RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The University of Minnesota Crookston equestrian team opened their IHSA season Saturday, October 7 and Sunday, October 8 with a pair of meets at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. The Golden Eagles were led by Kristen Borchert (So., Coon Rapids, Minn.), who earned Reserve High Point Rider Sunday.

Saturday, Juliana Gullo (So., Itasca, Ill.) led out by taking first in Open Fences, followed by Gabriella Siefkes (Jr., Aberdeen, S.D.) in second, and Alexandra Pfaffenbach (Sr., Appleton, Wis.) in third. In Open Flat, Siefkes took third, Gullo fourth, Belle Syrett (Fr., Winnipeg, Manitoba) fifth, and Danica Bergagnini (Fr., Winnipeg, Manitoba) sixth.

Alexandra Wentland (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) put together a strong ride in Intermediate Fences to take second. She took third in Intermediate Flat.

In Limit Fences, Borchert qualified for the Regional Championships, by taking second in section two. Faith Retzlaff (So., Columbus, Wis.) placed third in section one. 

In Limit Flat, Borchert had a strong ride, taking first in section one. Jada Schimke (So., Maple Grove, Minn.) took first in section two. Retzlaff placed sixth in section one. 

In Novice Flat Saturday, Delainey Lancaster (Sr., Watertown, S.D.) placed sixth in section two, while Jane Droll (Fr.) took sixth in section one. In Pre-Novice Flat, Samantha Halliday (Fr.) placed first. In Intro Flat, Christina Fielder (So., Burtrum, Minn.) took first, and qualified for the Regional Championships.

During Sunday's show, Gullo followed up Saturday's Open Fences ride by taking another first-place finish. Siefkes placed third, while Pfaffenbach took fourth.

In Open Flat, Bergagnini showed great improvement and took first. Pfaffenbach placed second, Gullo third, and Syrett fifth.

In Intermediate Fences, Borchert had a strong ride to take second, while Wentland took fourth. In Intermediate Flat, Wentland had a great ride to place first.

In Limit Fences, Retzlaff took third. In Limit Flat, Schimke placed first in section two, while Borchert took sixth. In section one, Retzlaff placed fourth.

In Novice Flat, Droll took first in section one, while Lancaster placed fourth in the second section. In Pre-Novice Flat, Halliday took fifth in section one, while Fiedler placed second in section two.

The Golden Eagle jump seat equestrian squad will next compete October 21 and 22 in Fargo, N.D., against North Dakota State University.