SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (Nov. 20, 2011) – With sophomore Flynn Vickowski leading the way, the Mount Holyoke College riding team closed out the fall portion of its 2011-12 slate with a first place performance in front of its home crowd today. The Lyons piled up 15 blue ribbons en route to their fourth High Point Championship of the season.
The event took place at the Mount Holyoke Equestrian Center and featured eight teams from around the region. Mount Holyoke recorded 40 points. The Lyons were followed by the University of Massachusetts (35), Smith College (20), Westfield State University (15), Springfield College (12), Amherst College (9), Hampshire College (9) and Williams College (2). They now lead UMass by 31 points in the Zone 1, Region 3 standings.
Vickowski was named Reserve High Point Rider and Novice High Point Rider after taking first place in her section of the novice fences division and second place in her section of the novice flat division.
The Lyons also received a boost from senior Brenna Cogswell, who earned Reserve Novice High Point Rider accolades after winning her sections of both the novice flat and novice fences divisions. Classmate Courtney O'Connell earned the Reserve Intermediate High Point Rider award following second place performances in the intermediate flat and fences divisions.
Mount Holyoke's remaining blue ribbons came from first year sophomore Olivia Chance (walk-trot), senior Julia Graham (novice flat), senior Jasmine Haddad (novice fences), sophomore Felicia Harrsch (open flat), sophomore Alexa Lohrer (open fences), junior Allison O'Neill (open fences), first year Abby Raucher (novice fences), first year Madeline Shortt (novice flat), senior Laura Tolosa (walk-trot-canter), first year Laura Von der Porten (walk-trot-canter) and first year Maura Zaldonis (intermediate fences).
With their performances today, O'Connell (intermediate fences), Vickowski (novice fences), Haddad (novice fences) and senior Haley Streibich (walk-trot-canter) each qualified for the Zone 1, Region 3 Regional Championships.
Mount Holyoke will be off until Saturday, December 3, when it takes part in the prestigious Holiday Tournament of Champions Horse Show at Centenary College in Long Valley, N.J. The Lyons will resume their regular season schedule with a sizeable lead in their regional standings. With three shows remaining, Lohrer (2nd), senior Margaret Swanson (3rd) and first year Hannah Thornton (4th) hold three of the top four spots in the regional Cacchione Cup standings.
Photo by Doug Keller
