March 15, 2002

Equestrian Wraps Up Season

Print More

The equestrian team hopes to end its season on high note, as it trails Skidmore by 15 points. The equestrian team will end its regular season over spring break at the second Hartwick Show in Oneonta, N.Y., on Saturday, March 23. The Red finished fourth in the first Hartwick show at the start of the season. Since that point the team has come on strong, as it find itself in second place in the division, trailing archrival Skidmore by 15 points. Yet only one team advances to the Zonal championships from the division. Thus if Cornell is going to have any chance of advancing, it is going to need a stellar performance to overtake the Thoroughbreds.

“We are in striking range of Skidmore,” indicated head coach Chris Mitchell. “It will be tough, but it is doable.”

Fortunately for the squad, it picked the right time in the season to peak. Cornell has convincingly won the last two shows it has competed in, scoring 37 in its own show three weeks ago and a season high 45 points at Morrisville last week. During this time the Red has cut its deficit to Skidmore in half, from 29 to 15 points.

“Our outlook is good, we have to go in and win, but we have the momentum,” indicated Mitchell.

A big part of the rally has been the efforts of the riders in the Open division, especially senior tri-captains Julie Canter, Helen O’Brien and Zoe Oreki. Canter has been perhaps the most impressive in the past two shows. She won her division in both the Open flat and fences at each of the last two shows to lead the Red in points. She was also named high point reserve rider and high point rider for her efforts in the last two shows. Oreki and junior Kate Cornell will look to ride well, as both are close to qualifying for Regionals in fences. The Red will also need strong riding from fellow senior Stacey Oxley, junior Kiva Iscol, and sophomore Jeanette Pettit.

Cornell will also need a good showing from freshman tandem Erica Rosen and Kate Reynolds in the Intermediate division. Both have been consistent, finishing high in their classes. They may also get help from sophomore Alaina Hoffman, who performed well last week in the flat after moving up to the Intermediate division. She will also look to qualify for Regionals in fences.

Freshman Gillian Pech has been leading the Novice division, and has been one of the top riders recently for the Red. She won both her divisions last week and joined Julie Canter in the high point ride off.

The Advanced-Walk-Trot will likely rely on Becky Hermann. Sophomore Lindsay Campbell and freshman Linda Nguyen will represent the Red in the Beginner-Walk-Trot-Canter and the Walk-Trot division, respectively.

Archived article by Chris Callanan