Wildcats Finish Seventh at Varsity Equestrian Championship

Wildcats Finish Seventh at Varsity Equestrian Championship

CONYERS, Ga. - The Kansas State equestrian team rode to a seventh-place finish Saturday at the final day of the Varsity Equestrian Championships. The Wildcats had seven riders finish in the top seven for a total of 20 points at the end of the two-day competition. After holding down ninth place after day one, the Cats rode well on Saturday to move up two spots, surpassing Sacred Heart and West Texas A&M.

Georgia defended their championship title from 2003 finishing in first place overall with 60 total points. The Bulldogs also claimed the English team title with 32 points, while Oklahoma State garnered the western team title with 29 points, just one point over Georgia which finished with 28. Freshman Nicole Ruff accounted for the Kansas State’s highest finish. She brought home the lone first-place finish for the weekend in the third and final group of reining, adding seven points to K-State’s total. The only other western rider to place Saturday was senior Brandi Vogel, who earned fourth place in the first class of reining.

On the English side, four riders were able to tally up points for Kansas State. Placing for the Wildcats in different sections of equitation over fences were Allison Woodworth, Megan Felts, Dehlia Burdan and Heather Chatham in fourth, fifth, eighth and reserve, respectively.

"The whole team rode very well," head coach Lindsay Breidenthal said. "We were up against extremely tough competition, but Meghan (Cunningham, assistant coach) and I were very pleased."

The six K-State English and western riders who have qualified for the International Horse Show Association Nationals will compete May 5-9 in Murfreesboro, Tenn. These women include Vogel, Woodworth, Burdan, Erin Peery, Sara Waxman and Janelle Orr.

2004 Varsity Equestrian Championships Day Two Results-April 24, 2004

OVERALL TEAM TOTALS 1. Georgia- 60 2. Auburn- 49 3. Oklahoma State- 47 4. Texas A & M- 37 5. Fresno State- 30 6. South Carolina- 27 7.Kansas State- 20 8. Sacred Heart- 19 9. West Texas A&M- 18 10. Stonehill- 14 11.Southern Methodist- 4 12. Pace- 2

HUNT SEAT TEAM TOTALS 1. Georgia 32 2. Auburn 23 3. Sacred Heart 19 4. Tie-Oklahoma State 18 Texas A&M 18 6. South Carolina 17 7. Stonehill 14 8. Fresno State 12 9. Kansas State 9 10. West Texas A&M 8 11. Southern Methodist 4 12. Pace 2

WESTERN TEAM TOTALS 1. Oklahoma State 29 2. Georgia 28 3. Auburn 26 4. Texas A&M 19 5. Fresno State 18 6. Kansas State 11 7. Tie-South Carolina 10 West Texas A&M 10

HUNT SEAT RESULTS

Equitation Over Fences: Group A 1. Kate Janczak, Southern Methodist 2. Byerly Vaughn, Georgia 3. Catherine Crisp, Texas A&M 4. Erin Gaddy, Auburn 5. Corrie Janssen, Oklahoma State 6. Jennifer Woodin, Pace 7. Dawn McIntosh, Fresno State 8. Tara Brothers, South Carolina Reserve: Heather Chatham, Kansas State

Equitation Over Fences: Group B 1. Megan Richardson, Georgia 2. Kalyn Healey, Stonehill 3. Lindsay Smith, Oklahoma State 4. Catherine McQuown, Southern Methodist 5. Megan Felts, Kansas State 6. Maureen Burke, Pace 7. Cassie McEnroe, Auburn 8. Emily Grayson, Sacred Heart Reserve: Leyla Mundy, Fresno State

Equitation Over Fences, Group C 1. Leigh Harper, Georgia 2. Kelsey Amadeo, Stonehill 3. Andrea Hanson, Texas A&M 4. Chelsea Koornick, South Carolina 5. Lauren Pierce, Sacred Heart 6. Lena Cottle, West Texas A&M 7. Brittany Snider, Oklahoma State 8. Dehlia Burdan, Kansas State Reserve: Natalie Burton, Auburn

Equitation Over Fences, Group D 1. Dana Hancock, South Carolina 2. Lindsay Parker, Oklahoma State 3. Ciearra Vinson, West Texas A&M 4. Allison Woodworth, Kansas State 5. Amanda Hancock, Fresno State 6. Katie Kotchka, Southern Methodist 7. Dyanna Rucco, Stonehill 8. Rachel Berkowitz, Georgia Reserve: Catherine Coyle, Sacred Heart

WESTERN RESULTS

Reining: Group A 1. Morgan Strauss, Georgia 2. Katie Forest, Texas A&M 3. Lisa Moser, Fresno State 4. Brandi Vogel, Kansas State 5. Whitney Kimble, Auburn 6. Kayla Elmenhorst, Oklahoma State Reserve: Rachel Sternoff, South Carolina

Reining: Group B 1. Sarah Meier, Georgia 2. Katie Bohr, Oklahoma State 3. Laine Hendricks, Fresno State 4. Crystal Pope, Auburn 5. Celeste Slaughter, Texas A&M 6. Laura Pipkin, South Carolina Reserve: Mallory Vestal, West Texas A&M

Reining: Group C 1. Nicole Ruff, Kansas State 2. Cassie Lisabeth, Texas A&M 3. Kristen Dickerson, Oklahoma State 4. Amanda Love, West Texas A&M 5. Carly Veldman, Georgia 6. Elizabeth Briley, South Carolina Reserve: Kate Whiting, Auburn