RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- South Dakota State University riders combined to win seven event titles as the Jackrabbit women's equestrian team opened the English portion of its competition season with a pair of runner-up finishes in the team standings Saturday and Sunday at a meet hosted by the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Newcomers Coty Huzzen and Kristen Carlson led the Jackrabbits as each posted a pair of first-place finishes. Huzzen, a freshman from Newberry, Fla., won the Open division of equitation over fences on Saturday and Section B of open equitation on the flat on Sunday. Carlson, a freshman from Westminster, Colo., added victories in the Novice equitation on the flat competition both days.
Kaylee DeVries reached a milestone Sunday with her victory in Section A of Intermediate equitation on the flat. The junior from Cedar Falls, Iowa, became the first Jackrabbit rider to qualify for the IHSA Regional Championship in the spring by accumulating the required 35 points. She will compete in the Open division the remainder of the regular season before returning to competition in the Intermediate division in March.
Other event winners for the Jackrabbits were sophomores Erin Broussard in Section B of Open equitation on the flat and Sara Stirton in Section B of Intermediate equitation on the flat.
Sophomore Allison Carie posted runner-up finishes in the Intermediate equitation on the flat division both days, with Laura Hoff (Novice equitation over fences A), Brousssard (Intermediate equitation over fences), Brittany Henry (Novice equitation over fences B) and Diana Sneve (Beginner walk-trot-canter) also adding second-place efforts.
Wisconsin claimed the team title in the nine-team field each day, edging the Jackrabbits, 37-32 on Saturday and 38-30 on Sunday.
SDSU returns to competition Oct. 28 with the Western team in action at Nebraska. The English squad's next meet is scheduled for Nov. 4 at Minnesota-Crookston.