Goucher College Equestrian Claims 11th-Straight IHSA Zone IV Region I Championship

BALTIMORE, Md. – The Goucher College equestrian team has claimed its 11th-straight IHSA Zone IV Region I title.

The Gophers had the inside track to the crown going into this weekend's IHSA Mount St. Mary's Show, holding a 16-point lead. Just like the NCAA announced to cancel all winter and spring championships on Thursday, the IHSA came to the same decision due to CONVID-19. With the season reaching its conclusion, Goucher has retained its status at the top of the region for the 11th-straight campaign.

"We have bittersweet feelings today," said head coach Jen Smith. "We are heartbroken, particularly for our outstanding group of seniors, that postseason has been cancelled.  We support the IHSA and ANRC's decision to prioritize the health and safety of our community. We are incredibly proud of this group of talented riders who have worked tirelessly all year, and come out with an 11th-consecutive Regional Championship and six Regional Championship qualifiers."

With this announcement, it marks the end of the collegiate riding careers for seniors Cherise Madrid (Braintree, Mass./Braintree), Isabella Marini (Taunton, Mass./Liberal Arts and Science Academy), Anna Wright (New Hope, Pa./New Hope Solebury), Courtney Sloan (Annandale, Va./W.T. Woodson) and Victoria Wheeler (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon).

Madrid, who won the National Championship in the walk trot last year, qualified for the IHSA Zone IV Region I Championships in the novice flat while Sloan qualified for the region in open fences and intermediate flat and Wright qualified for the in the limit flat. Marini qualified in the novice flat and Wheeler qualified in the intermediate flat. Newcomer Cole Jackson (Denver, Colo./East) also qualified for the region championships in the limit flat.