Goucher Equestrian Has Four Riders Finish In The Top-2 At IHSA Zone IV Region I Championships
AITHERSBURG, Md. – Irene Elise Powlick (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline) took home two regional championship titles while all four Goucher riders that qualified for the regional event finished in the Top-2 at the IHSA Zone IV Region I Final on Saturday to qualify for the Zone IV Championships.
Powlick was named the Region Champion open fences and the Region Champion open flat.
"It was a pretty amazing day because every single rider that qualified for regionals, got first or second, qualifying them for the Zone Championships in every class that they qualified for," said head coach Jen Smith. " I'm pretty sure that's the first time that's ever happened."
Cherise Madrid (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) also won in the walk trot to earn the Regional Champion title in that category.
Courtney Sloan (Annadale, Va./W.T. Woodson) finished second in two events to earn the title of Reserve Regional Champion intermediate fences and Reserve Regional Champion novice flat. Wren Wakeman (Addison, Maine/Washington Academy) also placed Top-2 with a Reserve Regional Champion walk trot canter.
The team qualified for the Zone IV Championships at the University of Virginia at the Maryland/American IHSA Show on March 3. Goucher as a team and the four individuals look to finish in the Top-2 at the zone championships to advance the National Championship.
IHSA competition is broken up into five categories based on experience. The Open division has the most experienced rider, while intermediate is No. 2, novice is No. 3, walk trot canter is No. 4 and Walk trot is No. 5. The top three categories include two sub-sections; the "flat" which is a pattern that does not include jumping, and a fences section. In addition, when teams are on the road, like the Gophers were at Mary Washington, they are using the horses at the home stable. The riders are judged on their ability to adapt, communicate, and perform with an unfamiliar horse.
Goucher College heads to the IHSA Zone IV Championships at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., on April 6.
CONNECT WITH THE GOPHERS
Be sure to follow the Gophers all season long at athletics.goucher.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for up-to-date scores, news, and other information. Find webcasts for upcoming athletic events and sign up for email newsletters to receive the latest news directly in your inbox.