Liberty University Club Sports
Virginia Tech
Hunt Seat, Western equestrian teams place third at home, fifth on road in Region 4 shows
11/8/2022 6:40:00 PM | Equestrian
Liberty University's Hunt Seat team solidified its third-place standing in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association's (IHSA) Region 4 by finishing behind only Sweet Briar College and Randolph-Macon College in Saturday's show featuring riders from seven schools at the Liberty Equestrian Center and Sunday's event at SBC.
"This was our third show after placing fourth in our first one (Sept. 25 at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.) and second at Randolph-Macon College (on Oct. 16)," Liberty Head Coach Suzanne Flaig said. "Sweet Briar is currently winning by quite a bit, but the rest of our region is getting a little tighter with Randolph-Macon College ahead of us and strong competition from William & Mary, Mary Washington, and Christopher Newport."
She said it was a blessing to have the Equestrian Center's indoor arena to compete in through a rainy Saturday morning.
"Between riders and coaches and spectators, we had probably about 200 people here for the weekend, and it was great to be inside," Flaig said.
The seven college and university programs represented competed with a total of 80 rides in the various divisions from a field of 60-plus riders. Liberty totaled 29 points, landing one first-place finish from sophomore Hannah Summerlin in Pre-Novice and four runner-up showings from juniors Maggie Saunders (Open Flat) and Rebekah Honaker (Intermediate Flat), sophomore John Hutchinson (Limit Fences), and freshman Eve Bittner (Pre-Novice). Senior Auna Gutting placed third in Limit Flat.
"We definitely had more returners than newcomers competing," Flaig said, "but it definitely takes all of us, from the ones who have been there before to others seizing the opportunity to try out their skills in the competitive environment."
Then on Sunday, Liberty traveled to SBC in nearby Amherst County, Va., and again placed third with 29 points. Saunders captured a blue ribbon in Open Flat, Honaker placed second in Intermediate Fences and third in Intermediate Flat, senior Briley Boan placed second in Novice Flat, and junior Tristan Battin came in second in Limit Fences followed by Hutchinson in third. His sister, Claire, also a sophomore, placed third in Limit Flat while freshman Anna Pemble took third in Intermediate Flat.
Liberty's Western squad also competed over the weekend with successive shows on Saturday and Sunday at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., placing fifth both days while Amanda Mast and Morgan Fisk qualified for the Region 4 Championships in Beginner and Rookie Horsemanship with first-and fifth-place finishes, respectively, on both days.
Junior Sarah Gagnon placed first in Rookie B Horsemanship on Sunday after finishing fifth in Rookie B Horsemanship on Saturday. Sophomore Payton Ruwet placed second in Beginner Horsemanship on Saturday and Sunday.
Sophomore Abby Rice finished fourth in Rookie B Horsemanship on Saturday and Sunday, when senior Vivian Renfroe placed fourth and third, respectively, in Level 1 Horsemanship. Senior Virginia Barnett placed second in Level 2 Ranch Riding on Saturday and fourth in Level 2 Horsemanship on both Saturday and Sunday.
Liberty's Western team will compete at St. Andrews (N.C.) University, which won both shows at Virginia Tech, to conclude its fall semester before opening the spring with back-to-back home shows at the Liberty Equestrian Center on Jan. 28-29.
On that same day, the Hunt Seat team will conclude its fall semester on Nov. 19 at Richmond, for a show that was postponed by the remnants of Hurricane Ian on Oct. 2.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Videos edited by Micah Adams/Club Sports Video & Media Assistant
Players Mentioned
