Senior Emily Dolan was high point rider as Stonehill placed second as a team at its season-opening show at Tufts. Dolan win both open fences and open flat on the day. (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes)

Dolan takes high point rider honors, while Skyhawks win six blue ribbons
Tramontozzi, McDonnell and Wright qualify for regionals

CONCORD, Mass. (October 12, 2012) – Stonehill College opened its 2012-13 season with reserve high point team honors at the Tufts University Show, hosted by Verril Farm over the weekend.

Stonehill compiled 34 points and was edged out for high point team honors by Boston University with 35 points, while host Tufts placed third. Senior Emily Dolan (Lacrosse, Wis./Aquinas) led the way for the Skyhawks with high point rider honors. She placed first for both open equitation over fences, edging classmate Cassandra Lorusso (Wrentham, Mass./Dana Hall School) in second, and open equitation on the flat. Lorusso placed fifth for open flat.

Three Stonehill riders pointed out to qualify for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1, Region 4 championships next spring with their efforts at Tufts. Junior Caitlin Wright (Old Lyme, Conn./Mercy) took first place for walk trot equitation to individually qualify for regionals, while sophomore Kayleigh McDonnell (Rutland, Vt./Rutland) placed first for walk-trot-canter to qualify for regionals. Senior Martina Tramontozzi (Melrose, Mass./Melrose) rounded out the Skyhawks regional qualifiers with her second place showing for novice equitation on the flat.

Sophomore Cassandra Otis (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) and freshman Casey Gross (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) rounded out Stonehill's blue ribbon winners by winning their novice fences classes.

Junior Sara Kelly (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) placed fourth for intermediate flat, while classmate Laura Chotkowski (Farmington, Conn./Ethel Walker) took fifth place in her section.

Stonehill is back in action on Saturday when it competes at the Wheaton College Show, hosted by Phoenix Rising Horse Farm in North Smithfield, R.I., at 9 a.m.