson earning High Point Rider, and Katie Orth (Jr., Randall, Minn.) claimed Reserve High Point Rider. Sunday, Minnesota Crookston was again named High Point Team, led by Orth earning High Point Rider, followed by Johnson earning Reserve High Point Rider.

In Saturday’s show, Johnson opened things up by placing first in Open Over Fences, followed by Morgan Schelske (Jr., Zimmerman, Minn.) earning second, and Taylor Barlage (Sr., New Prague, Minn.) claiming third. In Intermediate Over Fences, Katie Buttolph (Jr., Yankton, S.D.) took first for the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston was led in Limit Over Fences section one, by Orth who had a great ride to take first, followed by Kendra Putzke (Fr., Esko, Minn.) earning fifth. In Limit Over Fences section two, Avery Dobrzelecki (So., Bismarck, N.D.) rode to a third-place finish.

Minnesota Crookston started out the flat portion of the competition with Johnson taking first in Open Flat, followed by Schelske in second, and Barlage in third.

In Limit Flat section one, Putzke rode to a first-place finish, followed by Orth in fourth. In Limit Flat section two, Buttolph put together a great ride to take first, Brittney Myers (Sr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) finished third, while Dobrzelecki finished fifth.

In Novice Flat, Alex Pfaffenbach (Fr., Appleton, Wis.) rode to a second-place finish, followed by Anna Woidyla (Sr., Swanville, Minn.) in third.

In Pre-Novice section one, Sydney McKee (So., New Hope, Minn.) finished fourth, with Jordan Erickson (Fr., Clontarf, Minn.) taking fifth. In Pre-Novice section two, Kaitlyn Fedewa (Fr., Cambridge, Minn.) had a great ride to take first.

In Walk/Trot, Ashleigh Lueder (Fr., Rochester, Minn.) claimed a third-place finish, followed by Delainey Lancaster (Fr., Watertown, S.D.) taking fifth.

After a great first day, UMN Crookston looked to build on it Sunday. Minnesota Crookston opened the show by Barlage taking first in Open Over Fences, followed by Johnson in second, and Schelske in third.

In Intermediate Over Fences, Buttolph took second for the Golden Eagles.

In Limit Over Fences section one, Orth had an outstanding ride to place first, followed by Putzke in fourth. In Limit Over Fences section two, Dobrzelecki placed third.

Minnesota Crookston looked to continue their success on the flat. Johnson opened things up by taking first in Open Flat, followed by Schelske in second, and Barlage in third.

In intermediate Flat, Buttolph took first for UMN Crookston.

In Limit Flat section one, Myers rode to a second-place finish, while Putzke took third. In Limit Flat section two, Orth took second, while Dobrzelecki placed fourth.

In Novice Flat, Woidyla led the way by taking first, followed by Pfaffenbach in second.

In Pre-Novice section one, Erickson had a great ride to claim first. In Pre-Novice section two, Fedewa took first, followed by McKee in second.

In Walk/Trot, Lancaster paced UMN Crookston with a third-place finish, followed by Lueder in fourth.

Minnesota Crookston looked to build on their home shows with rides for the IHSA Regional Championship. The Golden Eagles didn’t disappoint. Johnson claimed the Championship for Open Over Fences and claimed the Cacchione Cup. Schelske was the Reserve Champion, followed by Barlage in third.

UMN Crookston continued their successes, with Buttolph earning Champion honors in Limit Over Fences.

In Open Flat, Barlage took Championship honors, while Johnson was the Reserve Champion.

In Limit Flat, Buttolph placed fourth.

The Golden Eagles will compete in the IHSA Invitational later this spring.