Golden Eagle Equestrian Competes Against Top Teams Nationally at NCEA National Championships
WACO, Texas – The University of Minnesota Crookston made their first-ever appearance at the National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) National Championship Wed., April 18 at the Extraco Events Center in Waco, Texas hosted by Baylor University. The Golden Eagles continue to make great strides as a program and showed it Wednesday as they were able to compete with some of the top teams on a national stage.
Minnesota Crookston sent nine riders to Waco, Texas to compete in four disciplines: Equitation over Fences, Equitation on the Flat, Horsemanship and Reining.
In Fences, the Golden Eagles rode against Auburn University. Minnesota Crookston got their lone win of the day in the discipline. Mazie Pini (Jr., Grayslake, Ill.) defeated Hayley Iannotti with a score of 162-158 on Marley. Selena Young (Jr., Plymouth, Minn.) fell short against Ashton Alexander. Monika Frame (Sr., Polson, Mont.) also came up shy against Caitlin Boyle, as did Rachel Johnson (Fr., Stillwater, Minn.) versus Taylor St. Jasques. The Tigers took the win 3-1.
On the flat, the Golden Eagles again competed against the Auburn Tigers. Young put together a strong ride on Palmar but ultimately lost to Iannotti 159-148. Pini was upended 168-146 by St. Jasques. Frame came up shot 160-137 against Boyle, while Motter fell 163-127 to Alexander. Auburn earned a 4-0 win.
In Horsemanship, Minnesota Crookston came up against another strong foe in Oklahoma State University. Katie Warner (Sr., Warba, Minn.) put up a solid ride against Sarah Miller on Flash, but fell 150-140. Whitney Fenna (Jr., Foley, Minn.) went up versus Harley Huff, but fell 147.5-134.5. Katelynn Robertson (Sr., Roseau, Minn.) was upended 148.5-133.5 by Kirsten Chamberland. Madeline Drayna (So., Milaca, Minn.) wrapped up Horsemanship for the Golden Eagles as she was defeated 146.5-121.5 by Libby Collins. Oklahoma State moved on with a 4-0 win.
The Golden Eagles again took on Auburn in the Reining. Fenna put up a strong pattern but fell just shy 139-135 to Deanna Green. The other three competitors were also just short against their opponents. Drayna came up short 146-138 to Blair McFarlin. Robertson was upended 142-136.5 by Alexa Rivard, while Warner fell 143-134.5 to Tirri June Granger. Minnesota Crookston fell 4-0 to Auburn despite a strong showing in the Reining.
Minnesota Crookston made great strides on the season and will return a young roster for the 2018-19 NCEA season as they look to improve on the NCEA circuit entering their second full season with NCEA.
