Equestrian Zone Qualifiers to Compete this Weekend
Apr 09, 2003
April 9, 2003
The Kansas State Western equestrian team is preparing for Zone 9 Competition at Purdue and St. Mary's of the Woods this coming weekend. On Saturday, the English show begins at noon in West Lafayette, Ind., and the Western team rides on Sunday at 9 a.m. near Terre Haute, Ind.
"We are very excited for the opportunity to have so many of our young women riding at Zone 9 Competition," head coach Lindsay Breidenthal said. "We have four Western and seven English riders competing, and hopefully we can get half of those qualified for IHSA National Competition."
Western individuals competing include Elaine Cobb (intermediate), Amanda Gigot (open reining), Megan Hemberger (intermediate) and Brandi Vogel (open reining and horsemanship). The English individuals who have qualifed include Natalie Bennett (novice fences and flat), Dehlia Burdan (open fences and flat), Jessica Gittleman (walk/trot), Jacquie Griffin (open flat), Julie Hufft (walk/trot/canter), Melissa Thompson (intermediate flat) andAllison Woodworth (open fences and flat). Individuals must place first or second to qualify for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Competition.
With the first-place team finish in the region standings by the English team, K-State qualified a team to compete at zones. That team will be comprised of Bennett (intermdiate flat), Anne Brammeier (walk/trot), Lauren Demmel (intermediate fences), Jenae Grossart (novice flat), Summer Hamil (novice fences), Natalie Poholsky (walk/trot/canter) and Woodworth (open fences and open flat). The English team must also place first or second to qualify as a team for nationals.
The Western team also finished first in the regionals standings and will be going as a team to nationals. The team will be comprised of Lauren Allen (intermediate), Gigot (open reining), Katrina Myers (beginner), Erin Peery (open horsemansip) and Kristin Tanney (advanced).
Woodworth won the Cacchione Cup by earning the most points in Zone 9, Region 2 as an individual English rider and will be competing at nationals for the USAE/Cacchione Cup. Gigot won the American Quarter Horse Association rider by earning the most points in Zone 9, Region 2 as an individual Western rider and will competiting at nationals for the AQHA High-Point Rider honor.
For a rider to qualify for postseason competition, she must "point-up" from her current division. The first level of postseason compeition is regionals, to be eligible she must earn 35 points throughout the year. If a rider is in the open division she must only earn 28 points. Points from the previous year carry over, unless she is an open division rider. The top three competitors at regional competition go on to zone competition. The top two in zone competition qualify for nationals.
This year's IHSA National Competition will be hosted by Middle Tennessee State, May 1-4 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
-ksu-
