Minnesota Crookston Equestrian Earns Reserve High Point Team Accolades Saturday at Wisconsin-River Falls
RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The University of Minnesota Crookston western equestrian team garnered Reserve High Point Team accolades during their meet Saturday, December 2 at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. In addition, Brooke Hoven (So., Ankeny, Iowa) earned High Point Rider honors following Saturday’s event.
The shows Saturday and Sunday were the final shows of the 2023 calendar year for the Golden Eagle equestrian team. They will return to competition in 2024.
The Golden Eagles were guided on Saturday by four first-place performances. Zoey Haas (Sr., Farmington, Minn.) took first in Level II Horsemanship. Kassidy Kalka (So., Cottage Grove, Minn.) placed first in Level I Horsemanship for the Golden Eagles after a strong ride. Eliza Freund (Jr., Cando, N.D.) also placed first in Level I Horsemanship, while Hoven took first in Level II Ranch Riding for the Golden Eagles. Hoven also had a third-place finish in Level II Horsemanship.
RaeAnna Danielson (So., Harris, Minn.) put together a solid ride to take second in Open Horsemanship. Eleanor Pettitt (Fr., Minnetrista, Minn.) had a third-place finish in Level I Horsemanship, as did Madison Wachtel (Fr., Wells, Nev.) is Open Reining.
Haas took fourth in Level II Ranch Riding, as did Hailey Schlotfeldt (So., Luverne, N.D.) in Rookie A Horsemanship. The Golden Eagles also picked up fourth-place finishes from Amelia Lewis (Fr., Blue Earth, Minn.) (Rookie B Horsemanship), and Danielson (Open Reining).
Minnesota Crookston had four fifth-place finishes Saturday. Alexis Heaton (Fr., Frazee, Minn.) (Beginner Horsemanship), Ava Jo Glenn (Fr., Ennis, Texas) (Open Horsemanship), Kianna Dolezal (Fr., Silverlake, Minn.) (Rookie B Horsemanship), and Grace Alwardt (Fr., Lake Elsinore, Calif.) (Beginner Horsemanship).
Jenna Seibert (So., Sebeka, Minn.) took sixth in Rookie A Horsemanship, while Madison Wojcek (Fr., Bremerton, Wash.) placed sixth in Open Horsemanship Saturday.
In Sunday’s show, the Golden Eagles were led by five second-place finishes. Glenn placed second in Open Horsemanship with a strong ride. Seibert took second in Rookie A Horsemanship, as Dolezal placed second in Rookie B Horsemanship. Additionally, Alwardt improved from Saturday and took second in Beginner Horsemanship, while Danielson placed second in Open Reining.
Minnesota Crookston had six third-place finishes on Sunday. Bethanie Gravelle (So., Aitkin, Minn.) (Level II Horsemanship), Kalka (Level I Horsemanship), Heaton (Beginner Horsemanship), Freund (Level I Horsemanship), Wachtel (Open Reining), and Marley Halse (Fr., Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) (Open Horsemanship).
Pettitt took fourth in Level I Horsemanship, while Hoven did the same in Level II Ranch Riding.
Schlotfeldt had a fifth-place finish Sunday in Rookie A Horsemanship, as did Hoven in Level II Horsemanship.
Lewis (Rookie B Horsemanship), Haas (Level II Ranch Riding), and Danielson (Open Horsemanship) all placed sixth Sunday.
The western equestrian team next competes in IHSA action Saturday, February 24 at North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D.
