CofC Equestrian Travels to Zone 5 Finals to Launch Postseason

Saturday, April 2

Savannah, GA

College of Charleston

IHSA Zone Finals

CofC Equestrian Travels to Zone 5 Finals to Launch Postseason

3/31/2022 12:03:00 PM | Equestrian

The Cougars compete at SCAD on Saturday, April 2

CHARLESTON, S.C. --- Fresh off winning a Region Championship for the 30^th time in program history, the College of Charleston Equestrian squad is set for the Zone Finals in Savannah, Georgia on Saturday, April 2. Region Coach of the Year Natasha V. McCarthy takes the Cougars to SCAD seeking a 28^th all-time IHSA National Championship Horse Show team appearance.

CofC looks to continue what has been a sensational campaign in which the Cougars won High Point Team honors on six of nine possible competitions days throughout the 2021-22 season on their way to a Region Championship.

"After a very exciting Regular Season, a now after a few very strong weeks of practice, I feel really good about our postseason team heading into these Zone 5 Championships," McCarthy said. "The team is riding well, our horses look amazing, and the team morale is at an all-time high. I am look forward to competing at SCAD and riding our best."

The Zone Finals Horse Show in Savannah at the Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET. The Cougars will compete against a host of schools from nine different states at the Zone 5 Finals, including Auburn, Berry College, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, Converse College, FAU, Florida Southern, Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Maryville College, Middle Tennessee State, Murray State, Samford, SCAD, Texas State, University of the South, Tulane, Alabama, UCF, Georgia, Miami, USC-Aiken, USC, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Wofford.

CofC is one of five teams in that group, alongside SCAD, LSU, Berry and University of the South, who enter Zones having won a Regional Championship. The top two teams and individual class placements at Zones will progress to the IHSA National Championship held in Harrisonburg from May 5-8.

College of Charleston will have seven riders competing at the Zone 5 Finals. Senior Kate Coffey and freshman Kathryn McCarthy will ride in both the Individual Open Fences and Open Flat classes. Coffey will represent the team in the Open Flat while McCarthy represents the squad in the Open Fences. Coffey recently won the Sportsmanship Award for the Region and earned Regional Reserve Champion recognition at the Region Finals. McCarthy is coming off winning the Region crown in the Open Flat competition.

CofC's Connelly Grant will compete individually in the Intermediate Fences class and for the team in the Intermediate Flat. Grant placed second in the Intermediate Fences at Regionals.

Freshman Caroline Berg makes her postseason debut by riding for the Cougars in the Int Team Jumping class. Fellow rookie McLean Holmes is set to ride in both the Limit Team Flat and Limit Team Fences competitions. Additionally, sophomore Natalie Juckett will ride in the Novice Team Flat class and Lily Borders in the Introductory Team Flat.