The Cornell equestrian team traveled to Oneonta, N.Y., to take on Hartwick on Saturday, March 6th, and came home with 42 points and an impressive second-straight first-place showing.
Skidmore finished second with 41 points, Colgate 36, Siena 35, Binghamton 34, Hartwick 32, Cobleskill 31, Morrisville 30, RPI 25, Ithaca 20, Hamilton 19, Oneonta and Albany with 18, Hobart 14 and Elmira had 13 points.
In open fences, senior Brooke Cagwin rode to a sixth-place finish, while junior captain Georgina Melbye, just coming off the IR, rode to a fourth place, and senior captain Heather Sherman took a sixth-place finish.
In intermediate fences, sophomore Caroline Rusk, riding in her first intermediate class, rode great to a second place. Classmate Katie Fink rode to the win, while junior Kelsey Craig needed to be at least second to qualify, and she did that in style with the win.
Freshman Anne Elise Creamer continued her winning ways in the novice fences event and rode to the win, while sophomore Samantha Duxbury rode to her first win in novice fences, and freshman Emily Kowalchik finished the novice sweep with a win, her first IHSA career win over fences.
In the open flat event, Cagwin was back to qualify, needing only four points, and she rode to a second-place finish. Craig rode to the win on Clifford in her first open class, while classmate Georgina Melbye also got the ride on Clifford and finished second.
Katie Fink was back to ride in intermediate flat and took a third-place finish, while freshman Emily Webster rode well and finished second.
In novice flat, Caroline Rusk was back riding to a second-place finish, while junior Morgan Broccoli rode in her first novice flat class to the win.
In walk/trot/canter, freshman Joelle Jach was next to ride and she rode to her first win in the IHSA. This win moves her up to advanced W/T/C.
In walk/trot, freshman Joan Kim was Cornell's last rider in the last class and if she pulled out a win, the Big Red would take first place. Fortunately for the Big Red, she rode great and the team took home their second championship in as many weeks.
Kelsey Craig also qualified for the high point ride off and won the reserve high point rider award.
The Big Red is off until April 3rd, when it travels to Skidmore for the Regionals.
