IHSA Nationals: Gophers Finish in Tie for Seventh Place

Points Come From Fink in Novice Flat, Postel in Open Fences

RALEIGH, N.C. — Goucher wrapped up its 2011-12 campaign in impressive fashion today, finishing in a tie for seventh place in the hunter seat team standings at the IHSA National Horse Show, which was conducted at the Hunt Horse Complex.

Fifteen intercollegiate riding programs took part in the Collegiate Cup Hunter Seat team competition. Eight of the 15 qualified for nationals by winning regional teams titles (Goucher went as Region IV champion); the remaining seven were runners-up in their region.

St. Lawrence emerged as the national champion by amassing 31 points. Skidmore placed second with 24 points and Brown followed in third place with 17 points. Mt. Holyoke (16 points), Centenary (15) and Savannah Art & Desgin (13) placed fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively, while the Gophers and Penn State both tallied nine points to tie for seventh place.

St. Andrews, the other national qualifier out of Region IV, was part of a five-way tie for ninth place with a team score of seven points.

Joey Fink (Pikesville, Md./The Park School) earned five of Goucher's nine points for his second-place performance in novice equitation on the flat. The only rider to score higher in novice flat was Katherine Figueroa from St. Lawrence.

The Gophers' remaining four points were the result of Karli Postel (Newbury Park, Calif./Oaks Christian School) being awarded third place in open equitation over fences. Finishing ahead of her were Kels Bonham from Savannah Art & Design in first place and Jacqueline Lubrano from Brown in second.

Addie Jabin (Annapolis, Md./Severn School), who represented Goucher in the intermediate division, placed 10th in the flat phase, but did not score any points.

Postel also took part in the prestigious Cacchione Cup competition as the high point rider out of Zone IV Region I. She was awarded a score of 68.00 points in the flat phase, but needed a minimum score of 69.50 to place among the top 24 and continue on to the jumping phase. Instead, she finished in 27th place.