Three sophomores aim to qualify for IHSA Nationals in May
McConville |
Hanson |
Kotfila |
EASTON, Mass. (April 6, 2018) – Three members of the equestrian team will represent Stonehill College at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone 1 Championships on Saturday, April 7, hosted by Mount Holyoke College at the MHC Equestrian Center in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
Three out of six Skyhawks who participated at the IHSA Zone 1, Region 4 Championships last weekend qualified for the Zone 1 Championships. Sophomore Emma McConville (North Attleboro, Massachusetts/Wheeler) placed first in open flat, while classmates Mariah Hanson (South Burlington, Vermont/South Burlington) and Kaitlin Kotfila (Hadley, Massachusetts/Hopkins Academy) each took home second in novice fences and intermediate flat, respectively.
All three sophomores have qualified for Zone 1 Championships for the first time in their careers, as they all also competed in their first Zone 1, Region 4 Championships last weekend.
McConville earned her fourth blue ribbon of the season at the Regional Championships, where she earned first in the open flat division. She also earned first at the Point Show, the day before Regionals, the first show of the year at Brandeis and Northeastern and the home show in November. She also earned third and fourth twice during the season, and fifth once.
Hanson earned two blue ribbons this season with one being at the first show, hosted by Stonehill, in novice fences and the other at the Worcester State Show in novice flat. The South Burlington native qualified for Regionals early in the season with her fifth-place finish at the Stonehill Show in November in novice fences. The sophomore posted two fourth-place marks, one fifth, and two seventh-place tallied throughout the season.
Kotfila, the final sophomore, qualified for Regionals with her second-place finish in intermediate flat at the Point Show the Friday before the Championships. This season, the Hadley, Massachusetts native earned two blue ribbons, including one at the Boston College Show for intermediate flat. The sophomore also earned third, fourth and fifth in flat throughout the season.
Stonehill finished the regular season second in the region, after totaling 32 points for first place at the Point Show on Friday, March 30 at Winters End Farm to bump up from fourth in the region. The top two ribbon winners from each of the events at Saturday's Zone 1 Championships will advance to the IHSA National Championships, hosted at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from May 3-6.
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.
