SDSU HOSTING ECAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thursday, March 23

Brookings, S.D.

8 a.m.

South Dakota State University

Minnesota Crookston

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

3/22/2023 3:15:00 PM | Equestrian

South Dakota State hosts 2023 ECAC Equestrian Championship

When/Where	Thursday-Saturday, March 23-25 • DeHaan Equestrian Center; Brookings, S.D. \| Championship Home Page Thursday, March 23 • #5 Minnesota Crookston vs. #4 South Dakota State, 8 a.m. • UMC/SDSU winner vs. #1 UT Martin, 3:45 p.m. (flat only) • #3 UC Davis vs. #2 Delaware State, 3:45 p.m. (flat only) Friday, March 24 • UMC/SDSU winner vs. #1 UT Martin, 8:45 a.m. (fences, horsemanship, reining) • #3 UC Davis vs. #2 Delaware State, 8:45 a.m. (fences, horsemanship, reining) Saturday, March 25 • Championship Matchup, 9 a.m.
TV	YouTube.com Thursday Competition \| Friday Competition \| Saturday Competition
Live Results	Thursday: UMC vs. SDSU Thursday/Friday: UC Davis vs. Delaware State \| UMC/SDSU winner vs. UT Martin Saturday: Championship
Meet Notes	See Below
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook

The South Dakota State equestrian team enters postseason competition this week by hosting the 2023 ECAC Equestrian Championship. Competition begins Thursday and runs through Saturday at the DeHaan Equestrian Center.

The Jackrabbits, who compiled a 3-7 regular season record in head-to-head competition, are seeded fourth in the five-team event and will take on No. 5 Minnnesota Crookston in opening-round action starting at 8 a.m. Thursday. The winner of that matchup will move on to face top-seeded UT Martin in semifinal action. The other semifinal will feature third-seeded UC Davis against No. 2 Delaware State. The semifinals will get under way at 3:45 p.m. Thursday with all four teams competing in flat. Semifinal action concludes Friday, with the teams competing in fences, horsemanship and reining, starting at 8:45 a.m.

Saturday's championship matchup is set for a 9 a.m. start.

THE LINEUP: Four riders will compete for each team in each of the four events. Following is the Jackrabbits' projected lineup for the 2023 ECAC Equestrian Championship:

FLAT	FENCES
Julia Werkhoven, Jr., Tempe, Ariz.	Julia Werkhoven, Jr., Tempe, Ariz.
Rachel Darby, Sr., Rensselaer, N.Y.	Rachel Darby, Sr., Rensselaer, N.Y.
Hannah Steele, So., Woodstock, Ga.	Ella Domenicone, So., Roswell, Ga.
Samantha Hunsecker, Sr., Lansing, Kan.	Samantha Hunsecker, Sr., Lansing, Kan.
Alternate: Ella Domenicone, So., Roswell, Ga.	Alternate: Hannah Steele, So., Woodstock, Ga.
Demo: Megan Schoeneman, Sr., Hartford, S.D.
HORSEMANSHIP	REINING
Callyn Fox, Sr., Center Point, Iowa	Isabelle Riggs, Sr., Alexandria, S.D.
Shelby Cochran, Jr., Oxford, Iowa	Lydia Loken, So., Gunnison, Colo.
Annika Hanson, Sr., Hugo, Minn.	Cassandra Townsend, Sr., Andover, S.D.
Paige Wellendorf, So., Kearney, Mo.	Adisyn Kuxhaus, Fr., Pierre, S.D.
Alternate: Grace Blake, Jr., Traer, Iowa	Alternate: Grace Blake, Jr., Traer, Iowa
Demo: Grace Gerbus, Fr., Pendleton, Ky.

REINING MOPs: South Dakota State had one of its riders selected as Most Outstanding Performer in reining in each of its first four head-to-head competitions of the season and six times overall during the 2022-23 regular season. Cassandra Townsend earned MOP honors in each of the Jackrabbits' three head-to-head competitions this season, averaging 71.3 points per ride, including a season-best 72.5 points Oct. 29 against Georgia.

Isabelle Riggs got into the MOP column with a score of 71 in head-to-head competition Nov. 18 at UT Martin and earned another honor Feb. 11 against Minnesota Crookston. Lydia Loken turned in an MOP performance in the regular season finale March 1 against UT Martin.

Overall, Townsend leads the Jackrabbits with a 7-3 head-to-head record in reining.

RIDERS OF THE WEEK: Several Jackrabbit riders have been honored as ECAC Riders of the Week during the 2022-23 season. Award winners include:

Fences: Ella Domenicone (Feb. 12), Julia Werkhoven (March 5);
Flat: Cali Karbler (Feb. 12):
Horsemanship: Grace Blake (Jan. 29), Shelby Cochran (Feb. 12);
Reining: Isabelle Riggs (Nov. 20), Cassandra Townsend (Jan. 29), Lydia Loken (Feb. 12, March 5)

In addition, Townsend was honored as ECAC Reining Rider of the Month for October.

A LOOK AHEAD: Selections for the 2023 National Collegiate Equestrian Association National Championships will be made following this weekend's conference championships. The eight-team 2023 NCEA National Championships are scheduled for April 13-15 at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida.

-GoJacks.com-