BRISTOL, Va. – The Intermont Equestrian at Emory & Henry College IHSA Team finished the 2014-15 season in a strong position.
When the program was taken on by Emory & Henry last spring, the IHSA moved the team from Zone 4-Region 5 to Zone 4-Region 2. "Z4R2" is known across the country as one of the most, if not the most, competitive regions in the IHSA. E&H finished ninth out of 13 teams at the Region Championship on Sunday, March 22.
"I cannot say how impressed I am with this group of young riders," IHSA Coach Heather McCloud commented. "I feel that this year has been a 'trial by fire' kind of year and has created a drive in our riders to work harder, be smarter and to be awesome sportsmen; I have had the privilege to witness and be a part of their individual maturation as riders, and most importantly, future professional horsemen."
On Saturday, February 14, E&H competed at Bridgewater and finished second out of 13 teams. Junior Emily McBee (Cartersville, Ga.) won the Open Over Fences class after moving up from the novice division last season.
At Hollins on March 20, the Wasps were seventh overall. McBee was fifth in the Open Division On The Flat while senior Morgan Sollenberger (Concord, N.C.) was fifth in the Novice Flat. Junior Bailey Halverson (Concord, N.C.) was sixth in the Intermediate Over Fences while senior Jen Dininger (Lawrenceville, Ga.) was second in Walk/Trot/Canter. Freshman Galen Reyes (Hixson, Tenn.) was fifth in Walk/Trot.
In the morning of March 22 at Virginia, Sollenberger was second in Novice On The Flat and sophomore Nick Martino (Bel Air, Md.) finished second in Novice Over Fences. McBee was fourth in the Open Division Over Fences while sophomore Shelby Easterwood (Shreveport, La.) finished sixth in the Intermediate Over Fences.
Sollenberger qualified for the region championship at Virginia and finished second in her class, moving her on to the Zone 4 finals at Goucher College.
At Zones, Sollenberger finished third, just one spot out of qualifying for the IHSA National Championships, but will serve as an alternate for the show.
In the Walk/Trot/Canter Division, junior Karissa Donohue (Benson, N.C.) and Dininger qualified for regionals but finished out of the ribbons, missing the zone championship.
Martino posted a solid season at Novice On The Flat, falling just one point shy of qualifying for regionals.
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