Photo

Front Row: (L-R)
Morgyn Purdy,
Allison Kralovansky,
Charlynn Turner,
Abigail Paul, and
Katie Sidell.
Back Row: (L-R)
Sarah Kniesly,
Brittany Gambill, and Meagan Ryan.


Not pictured:
Heather Vaughn,
Natalya Brechlin, Elizabeth Burgess, and Ashley Bruner.

 

Written by Jena Thralls, SMWC Student

The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Western Equestrian Team recently ended the regular show season and competed in the Zone 9, Region 1 IHSA Regional Show on February 26th. The Regional show was hosted by SMWC. The team ended up clinching the Zone 9, Region 1 High Point Team title with a total of 233 points

“I am so proud to be coaching such a talented group of women,” said Western Team Coach Charlynn Turner.  “Teamwork and perseverance start with a goal; keeping that goal in reach is what continues to drive our success!”

SMWC also had the Regional High Point Rider and Regional Reserve High Point Rider. The Regional High Point Rider was Allison Kralovansky of Sheridan, Indiana. Kralovansky has now qualified for the National Show in May. Kralovansky said, “This season has been really special for me since I will be graduating in May.”  She also said that May 6-9 will mark her 5th appearance at a national equine competition. The national competition will be held at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. Kralovansky stated, “It seems only fitting to ride my last nationals class at the heart throb of the equine industry.”

The Regional Reserve Rider was Brittany Gambill, of West Terre Haute, Indiana. The SMWC Western team had 13 individual riders show at the Regional competition, in which 7 qualified to advance to Semi-Finals individually.

SMWC will now be heading to the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, Calif., to show at Semi-Finals on March 27 and 28. If the team places in the top three, SMWC will advance to Nationals as a Team. If any of the individual qualifiers place in the top 4, they will also advance to Nationals, which will be held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

The riders who qualified individually for Semi-Finals were Allison Kralovansky, Brittany Gambill, Morgyn Purdy of Morgantown,  Indiana Sarah Kniesly of Sheridan, Indiana, Katie Sidell,of Batesville, Indiana, Abigail Paul ofCumberland Foreside, Michigan and Meagan Ryan of Bedford, Indiana.

The riders who will be riding for the team at Semi-Finals are Brittany Gambill, Morgyn Purdy, Whitney Maloch of Plymouth, Wisconsin, Heather Vaughn of Zionsville, Indiana, Elizabeth Burgess of Nashua, New Hampshire, and Natalya Brechlin of Hancock, Wisconsin.