MANHATTAN, Kan. The Kansas State equestrian team picked up its first and second wins of the season as it defeated Delaware State, 14-6, and Tennessee-Martin, 15-5, on Friday at Fox Creek Farm.

The Wildcats had one varsity rider and two exhibition riders bring home MVP’s on the day. Mikaela Sundgren received MVP for varsity Horsemanship, as she defeated Jennifer Pierson, 73.5-69. Paige Kovari and Erica Mackiewicz picked up MVP’s in Exhibition competition for K-State.

Against Tennessee-Martin, the Western squad won 8-2 and the Hunter Seat squad won 7-3, for a total overall win of 15-5.

In Western competition, all five riders brought home wins in the Horsemanship category. Laura Browne, Sierra Fredrick, Jana Lechtenberg, Alyssa Freeman, and Sundgren all led the Wildcats to their first victory of the season. On the Reining side, Kaylee Stout, Dani Pettera, and Alecia Zimbelman picked up big wins for K-State.

In Hunter Seat competition, Katie Mellon, Kendall Marvin, Whitney Snyder, and Ashley Collett all picked up wins in Equitation over Fences. Snyder and Jenny Giraldin picked up wins in the Flat category. Giraldin defeated Kelsey Abell, 79-78, to pick up her first win of the season.

“Today was a great day for all of us,” said Casie Williamson, head Western coach. “We hosted a great show and all of the girls rode really well. All of the Western riders put out really solid rides today. Mikaela Sundgren had an exceptional ride today and really set a high standard for the horsemanship.”

Also on Friday, Kansas State defeated Delaware State, 14-6. The Western team won 8-2 and the Hunter Seat squad defeated DSU 6-4.

In Western competition, Sundgren led the Wildcats in Horsemanship, along with Sierra Fredrick, Jana Lechtenberg, and Alyssa Freeman who picked up big wins as well. Fredrick got her first varsity win by defeating Amanda Hotz, 71-69.5.

In Reining, four out of five Wildcat riders picked up wins, including Kaylee Stout, Danielle Pettera, Alecia Zimbelman, and Morgan Campbell.

On the Flat, Snyder and Giraldin were the lone winners for K-State. However, in Equitation over Fences, four out of five Wildcats picked up wins, including Mellon, Marvin, Snyder, and Jen Rawle. Rawle got her first win of the season by defeating Kayla Blair, 75-72.

Erica Mackiewicz was K-State’s lone winner in Exhibition riding, although she and Paige Kovari both brought home MVP awards.

“We rode well today,” said Ashley Foster, Hunter Seat head coach. “We have some things to improve upon but are happy to end up with two wins. Jenny Giraldin had a great flat day while Kendall Marvin was strong over fences. Whitney Snyder and Katie Mellon had great flat and fence rounds today. I am happy with our performance but we will get back to finessing everything on Monday. Now, we are headed to St. Louis to compete at two IHSA shows this weekend. We are looking forward to competing again. Hopefully we will place well and earn points toward qualifying individuals for regional competition.”

Following are results from Friday’s competition.

 KSU vs. Tennessee-Martin:

Equitation over Fences
Ashley Collett 77 vs Phebe Brennan 69
Kendall Marvin 78 vs Michelle Thompson 65
Jen Rawle 75 vs Caroline Cramer 83
Whitney Snyder 77 vs Madeline Brown 69

Katie Mellon 74 vs Brittany Kasparack 72

Total: KSU 4-UTM 1

MVP: Caroline Cramer, UTM

Exhibition Equitation over Fences

Bridget Doyle 74 vs Mary Kathryn Hill 78

Equitation on the Flat
Jenny Giraldin 79 vs Kelsey Abell 78
Katie Mellon 78 vs Phebe Brennan 73
Ellesse Tzinberg 68 vs Caroline Cramer 83
Stephanie Patterson 68 vs Michelle Thompson 72
Whitney Snyder 84 vs Madeline Brown 74
            Total: KSU 3-UTM 2

MVP: Caroline Cramer, UTM

Exhibition Equitation on the Flat
Paige Kovari 68 vs Hilary Mason 74

English Total: KSU 7-UTM 3

Reining
Alecia Zimbelman 71 vs Hannah Eichstadt 70.5
Morgan Campbell 70.5 vs Amanda Weedon 71.5
Alyssa Freeman 70 vs Stephanie Sanders 72
Dani Pettera 71.5 vs Kendra Leake 71
Kaylee Stout 70 vs Hannah Derks 67.5
            Total: KSU 3-UTM 2

            MVP: Kendra Leake, UTM

Horsemanship
Alyssa Freeman 73 vs Hannah Derks 71
Laura Browne 71 vs Kendra Leake 70
Sierra Fredrick 71 vs Stephanie Sanders 70
Jana Lechtenberg 72 vs Lauren Eichstadt 70.5
Mikaela Sundgren 73.5 vs Sally Armstrong 71.5

            Total: KSU 5-Baylor 0

            MVP: Mikaela Sundgren, KSU

Exhibition Horsemanship
Erica Mackiewicz 71.5 vs Heidi Grimm 72

Western Total: KSU 8-UTM 2

KSU vs. Delaware State:

Equitation over Fences
Ashley Collett 77 vs Frasier Tuttle 79
Kendall Marvin 78 vs Kayleigh Karnbach 40
Jen Rawle 75 vs Kayla Blair 72
Whitney Snyder 77 vs Caroline Foltz 70

Katie Mellon 74 vs Kamerra Brown 70

Total: KSU 4-DSU 1

MVP: Caroline Cramer, UTM

Exhibition Equitation over Fences

Bridget Doyle 74 vs Ashley Butler 78

Equitation on the Flat
Jenny Giraldin 79 vs Kayla Blair 63
Katie Mellon 78 vs Frazier Tuttle 79

Ellesse Tzinberg 68 vs Caroline Foltz 76
Stephanie Patterson 68 vs Kamerra Brown 69
Whitney Snyder 84 vs Ashley Butler 76
            Total: KSU 2-DSU 3

MVP: Caroline Cramer, UTM

Exhibition Equitation on the Flat
Paige Kovari 68 vs Kayleigh Karnbach 72

English Total: KSU 6-DSU 4

Reining
Alecia Zimbelman 71 vs Alicia Maynard 0
Morgan Campbell 70.5 vs Christina Smith 68
Alyssa Freeman 70 vs Amanda Hotz 72.5
Dani Pettera 71.5 vs Morgan Scuse 71
Kaylee Stout 70 vs Jennifer Pierson 67.5
            Total: KSU 4-DSU 1

            MVP: Kendra Leake, UTM

Horsemanship
Alyssa Freeman 73 vs Christina Smith 71
Laura Browne 71 vs Brittni Collins 71.5
Sierra Fredrick 71 vs Amanda Hotz 69.5
Jana Lechtenberg 72 vs Morgan Scuse 65
Mikaela Sundgren 73.5 vs Jennifer Pierson 69

            Total: KSU 4-DSU 1

            MVP: Mikaela Sundgren, KSU

Exhibition Horsemanship
Erica Mackiewicz 71.5 vs Alicia Maynard 70.5

Western Total: KSU 8-DSU 2

Overall Total: KSU 15-UTM 5

                       KSU 14-DSU 6

          -kstatesports.com-