Jackrabbit riders fall to UTM in tiebreaker

Saturday, February 21

Madison, Wis.

11 a.m./9 a.m.

South Dakota State University

Wisconsin (English)

2/24/2009 1:00:00 AM | Equestrian

By: SDSU Sports Info

MARTIN, Tenn. ? South Dakota State won the Western competition, but fell in the English competition and eventual tiebreaker in a Varsity Equestrian head-to-head competition at the University of Tennessee-Martin on Sunday.

The Jackrabbit Western squad ran its record to 5-1 in head-to-head competitions this season, posting a 7-3 advantage. SDSU won four of five horsemanship matchups and three of five reining matchups. Lydia Placzek was a winner in both sections of competition, posting scores of 70.5 in horsemanship and 70 in reining.

Kaylee Mundwiler earned MVP honors in horsemanship with a score of 73.5, while Angela Gebhart claimed MVP honors in reining with a score of 68.5. Other winners for the Jackrabbits were Abby Knobbe and Ashlie Centa in horsemanship and Helen Lauth in reining.

UTM countered with a 7-3 advantage in English competition and ended up winning the tiebreaker with a total team score of 1,299.5 to the Jackrabbits' 1,265. Sara Stirton picked up a win in equitation on the flat for SDSU, while Leslie Sauter and Meredith Sauer earned victories in equitation over fences.

In other competition over the weekend, several other Jackrabbit riders competed at a multi-team IHSA English meet in Madison, Wis. Marian Michalson led the way for SDSU, earning high-point rider honors on Sunday with wins in both equitation over fences and equitation on the flat as she qualified for the regional meet for the second consecutive season.

Melissa Zajac in equitation on the flat and Molly Ryan in equitation over fences also met qualifying standards for the regional meet, which is scheduled for Sunday in River Falls, Wis. The Western regional competition is slated for Saturday.

Freshman Megan Schiferl added a pair of strong performances Sunday, winning novice equitation over fences, while adding a second-place finish in novice equitation on the flat. She was one of three riders to compete in a ride-off for the Reserve Champion title.

Ashton Dearing opened the meet on Saturday with a victory in novice equitation over fences.

VARISTY EQUESTRIAN: TENNESSEE-MARTIN 10, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 10
UTM wins tiebreaker on total points, 1,299.5 to 1,265
Equitation on the Flat (UTM, 4-1)
? MIchelle Thompson, UTM, def. Ashley Marrin, 83-79
? Kelsey Abell, UTM, def. Laura Hoff, 75-57
? Caroline Cramer (MVP), UTM, def. Lindsay Harr, 81-63
? Hilary Mason, UTM, def. Kristen Carlson, 81-63
? Sara Stirton, SDSU, def. Phebe Brennan, 67-66
Equitation over Fences (UTM, 3-2)
? Brittany Kasprack (MVP), UTM, def. Ashley Marrin, 82-72
? Leslie Sauter, SDSU, def. Kelsey Abell, 76-55
? Meredith Sauer, SDSU, def. Caroline Cramer, 76-75
? Madeline Brown, UTM, def. Laura Hoff, 70-68
? Michelle Thompson, UTM, def. Victoria Pecak, 79-77
Horsemanship (SDSU, 4-1)
? Lydia Placzek, SDSU, def. Stephanie Sanders, 70.5-0
? Abby Knobbe, SDSU, def. Kendra Leake, 72.5-69.5
? Ashlie Centa, SDSU, def. Hannah Derks, 71-70
? Kaylee Mundwiler (MVP), SDSU, def. Sally Armstrong, 73.5-70.5
? Lauren Eichstadt, UTM, def. Meghan Gunn, 72.5-69.5
Reining (SDSU 3-2)
? Kendra Leake, UTM, def. Abby Knobbe, 67-63
? Lydia Placzek, SDSU, def. Amanda Weedon, 70-67.5
? Angela Gebhart (MVP), SDSU, def. Hannah Derks, 68.5-62.5
? Lauren Eichstadt, UTM, def. Brianna Grohs, 63.5-55.5
? Helen Lauth, SDSU, def. Stephanie Sanders, 65-64.5