CofC Equestrian Takes Fifth Nationally at IHSA Finals to Nab Best Finish Since 2015

Thursday, May 5

Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex - Harrisonburg, PA

College of Charleston

IHSA Nationals

CofC Equestrian Takes Fifth Nationally at IHSA Finals to Nab Best Finish Since 2015

5/7/2022 4:03:00 PM | Equestrian

The Cougars now have 14 Top-5 national finishes in school history

HARRISBURG, PA. – The College of Charleston Equestrian team finished fifth nationally at the IHSA Finals on Saturday, securing the best finish for the program since 2015. The Cougars have now placed fifth or better in the country 14 times in program history, picking up just their fourth Top-5 team finish in the last 20 years.

Six different Cougars placed in the Top-8 in their respective events to fuel head coach Natasha V. McCarthy's squad to the fifth-place performance. CofC's competitors battled over three days of stellar all-around riding.

Charleston's McLean Holmes, Connelly Grant, Caroline Berg, Lily Borders, Natalie Juckett, Kathryn McCarthy and Kate Coffey all competed for the Cougars at the 2022 IHSA Nationals. Holmes punctuated the week with two outstanding rides on Day One. The freshman from Spartanburg, S.C., took third in the Limit Equitation On-the-Flat before nabbing sixth in the Limit Equitation Over Fences to place in both events.

On Day Two, another standout freshman Caroline Berg kept the momentum going with a fifth-place finish in the Intermediate Over Fences in her IHSA Finals debut. Sophomores Natalie Juckett and Lily Borders tacked on a sixth-place performance in the Introductory Flat and eighth-place ride in the Novice Flat, respectively.

On the final day Saturday, freshman captain Kathryn McCarthy and senior captain Kate Coffey took to the ring in the Open Fences and Open Flat. McCarthy capped an incredible rookie campaign with a fifth-place finish in Open Fences. Coffey meanwhile took eighth in Open Flat to wrap up what's been one of the most decorated careers by any Cougar in CofC Equestrian history.

CofC's fifth-place national performance punctuates a special season that saw the Cougars earn their 30^th Regional title, take High Point Team honors six times and make their 28^th all-time IHSA Nationals Appearance.