The equestrian team put on a big show at the Cornell Invitational this past weekend, and head coach Chris Mitchell was impressed.
“The whole team really stepped it up,” Mitchell said. “It was an unbelievable undertaking. They did a fantastic job of getting things together and making sure things ran well. They were excellent.”
[img_assist|nid=19809|title=Riding with pride.|desc=Members of the equestrian team ride during yesterday’s Cornell Invitational at the Oxley Equestrian Center. (Rob Ochschorn / Sun Staff)|link=popup|align=left|width=80|height=100]
The Red did well at more than just orchestrating the event. A number of its riding qualified for for Regionals, including senior captain Laura Acker, who qualified out of the Intermediate Flat division into Open Flat, as well as classmate and captain Rita Mizrahi, who qualified out of Walk/Trot/Canter into Novice. Sophomore Amanda Brenske also qualified for Regionals and moved out of Walk/Trot and into Walk/Trot/Canter.
Freshmen Kim Brody and Clara Hall won first and second place, respectively, in their classes. Senior Allison Chan placed out of Walk/Trot/Canter and into the Advanced division, and Junior Kendall Banks was on the top of Mitchell’s list as well.
“We had some great performances,” Mitchell said. “They all rode extremely well.”
Overall, the Red finished second at the Invitational and placed after Skidmore, who came out ahead by only five points. The Red is set to meet Skidmore again next weekend at Morrisville, and Mitchell hopes to come back from the nine-point deficit between them.
“Skidmore is always our toughest [opponent],” Mitchell said. “We have to regroup from this weekend and come back strong for next weekend.”
Mitchell isn’t the only one of the team who has high hopes for the Red surpassing their rivals. Senior captain Rita Mizrahi is confident in her team’s ability to come out on top.
“Everybody rode really well today,” Mizrahi said. “We definitely have a chance against Skidmore next weekend. We’re just as strong as they are.”
Despite how impressed he was with his team’s performance, Mitchell knows the Red have a few things to work on before its next showing.
“We’re riding well,” Mitchell said. “We’re just not putting in for the two full parts [in morning and afternoon competitions]. The first part of the day is jumping, which is a little more involved as opposed to the flatwork in the afternoon. In the morning [Sunday], we were in the middle of the pack, but in the end we came out strong.”
Overall, Mitchell is confident in his team and extremely proud of their performance this past weekend.
“We rode extremely well,” Mitchell said. “We just need to step it up. Everyone needs to step it up.”
The Red will compete at the Morrisville Invitational next weekend.