Morrisville State western team completes regular season undefeated

The Morrisville State College western equestrian team posted high point team honors twice in Sunday's show, completing the regular season with an undefeated 8-0 record.



Topping the competition with 251 team points throughout the season, Morrisville State will be representing Zone 2, Region 3 at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) western semi-finals team competition in Findlay, Ohio on March 26th.



In the first of the double show on Sunday, Morrisville State edged Cobleskill by two points to earn high point team honors with two Mustang riders claiming the high point and reserve high point rider positions. Catherine Howland (Rutlandtown, VT) was high point rider for the show, placing second in reining and claiming the top position in the open western horsemanship class.



Megan Freemantle (Middlefield, CT) was reserve high point rider, placing first in reining and following with a fourth place finish in the open class.



Erin Moseley (Cazenovia, NY) was top rider in the advanced horsemanship class, while Nicole Blanton (Callicoon, NY) took the blue in the novice class.



Morrisville State had three earn the top spot in the intermediate II class, including Tanya Ashford (Wapwallopen, PA), Alexandra Vargo (Ontario, NY) and Paige Jerrett (Parish, NY). Wyatt Carbaugh (Greencastle, PA) claimed first in the intermediate I class, while Kelly Hunter (Red Hook, NY) was the top rider in the beginner western horsemanship class.



In the afternoon, Morrisville State repeated with high point team honors, as Colgate was the show's reserve high point team.



Howland tied for high point rider honors with Anna Lee (Colgate), placing second in reining and first in the open horsemanship class.



Elizabeth Scott (Chittenango, NY) was the top rider in the advanced class, while Tawnee Collins (Evans Mills, NY), Blanton and Alexis Wall (St. Johnsville, NY) were first place finishers in the novice western horsemanship class.



Ashford, David Benninghoven (Gilroy, CA) and Amanda Meyer (Equinunk, PA) were blue ribbon winners in the intermediate II class, as Carbaugh rounded out top place winners for the Mustangs with his second victory in the intermediate class.



Morrisville State hosts the regional competition on Sunday, March 6 and have seven riders who were Zone 2, Region 3 Championship Show qualifiers: Freemantle in reining, Andrea LaManque (Cold Brook, NY) and Renee Petruzzelli (Clifton Springs, NY) in advanced horsemanship, Jennifer Boise (New Haven, CT) in novice, and Benninghoven, Vargo and Marisa Mendolia (Pleasant Valley, NY) in intermediate horsemanship.