Stonehill Will Have Seven Individuals Join Team at Zone 1 Championships


Junior Cassandra Lorusso qualified for next weekend's zone championships in two events, winning the regional title for open fences. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Lorusso wins regional championship, qualifies in two events, Dolan and DeVirgilio also capture regional titles

HANOVER, Mass. (April 1, 2012) – Seven members of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1, Region 4, champion Stonehill College equestrian program will join the team in competition at the IHSA Zone 1 Championships after their individual performances at the Zone 1, Region 4 Championships, hosted by Boston University, at Holly Hill Show Stables on Saturday.

Stonehill, which qualified for the Zone 1 Championships as a team, will be joined next Saturday by seven Skyhawks who qualified as individuals with top two performances at the regional championships this weekend. The IHSA Zone 1 Championships will be hosted by Mount Holyoke University, in South Hadley, Mass., on Saturday, April 7.

Junior Cassandra Lorusso (Wrentham, Mass./Dana Hall School), who has already cliched a spot at nationals next month as the IHSA Zone 1, Region 4, representative for the Cacchione Cup, won the regional championship for open fences on Saturday and also qualified for Zones with her second place finish for open flat.

Senior Christine Dwyer (Park City, Utah/Kentucky Country Day) also won an individual blue ribbon to qualify for Zones for intermediate fences. Junior Emily Dolan (Lacrosse, Wis./Aquinas) won the regional championship for intermediate flat, while senior Margeaux DeVirgilio (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) earned a blue ribbon for novice fences to earn a zones spot as well.

Three Stonehill riders punched tickets to next week's zone championships with reserve champion finishes on Saturday. Senior Brianna Bach (Windham, N.H./Salem) placed second for intermediate flat, while senior Alexandra Keller (South Burlington, Vt./Stoneleigh-Burnham School) took second in novice flat. Senior Nina Crossley (Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional) will compete at zones next weekend in walk-trot-canter after posting a second place finish in that event.

Freshman Danielle Franchi (Islip, N.Y./Islip), who finished third in the Zone 1, Region 4 Cacchione Cup standings, placed third in open flat and fifth for open fences on Saturday as a sign of Stonehill's bright future. Junior Hanna Pattie (Newburyport, Mass./Brewster Academy) took third for intermediate flat.