Head Coach Kristen Redquest (center) with her two senior captain qualifiers for the IHSA Zone 1 Championships, Kristen Stachnik (left) and Sara Kelly. (PHOTO BY Tom Eng Photography)

Franchi and Kelly lead five zone qualifiers in seven events

EASTON, Mass. (April 1, 2014) – Five members of the Stonehill College equestrian team have qualified for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1 Championships this coming weekend after their performances at the IHSA Zone 1, Region 4 Championships, hosted by Boston University at Holly Hill Show Stables in Hanover, Mass., this past weekend.

Junior Danielle Franchi (Islip, N.Y./Islip) leads Stonehill's five individual qualifiers in seven total events as she won a pair of blue ribbons at the Zone 1, Region 4 Championships over the weekend for her first place finishes in open equitation over fences and open equitation on the flat, posting the fourth-highest point total in the region this season. Senior Sara Kelly (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) also qualified for zones in two events, posting second place finishes for both intermediate fences and intermediate flat.

Senior Kristen Stachnik (Westhampton, N.Y./Westhampton Beach) and junior Kayleigh McDonnell (Rutland, Vt./Rutland) both earned blue ribbons for their events to earn a trip to the Zone Championships. Stachnik placed first for intermediate fences, while McDonnell finished first for novice fences to go with a sixth place show for novice flat. Sophomore Emma Zamierowski (Winchester, Mass./Winchester) rounds out the Skyhawk riders who will compete at zones this coming weekend after placing second for walk trot equitation.

Sophomore Laura Haynes (Avon, Conn./Avon) was among eight total riders competing for Stonehill at the regional championships last weekend and placed fourth for intermediate fences. Junior Cassandra Otis (Downingtown, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) placed fifth for novice flat, while sophomore Rachel Fox (Smithfield, R.I./Smithfield) was sixth in intermediate flat.

Stonehill's five qualifiers, its most since 2012, will now compete at the IHSA Zone 1 Championships, hosted by Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, Mass., on Saturday at 9 a.m.

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Stonehill's eight regional qualifiers and Coach Kristen Redquest. (PHOTO BY Tom Eng Photography)