ROSCOE, Ill. - The University of Minnesota Crookston jumping seat equestrian team placed fifth as a team at the IHSA Zone 7 Championships Saturday, March 30 at Ledges Sporting Horses in Roscoe, Ill. In addition, Minnesota Crookston qualified two individuals for the National Championship May 3-5 at Tryon International in Mill Spring, N.C. Gabriella Siefkes (Sr., Aberdeen, S.D.) and Alexandra Wentland (Jr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) will represent the team at Nationals, joining Hailey Schlotfeldt (So., Luverne, N.D.), who will represent the western squad. The Golden Eagles have had their most riders competing at Nationals since 2015.

In Individual Classes, Siefkes placed second in Individual Open Fences and Individual Open Flat to qualify for the National Championships in both classes. Wentland took first in Intermediate Fences.  In addition, Juliana Gullo (So., Itasca, Ill.) took eighth in Open Fences. Wentland placed sixth in Intermediate Flat. Jada Schimke (So., Maple Grove, Minn.) took seventh in Limit Flat. Christina Fiedler (So., Burtrum, Minn.) placed fourth in Intro Flat, and Siefkes took fifth in the Cacchione Cup for Zone 7.

In the team competition, the Golden Eagles had a strong overall showing. Gullo placed third in Open Fences. Siefkes had a strong third-place finish in Open Flat. Kristen Borchert (So., Coon Rapids, Minn.) finished third in Intermediate Fences. Schimke took fourth in Intermediate Flat, and third in Limit Fences. Jane Droll (Fr., Highland Park, Ill.) had a great ride in Novice Flat to take first. Alexis Heaton (Fr., Frazee, Minn.) placed fourth in Intro Flat.