Radgowski Moves Up, Places Third in Medal Class

BRIDGEWATER, Pa. — Goucher was without its rider which normally competes in the open division for the Winter Classic Tournament of Champions, which was conducted today at the Bridgewater Equestrian Center. That provided an opportunity for Alison Radgowski (Northport, N.Y./Northport) to move up from the intermediate level and compete against some of the top collegiate riders in the nation.

Radgowski distinguished herself by placing third overall in the medal class, which is normally reserved for open riders. She also took third place in intermediate equitation over fences, earning four points toward Goucher's team score.

Sarah Lummis (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) also secured four points for the Gophers with a third-place performance in advanced walk-trot-canter equitation.

With only eight points, Goucher finished outside the top 10 in team scoring, but through the first three legs of the the 2014-15 Tournament of Champions series, head coach Jen Bunty's riders find themselves in third place behind Savannah Art & Design and Mt. Holyoke.

Savannah A&D won today's event with a score of 33 points, one point more than Sweet Briar, which took second place, and two points ahead of Bridgewater (Va.), which placed third.

The Tournament of Champions is a non-sanctioned exhibition series structured like an IHSA riding show. Because a team's top scores from only two of that season's four events count in the final standings, Goucher can toss out today's score and keep the 41 it earned at the Preseason Classic back in September and the 22 from the Holiday Tournament of Champions in December for an average of 31.5.

Savannah A&D is the leader heading into the final event of the series with an average score of 36. Mt. Holyoke is second at 34.

The 2014-15 Tournament of Champions will conclude on Saturday at the Winter Classic in Laurinburg, N.C.