Equestrian | 11/18/2024 9:38:00 AM

FARGO, N.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston western equestrian team competed in three IHSA shows Friday, November 15, Saturday, November 16, and Sunday, November 17 in Fargo, N.D., at North Dakota State University. Minnesota Crookston earned High Point Team Friday, and Reserve High Point Team Saturday, and Sunday.

Friday, the Golden Eagles picked up four first-place ribbons. Madison Wojcek (So., Bremerton, Wash.) took first in Open Reining. Emma Mutnansky (Fr., Cass Lake, Minn.) placed first in Open Horsemanship, and qualified for the Regional Championships this Spring. Eliza Freund (Sr., Cando, N.D.) took first in Level I Horsemanship, and also qualified for Regionals. Alexis Heaton (So., Frazee, Minn.) placed first in Beginner Horsemanship, and was the third rider to reach the Regional Championships after Friday's show. 

Hailey Hanson (Fr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) earned a second-place ribbon in Open Horsemanship for the Golden Eagles. Bethanie Gravelle (Jr., Aitkin, Minn.) had a solid ride to take second in Level II Horsemanship, while Hailey Schlotfeldt (Jr., Luverne, Minn.) took second in Rookie B Horsemanship.

Wojcek had a third-place finish in Open Horsemanship, as did Madison Brown (Fr., South Haven, Minn.) in Level II Horsemanship for the Golden Eagles.

Ava Jo Glenn (So., Ennis, Texas) took fourth place in Open Horsemanship, while Kassidy Kalka (Jr., Cottage Grove, Minn.)  took fourth in Level II Ranch Riding, and Level II Horsemanship.

Kianna Dolezal (So., Silver Lake, Minn.) had a fifth-place finish in Rookie B Horsemanship, while Olivia Monger (Fr., Orono, Minn.) took seventh Friday in Rookie A Horsemanship, as did Madison Wachtel (So., Wells, Nev.) in Open Horsemanship.

Saturday, Mutnansky continued a strong weekend by taking first in Open Horsemanship. Dolezal placed first in her section of Rookie B Horsemanship, as did Jenna Seibert (Jr., Sebeka, Minn.).

Samantha Lyons (Fr., Lisbon, N.D.) put together a strong showing to take the second-place ribbon in Open Reining, while Wojcek did so in Open Horsemanship. Schlotfeldt took second in Rookie B Horsemanship. 

Kalka and Eleanor Pettitt (So., Minnetrista, Minn.) placed third in their sections of Level II Ranch Riding. Wojcek, Glenn, and Kalka all had fourth-place ribbons Saturday for Minnesota Crookston. Gravelle took fifth in Level II Horsemanship, while Pettitt took fifth in her section of Level II Horsemanship, and Jayci Lawrence (Fr., West Fargo, N.D.) placed fifth in Beginner Horsemanship. Wachtel, Freund, Brown, Siara Mosby (Fr., Bremerton, Wash.), and Monger all placed sixth Saturday. Hanson, Freund, and Heaton had seventh-place finishes.

Sunday, the Golden Eagles were propelled by Glenn taking first in her section of Open Horsemanship, while Mutnansky placed first in section two of Open Horsemanship. 

Wojcek earned second-place finishes in Open Reining, and Open Horsemanship. Kalka took second in Level II Horsemanship, while Mosby placed second in Level I Horsemanship. Seibert had a second-place ribbon in Rookie B Horsemanship.

Freund placed third in Level II Horsemanship. Dolezal had a strong ride to take third in Rookie B Horsemanship, while Monger took third in Rookie A Horsemanship. Hanson placed fourth in Open Horsemanship, while Kalka took fourth in Level II Ranch Riding.

Lyons, Wachtel, Pettitt (twice), Schlotfeldt, Heaton, and Lawrence placed fifth Sunday. Freund, and Gravelle had sixth-place nods, while Brown placed seventh. 

The Golden Eagles will compete December 7 and 8 at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to wrap up the 2024 portion of their schedule.