CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston western equestrian team had a pair of strong IHSA meets at the Charles H. Casey Equine Arena in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Eagles garnered High Point Team accolades by a large margin Sunday. Saturday, freshman Madison Wachtel (Fr., Wells, Nev.) had a great IHSA debut, earning High Point Rider. Wachtel was Sunday's Reserve High Point Rider.

In addition, Kassidy Kalka (So., Cottage Grove, Minn.) qualified for Regionals by pointing out of Rookie B Horsemanship into Level I Horsemanship. Brooke Hoven (So., Ankeny, Iowa) had a strong start to the season by winning Level II Ranch Riding Saturday, and Level II Horsemanship Sunday.

The Golden Eagles were led Saturday in Open Horsemanship with RaeAnna Danielson (So., Harris, Minn.) taking first, followed by Marley Halse (Fr., Mountlake Terrace, Wash.) in second, and Madison Wojcek (Fr., Bremerton, Wash.) in fourth. 

In Level II Ranch Riding Saturday, Hoven took first for the Golden Eagles, while Wachtel placed third, and Zoey Haas (Sr., Farmington, Minn.) fourth. In Level II Horsemanship, Wachtel took first, and Hoven sixth.

In Level I Horsemanship Saturday, Eliza Freund (Jr., Cando, N.D.) took third in section one, while Bethanie Gravelle (So., Aitkin, Minn.) and Eleanor Pettitt (Fr.) each took second in their respective sections.

In Rookie B Horsemanship, Kalka placed first Saturday, with Myra King (Fr.) taking fifth. In Beginner Horsemanship, Hailey Schlotfeldt (So., Luverne, N.D.) took first in her section, while Jenna Seibert (So., Sebeka, Minn.) placed fifth.

In Sunday's show, Halse took second, and Wojcek third in Open Reining. In Open Horsemanship, Halse placed third, while Ava Jo Glenn (Fr., Ennis, Texas) took fifth, and Danielson sixth.

In Level II Ranch Riding, Haas took first, followed by Wachtel in second. In Level II Horsemanship, Hoven placed first, with Wachtel taking third.

In Level I Horsemanship, Kalka took first in her section, with Pettitt taking third. Gravelle placed third in section one, while Freund placed fifth in her section.

In Rookie B Horsemanship, King took third. In Beginner Horsemanship, Seibert placed third in her section.

The Golden Eagles take on South Dakota State University November 3 in NCEA action. Their next IHSA meet is November 17 at North Dakota State University.