Equestrian team takes top spot at North Carolina
By Alannah DiBona
Old Gold and Black Reporter

> February 16, 2001

The university’s newest intercollegiate group, the equestrian team, is making waves wherever they travel to compete.

On Feb. 3 the huntseat team traveled to the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill to show against several other rival colleges, including North Carolina, Duke, Elon, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College, Virginia Intermont College, UNC-Greensboro, Appalachian State and North Carolina State.

The university’s team took Champion High Point Team, the day’s highest award. Led by Coach Anne Morgan, the riders accumulated eight first-place finishes.

At an intercollegiate show the opposing teams must ride the other team’s horses, acquired by a random draw in a lottery.

The team must then gain individual points by participating in classes at different levels of difficulty.

Each rider’s points are added to the team total, and the team that is the numerical leader at the end of the day is awarded the title of Champion High Point Team.

Surpassing teams like St. Andrew’s and Virginia Intermont was a large step for the university’s riders.

“The team, from the standpoint of being brand new, has just amazed me, especially how the riders have pulled together so quickly,” Morgan said.

“They have exceeded all of our expectations,” she said. “The other teams are so nice and welcoming, and the team spirit we see is admirable.”

In the fall semester, the university’s team also captured the titles of Reserve Champion High Point Team at the UNC-Greensboro and Virginia Intermont horse shows.

Freshman Lauren Bates was awarded Champion High Point Rider at UNC-Greensboro, and freshman Kendrick Sudderth obtained the same title at Virginia Intermont. Sophomore Anne Sikorski also successfully won Reserve High Point Rider at North Carolina.

The team, formerly captained by junior Rehana Abbas, who is studying abroad this semester, is currently captained by sophomores Jillian Sahajdack and Lauren Magnetti.

“It has been so exciting to watch this team develop and succeed,” Sahajdack said. “Rehana did a great job starting it up last semester and it has been such an honor for Lauren Magnetti and I to co-captain it this season while she is abroad.

“The Chapel Hill show marked a huge accomplishment for us – to come together as a team and beat schools that have been doing this for years,” Sahajdack said.

The huntseat team will be appearing at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College horse show on March 19, and again at UNC-Greensboro on March 25.

Bates, Sudderth and Magnetti are also regional point qualifiers.

“I think this team is one of the premiere teams in the country right now,” junior Elena Perea said. “Our riders have been phenomenal.”