MANHATTAN, KAN.- The Kansas State English Equestrian team will head to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale on Oct.25-26 for their season opener. The English team is coming off a strong 2003 season, in which the team qualified for nationals by finishing first at the Zone 9 competition. The national team returns six letterwinners, including Natalie Bennett, Lauren Demmel, Jenae Grossart, Summer Hamil, Natalie Poholsky, and Allison Woodworth.

"We have a strong English team this year, looking to Allison Woodworth and Dehlia Burdan," assistant coach Meghan Cunningham said. "We expect to start the season off right."

The Wildcats will look for a strong showing from junior Allison Woodworth, who won the Cacchoine Cup as an individual English rider and competed at Nationals for the USA Equestrian/Cacchoine Cup.

At the SIUC show last season, the Wildcats brought home sixteen first-place finishes. Winners included Jen Blake in Beginner walk/trot/canter (W/T/C), Natalie Bennett in intermediate flat, Sara Zurliene in Intermediate Flat and Fences, Lauren Demmel in Intermediate Fences, Jacquie Griffin in Novice Flat and Novice Fences, Jenae Grossart, Kelli Wilson and Janelle Orr in Novice Flat, Julie Hufft in Advanced W/T/C, Natalie Poholsky in Advanced W/T/C, Maureen Reynolds in Open Fences, Sarah Waxman in Intermediate Fences and Allison Woodworth in Open Flat.

Riding begins at 8 a.m on Saturday with the Flat Competition. Sunday's show is scheduled to start at 8 a.m.

The English team is coach by Meghan Cunningham, who is in her third year.

--ksu--