Minnesota Crookston Hunt Seat Equestrian Qualifies Three for IHSA Zones: Earn Reserve High Point Team Honors for Region
CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston hosted their final home show of the season March 3 at University Teaching and Outreach Center (UTOC) in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Eagles hosted the IHSA Regional Championships the next day, and had riders Selena Young (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.), Megan Motter (Jr., Cooperstown, N.D.) and Amanda Olson (Fr., Winsted, Minn.) all qualify for IHSA Zone Finals April 8 in Springfield, Mo. Minnesota Crookston finished the season as the Zone 7, Region 3 Reserve High Point Champion.
Saturday’s home show was a success for Golden Eagle riders. Monika Frame (Sr., Polson, Mont.) opened up the day by taking second in her section of Open Fences. Rachel Johnson (Fr., Stillwater, Minn.) placed third in her section of Open Fences. Motter put forth a strong ride in Intermediate Fences to place second. Ellie Waagen (Fr., Bottineau, N.D.) took fourth in her section of Novice Fences. Melissa Eastman (Sr., Superior, Wis.) put together her best round of the season to take second in a beautiful go in her section of Novice Fences.
In the flat portion of the day, Johnson took sixth in her section of Open Flat. Frame took fourth in her section of Open Flat. Waagen picked up a sixth place in Novice Flat, while Eastman took second and Kristina Schroeder finished third in their respective sections.
The Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter riders all had solid rounds with Sierra Coons (So., Donnybrook, N.D.) taking home a win in her section, with Sarah Cartier (Fr., Woodbury, Minn.) right behind in the section. Megan Doughty (So., Hackensack, Minn.) placed fourth and Emma Howey (Jr., Rutland, N.D.) fifth in their section. Olson rounded out the day with a confident ride to win her class of Walk/Trot
Frame, Johnson, Cartier, Coons and Olson all pointed out of their divisions to qualify for the IHSA Regional Championships the next day.
On Sunday, Minnesota Crookston put forth their largest group of Hunt Seat riders the team has ever qualified in the coaching career of Head Coach Kayla Krueger. All the riders worked hard to get to this point as they reached or exceeded 36 total points in their division on the regular-season.
The day started with Open Equitation over Fences. Young took second and advanced to the IHSA Zone Finals. Frame was just shy of advancing, as she took third. Johnson was not far behind in fourth, while Mazie Pini (Jr., Grayslake, Ill.) took sixth. The fact that the Golden Eagles qualified all four riders in Open Fences says a lot about the talent the young ladies have.
In Novice Fences, Motter crushed the competition scoring high in her fence course as she joins Young in the Zone Finals.
In Open Flat, Pini and Frame both had solid rides in a deep pool of competitors, with Pini taking fourth and Frame fifth.
In Intermediate Flat, Motter and Young both put up confident rides. Motter finished second, double qualifying herself for the Zone Finals in two classes. Young finished right behind in third place.
In Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter, Cartier, Coons and Schroeder all had solid rides in their pre-lims. Cartier and Schroeder made the finals with Schroeder taking third and Cartier sixth.
Lastly, Olson rounded out the day by taking second in her class of Walk/Trot to join Motter and Young in advancing to the IHSA Zone Finals.
