Equestrians To Make 27th All-Time Appearance at IHSA Nationals

Thursday, May 3

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex - Harrisburg, Pa.

ALL DAY

College of Charleston

IHSA Nationals

Equestrians To Make 27th All-Time Appearance at IHSA Nationals

5/2/2018 2:00:00 PM | Equestrian

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Nine members of the College of Charleston equestrian team will compete in team and individual competition at the 2018 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships to be held on May 3-6 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa.

This year's squad is honored to represent The College and their teammates this weekend. Under Head Coach Bob Story, the Cougars are making their 27th all-time appearance at nationals in which 450 riders from colleges across the country will compete.

Riders qualify for the IHSA National Championship Horse Show through a point system. During the year, team and individual contestants accumulate points at IHSA shows to qualify for the Regional Finals in their respective divisions. The Top 2 riders in each class of the Regional Finals move forward to the hunter seat Zone Finals and Western Semi-Finals. The top competitors and teams in each class qualify for nationals.

Eight Zone Finals were held on April 7-8 and the Top 2 teams and the Top 2 individual riders from each division all qualified for nationals. Many past championship teams will return and the full roster includes teams from College of Charleston, Mt. Holyoke, Boston University, Skidmore, St. Lawrence, Alfred University, Centenary University, Penn State, St. Andrews, Virginia Tech, SCAD, Middle Tennessee, University of Findlay, Otterbein University, Ohio State, West Texas A&M, Purdue, Black Hawk College, University of Wisconsin – River Falls, Stanford University, Colorado State, Oregon State and Nebraska.

"The team has had a great month of practices since our Zone Finals," Story said. "Winning this championship involves skill and lots of things happening in just the right way. It simply amazes me the consistency that the team has had throughout the years. To be making our 27th National Finals in the past 34 years speaks to the hard work and dedication these present – and past – riders have given to our sport."

Sophomore Elizabeth High (Georgetown, S.C.) qualified for IHSA Nationals out of Zone Finals and will compete individually in the Walk/Trot class, while junior Hannah Bentz (Boca Raton, Fla.) will ride in the T. McDonald Horsemanship Challenge.

In the team portion of competition, CofC will be represented by sophomore Elif Caynak (Fort Mill, S.C.) in Walk/Trot, sophomore Samantha Bledsoe (St. Charles, Ill.) in Walk/Trot/Canter, sophomore Gabrielle Bernier (Parkton, Md.) in Novice Flat and Intermediate Fences, sophomore Molly Coyle (Davidsonville, Md.) in Novice Fences, junior Sophia Meserve (Portsmouth, N.H.) in Intermediate Flat, junior Shannon Rice (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) in Open Flat and senior Rio Parker (Baltimore, Md.) in Open Fences.

Historically, the Cougars have competed well when the national championship has been held in Harrisburg, Pa. College of Charleston placed second (reserve champions) at the same site in 2014 and seventh in 2006.