Western team concludes season at IHSA semis; Stewart to represent Morrisville State at Nationals

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The Morrisville State College western equestrian team completed their 2012-13 season Saturday at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) national semi-finals in Syracuse.

The Mustangs finished fifth overall in team competition with 16 points, with team riders finishing in the top six spots in their respective classes. The University of Nebraska (27) edged out Ohio State University (26) for show championship honors.

Oswego followed in third, compiling 24 team points, with Clemson claiming the fourth team spot with 18.

In team competition, Megan Freemantle (Middlefield, Conn.) and Kelsey Stewart (Cuttingsville, Vt.) each earned third place; Freemantle in reining and Stewart in open horsemanship. Kirby Dygert (Elma, N.Y.) claimed fifth in advance horsemanship and Nicole Pulcher-Guzek (Troy, N.Y.) was fifth in novice horsemanship.

Marybeth Allen (Fort Plain, N.Y.) finished fourth in intermediate horsemanship and Kaitlyn Saunders (Bennington, Vt.) was sixth in the beginner class.

In individual competition, Kristen Jankowski (New Woodstock, N.Y.) and Jessica Gilchrist (Evans Mills, N.Y.) each placed seventh out of 18 riders in each division; Jankowski in the intermediate class and Gilchrist in the beginner class.

Stewart completed the regular season as the high point champion for the region and will represent Zone 2, Region 3 at the National Championships in Harrisburg in the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) High Point Rider competition.