SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. – The Lyon of the Week has been announced this week's honor goes to first years Grace Tice and Bri Groves. Both helped lead their teams to victory last week in hunt seat riding and swimming, respectively.
Tice, who hails from West Simsbury, Conn., posted victory in both Open Fences and Open Flat last week at Mount Holyoke's home show. The Lyons won with 35 total points and Tice was honored as the Overall High Point Rider for her efforts.
On the season, the former Simsbury High School standout has notched four first-place finishes. Tice has also finished sixth or better in all 13 events she has competed this season. Among her top performances was at the season-opening Tournament of Champions Preseason Show, where she earned the TOC Collegiate Medal. She also won Open Fences and was second in Open Flat to earn Reserve High Point Honors at the Williams Show.
Groves, a native of Reston, Va., had an outstanding effort for the Lyons swimming & diving team last week, touching the wall first in four events as MHC defeated Western Connecticut State on the road. She won the 50-backstroke in a time of 29.23 and was first in the 100-breaststroke with a mark of 1:11.82.
A graduate of South Lakes High School, Groves also took home top honors in the 50-butterfly with a time of 28.38. She also helped the 200-medley relay team to victory with a mark of 2:02.70. Through four dual meets, Groves has 12 victories, including two wins in the season-opener against Division II Assumption, and three each against Westfield State and the University of New England.
The Mount Holyoke riding team returns to competition on December 5 when it competes at the Holiday Tournament of Champions event. The Lyons swimming & diving team (3-1) returns to action on Friday, December 4 when they travel to Clinton, N.Y. to compete at the Hamilton College Invitational. Action begins on Friday at 4pm and continues all day Saturday, beginning at 10am.