Western Team Leads Strong Showing in NCEA Exhibition Against South Dakota State
BROOKINGS, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston equestrian teams put together a strong showing in a National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) exhibition with South Dakota State University Nov. 3 in Brookings, S.D. The Golden Eagles fell 11-4 overall with a 7-1 result in hunt seat. The western team had their best showing yet against the Jackrabbits as they fell narrowly 4-3 in the exhibition.
The Golden Eagles were represented by hunt seat riders Mazie Pini (Sr., Grayslake, Ill.), Selena Young (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.), Kayley Melton (Fr., Yuma, Ariz.), Rachel Johnson (So., Stillwater, Minn.), and Taylor Barlage (Fr., New Prague, Minn.). In western, Minnesota Crookston looked to Madeline Drayna (Jr., Milaca, Minn.), Whitney Fenna (Sr., Foley, Minn.), Megan Motter (Sr., Cooperstown, N.D.), and Jordyn Newberg (So., Deer River, Minn.).
In Equitation over Fences, Johnson won her pairing 72-68 over her South Dakota State competitor. Drayna was on fire in her pair of rides. In Horsemanship, she won 72.5-71.5 over her foe, while in the Reining, she took the match-up 72-71. Drayna was awarded the Most Outstanding Player accolade in the Reining.
Fenna won her Reining point scoring a 66.5-0 over South Dakota State. Newberg rounded out the competition in her first Reining ride, by scoring 70 to tie with her Jackrabbit competitor.
“Overall the scores were very close on the day,” said Head Coach Kayla Krueger. “The Golden Eagle riders held their own with confident performances. We plan to take this momentum into the next two weekends of competition for both teams.
The hunt seat team has a pair of shows at University of Wisconsin-River Falls Nov. 10 and 11. The western team treks to North Dakota State for shows Nov. 16, 17, and 18 in Fargo, N.D.
