Photo – Katie Buttolph
CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston jumping seat equestrian team captured their fourth-straight IHSA Regional Championship after a phenomenal weekend at Charles H. Casey Equine Arena in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Eagles had 10 riders qualify for the IHSA Regional Championship. The team now advances on to the IHSA Zone Championships April 9-10 in Lubbock, Texas, as do six individuals who qualified. Minnesota Crookston also ended the regular-season by winning two home meets Friday and Saturday, claiming High Point Team Honors. In addition, Kaitlyn Fedewa earned Reserve High Point Rider Friday.
Individually, Morgan Schelske (Sr., Zimmerman, Minn.) advanced in both Open Fences and Flat. Clara Lemarr (Fr., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) advanced in Open Fences. Katie Buttolph (Sr., Yankton, S.D.) moved on in Intermediate Fences. Katie Orth (Sr., Randall, Minn.) advanced in Limit Flat. Fedewa moved on in Novice Flat, while Ashleigh Lueder (So., Rochester, Minn.) advanced in Walk/Trot.
Minnesota Crookston opened up Friday’s home meet with a great showing in Open Fences. Keira Boedigheimer (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) took first in Open Fences, while Lemarr finished second, and Schelske took fourth.
In Intermediate Fences Section One, Gabriella Siefkes (Fr., Aberdeen, S.D.) placed second on Keenlan, while Josie Mills (Fr., Brandon, S.D.) finished fourth on Andie. In Section Two, Buttolph placed first on Keenlan, while Orth took fifth on Chico.
In Limit Fences Section One, Fedewa placed first on ForSale. In Section Two, Alex Pfaffenbach (Jr., Appleton, Wis.) placed first on Denver.
In Open Flat, Schelske had a strong performance by placing second on Fletcher, while Boedigheimer placed third on Moe. Lemarr placed fifth on Remi.
In Intermediate Flat Section One, Mills placed fourth on Moe. In Section Two, Orth placed third on Remi, while Buttolph took fourth on Sully.
In Limit Flat Section One, Fedewa had a strong ride and took second on Daisy. In Section Two, Alexandra Wentland (Fr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) placed third on Sundance. In Section Three, Siefkes had a great ride to place first on Sundance, while Pfaffenbach placed fourth on Will.
In Novice Flat Section Two, Isabella Anderson (Fr., Bemidji, Minn.) placed first on Andrew.
In Pre-Novice Flat Section One, Samantha Strader (Fr., Winsted, Minn.) placed fourth on Ted. In Section Two, Lueder took fourth on Hunter.
In Walk/Trot Section One, Delainey Lancaster (So., Watertown, S.D.) placed third on Patrick, while Hannah Fitzsimmons (Jr., Barnum, Minn.) had a great ride to take first on Lacey.
Minnesota Crookston built on their great day moving into day two on Saturday. In Open Fences, Boedigheimer had another great ride to once again take first, while Schelske took third.
In Intermediate Fences Section One, Orth placed fourth on Fraser, while Siefkes took fifth on Turner. In Section Two, Buttolph placed first on Fraser, while Mills took third on Keenlan.
In Limit Fences Section One, Fedewa had a great ride to take second on ForSale. In Section Two, Pfaffenbach claimed second on Jetta, while Wentland put forth a great showing to take first on Bonnie.
In Open Flat, Schelske had a great ride and took first on Moe. Lemarr took second on Fletcher, while Boedigheimer placed fifth on Keenlan.
In Intermediate Flat Section One, Orth took fourth on Julio, while Mills placed sixth on Sully. In Section Two, Buttolph placed fifth on Remi, while Siefkes took sixth on Fletcher.
In Limit Flat Section One, Fedewa placed fourth on Moira. In Section Two, Pfaffenbach placed seventh on Moira. In Section Three, Wentland placed second on Will.
In Novice Flat Section One, Strader took fifth on Tate. In Section Two, Anderson placed first on Will.
In Pre-Novice Flat Section Two, Lueder had a great ride and took first on Will. In Section Two, Lueder had a great showing and took first on Ted.
In Walk/Trot Section One, Lancaster placed third on Turbo. In Section Two, Fitzsimmons took first on Andrew.
Minnesota Crookston looked to continue a great weekend going into Sunday’s IHSA Regional Championship. Schelske, Lemarr, Boedigheimer, Buttolph, Kendra Putzke, Orth, Siefkes, Fedewa, Pfaffenbach, and Lueder all qualified for the IHSA Regional Championship individually.
In Open Fences, Schelske had a great showing and took first on Keenlan, followed by Lemarr taking second on Chico, while Boedigheimer placed third on Chico. Schelske and Lemarr advance in Open Fences.
In Intermediate Fences, Buttolph placed second on Fraser in order to advance.
In Limit Fences, Orth took fourth on ForSale, while Putzke took Honorable Mention after not being able to show on Sunday due to injury.
In Open Flat, Schelske continued a phenomenal weekend by taking first on Moe and advancing.
In Limit Flat, Orth advanced with a great ride on Sundance, while Siefkes took third on Tate.
In Novice Flat, Fedewa advanced to Zones by taking first on Sundance. Pfaffenbach also competed but did not place.
In Walk/Trot, Lueder advanced with a great ride on Presley, taking second.
Minnesota Crookston will compete in IHSA Meets March 11 and 12 against University of Tennessee at Martin and South Dakota State University in Martin, Tenn.
