Gopher Equestrian Opens Season at Preseason Tournament of Champions

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Goucher College equestrian team opened its 2021-22 season on Saturday at the Preseason Tournament of Champions hosted at Virginia Tech.  The Tournament of Champions is an invite-only competition for schools that won their regional championship the previous year.  Goucher was competing in its ninth straight Preseason Tournament of Champions.

Sophomore Jacob Connell (Ellicott City, Md./Mt. Hebron) was first in the Limit Fences competition and also placed third in Limit Flat.

Junior Cole Jackson (Denver, Colo./East) finished second in Open Fences and placed sixth overall for the High Collegiate Medal.

Junior Sarah Schultheis (Sterling, Va. / Potomac Falls) was eighth overall for the Low Collegiate Medal.

Junior Makaylin Shoop placed third in Intermediate Fences and was fifth in Intermediate Flat. 

Sophomore Kristen Wilhelm (Columbia, Md./Liberty) was fifth in the Novice Flat competition.

As a team the Gophers placed seventh overall out of 16 teams competing.  Emory and Henry was the team champion while Savannah Art & Design Team Gold was the reserve champion.

Goucher is back in action on Saturday, October 9 when it hosts its first IHSA show of the season.

Jacob Connell placed first overall in Limit Fences and third overal in Limit Flat at Saturday's Tournament of Champions at Virginia Tech.