Malone, Sherpa Advance to Zone IV Championships

POOLESVILLE, Md. — Goucher will have four individual riders competing at the IHSA Zone IV Championships on April 6 after Laura Malone (Weston, Mass./Weston) and Kaduk Sherpa (East Aurora, N.Y./The Park School) qualified with second-place performances today at the Zone IV Region I Championships conducted at Tulip Pond Farm.

Malone advances to zones as the region's reserve champion in novice equitation over fences and Sherpa as the second-place finisher in advanced walk-trot-canter equitation. At zones, the champions and runners-up in every class from each of the four regions vie for a spot at the IHSA National Horse Show.

Two Goucher riders gained entry to zones without having to compete at today's event. As Region I's uncontested open division champion in both the jumping and flat phases, Joey Fink (Baltimore, Md./The Park School) moves on to zones, as does Ashley Bent (Phoenixville, Pa./Phoenixville Area), one of only two regional qualifiers in intermediate fences.

Moriah Patashnik (Seattle, Wash./The Northwest School) placed third today in novice fences.

Zones is also where Goucher will compete against the team champions from the other three regions for the two berths in the Collegiate Cup Hunter Seat at the IHSA National Horse Show in May. Joining the Gophers in the battle will be Bridgewater (Region II), St. Andrews (Region III) and Mary Washington (Region IV).

First-year head coach Jen Bunty has put together the following line-up to represent Goucher:  Fink in the open division, Alison Radgowski (Northport, N.Y./Northport) in intermediate, Anna Carmichael (Colorado Springs, Colo./William J. Palmer) in novice, Sarah Lummis (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) in advanced walk-trot-canter and Kaili Janette (New Haven, Conn./Hebrew High School of New England) in walk-trot.

The Gophers achieved their best finish ever at nationals last season by winding up in a two-way tie for fifth place.