Equestrian | 12/9/2024 3:10:00 PM

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston western equestrian team concluded the 2024 portion of their schedule with a pair of IHSA meets at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. The Golden Eagles earned High Point Team accolades Saturday, and were the Reserve High Point Team Sunday. Kassidy Kalka (Jr., Cottage Grove, Minn.) was selected as the Reserve High Point Rider Saturday.

Minnesota Crookston had three riders qualify for the IHSA Regional Championships. Hailey Hanson (Fr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) qualified in Open Horsemanship. Madison Wojcek (So., Bremerton, Wash.) qualified in Open Horsemanship, and Open Reining. Jenna Seibert (Jr., Sebeka, Minn.) qualified in Rookie Horsemanship.

In Saturday's show, Hanson picked up a first-place ribbon in Open Horsemanship. Emma Mutnansky (Fr., Cass Lake, Minn.) took first in Open Horsemanship. She has six-consecutive class wins, and has earned 47 points just in horsemanship this season.

Kalka took first in Level II Horsemanship, while Jayci Lawrence (Fr., West Fargo, N.D.) obtained a first-place ribbon in Beginner Horsemanship.

Samantha Lyons (Fr., Lisbon, N.D.) picked up a second-place finish in Open Reining. Kalka took second in Level II Ranch Riding, while Bethanie Gravelle (Sr., Aitkin, Minn.) placed second in Level II Horsemanship.

Ava Jo Glenn (So., Ennis, Texas) placed third in Open Horsemanship, as did Eleanor Pettitt (So., Minnetrista, Minn.) in Level II Ranch Riding. Kianna Dolezal (So., Silver Lake, Minn.) took third in Level I Horsemanship.

Wojcek took fourth in Open Horsemanship, while Eliza Freund (Sr., Cando, N.D.) placed fourth in Level II Ranch Riding. Freund, Pettitt, Siara Mosby (Fr., Bremerton, Wash.), and Hailey Schlotfeldt (Jr., Luverne, N.D.) all took fifth in their disciplines Saturday. Madison Brown (Fr., South Haven, Minn.) and Alexis Heaton (So., Frazee, Minn.) placed sixth Saturday.

Hanson continued a strong weekend by taking first in Open Horsemanship. Mutnansky made it another class win in Open Horsemanship with a first-place finish. Kalka built on her strong performance Saturday to take first in Sunday's show in Level II Horsemanship. Dolezal placed first in Level I Horsemanship.

Wojcek placed second in Open Reining, while Mosby took second in Level I Horsemanship. Heaton had a second-place nod in Rookie A Horsemanship. Glenn placed third in Open Horsemanship, while Wojcek took third, as well in her section. Pettitt placed third in Level II Ranch Riding, while Lawrence took third in Beginner Horsemanship. Lyons placed fourth in Open Reining. Freund took fourth in Level II Ranch Riding, while Gravelle placed fourth in Level II Horsemanship. Seibert placed fourth in Rookie B Horsemanship.

Kalka, and Brown each notched fifth-place finishes, while Freund took sixth.

The Golden Eagles will compete in NCEA meets at Fresno State University January 23-24. Their next IHSA meet will be at North Dakota State University February 22.