Kotfila, Hanson, and McConville will compete in their first Zone Championships
Kotfila, McConville, and Hanson hold their ribbons |
STOUGHTON, Mass. (March 31, 2018) – Three sophomores qualified for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1 Championships to highlight Stonehill College's six riders at Saturday's IHSA Zone 1, Region 4 Championships at Winters End Farm in Stoughton, Massachusetts.
Sophomores Mariah Hanson (South Burlington, Vermont/South Burlington), Emma McConville (North Attleboro, Massachusetts/Wheeler School), and Kaitlin Kotfila (Hadley, Massachusetts/Hopkins Academy) led the Skyhawk performances at Regionals, while senior captains Abigail Westerlind (Auburn, Massachusetts/Auburn) and Baylee Kimbar (Worcester, Massachusetts/West Boylston) made their second appearance. Freshman Madison Roberts (East Hampton, Connecticut/East Hampton) rode in her first Zone 1, Region 4 Championships this season.
McConville kicked off the Championship with a first-place ribbon in the open flat class, for her first regional championship title of her career and third blue ribbon of the season. In the next ride, Kotfila placed second in intermediate flat for her second red ribbon of the year and first time qualifying for Zone 1 Championships. Hanson followed Kotfila's placement and earned her first red ribbon of the season in the novice fences class.
Kimbar competed in intermediate flat and took home seventh, while she also rode in the intermediate fences class taking home sixth place. Westerlind also finished seventh but in novice flat in her second-career appearance at Regionals.
The Skyhawks finished the regular season in second in the region, after totaling 32 points for first place at the Point Show on Friday, March 30, moving them up from fourth prior to the show.
Stonehill's three sophomores will compete on Saturday, April 7 in the IHSA Zone 1 Championships in South Hadley, Massachusetts hosted by Mount Holyoke College. They will be making their first appearances at the Zone 1 Championships and aims to advance to the IHSA National Championships in Harrisonburg, Pennsylvania in May.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
