Stonehill Fourth Following Day One of IHSA Nationals


(Left to right) Head Coach Tarah Watson, Nina Crossley and Ashley Dann with an IHSA official following Crossley's first place finish in team walk-trot-canter. (PHOTO BY Rachel Foster)

Stonehill Fourth Following Day One of IHSA Nationals

Crossley leads team point winners with first place finish
in walk-trot-canter; Hill reserve champion for individual intermediate flat

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 6, 2010) – The Stonehill College equestrian team is off to a strong start after day one of the 2010 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships at Kentucky Horse Park today. The Skyhawks are sitting in a fourth-place tie with 11 points along with the University of Kentucky. Skidmore College leads the team Hunter Seat standings with 20 points, with Centenary College second (14 points) and University of Findlay third (13).

Sophomore Nina Crossley (Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J./Northern Highlands) posted a first place finish out of 19 riders in the team walk-trot-canter equitation to earn seven points for Stonehill on day one. Freshman Martina Tramontozzi (Melrose, Mass./Melrose) placed third out of 19 riders for novice equitation over fences to collect four team points.


Coach Watson and Kelsey Hill following her reserve champion ride in intermediate fences. (PHOTO BY Rachel Foster)

Freshman Emily Dolan (Lacrosse, Wis./Aquinas) placed ninth for Stonehill in team intermediate equitation on the flat.

Senior Kelsey Hill (Dover-Foxcroft, Maine/Foxcroft Academy) earned reserve champion status with her second-place finish out of 20 riders for intermediate equitation on the flat to lead Stonehill's individual competitors on the afternoon. Stanford University's Katherine Fernhoff won the championship for that class. Hill also earned honorable mention honors for her performance in novice equitation over fences.

Also earning honorable mention honors for their individual competitions were senior Quinn Traendly (Hope Valley, R.I./Chariho Regional) for open equitation over fences and sophomore Christine Dwyer (Louisville, Ky./Kentucky Country Day) for novice equitation on the flat.

Action continues on Friday with three Stonehill riders scheduled to compete at the IHSA Nationals.