Sophomore Hillary West participated in the equitation on flat
event during Saturday’s scrimmage. West scored a 75, earning
herself MVP honors in the event.
Esteban Cortez / The Collegian
The Fresno State equestrian team couldn’t have asked for better weather Saturday morning during its spring scrimmage that marked the beginning of the 2012 season.
With great weather came great luck, as everybody left a winner. The scrimmage ended in an 11-11 tie with the Blue team winning the Hunter Seat events 7-3, and the Red team taking the Western events, 8-4.
Sophomore Hillary West earned MVP honors in equitation over fences as the Blue team downed the Red team 3-1. West, the 2010-11 Rookie of the Year, scored a scrimmage-high 83 points in the event. Senior Kimberly HewsonBudnik and freshman Kara Spicer won two points for the Blue team, scoring 81 and 70, respectively. The Red team’s lone point came from junior Chelsie Stone, who squeaked by sophomore Amanda Postel, 75-74.5.
West nabbed herself another MVP honor in the Blue team’s 4-2 win in equitation on the flat. It was a close victory for the Blue team in an event where five of the matches were decided by five points or less. West, HewsonBudnik, senior Tylinda Arthur and junior Tara Polkalba won their points for the Blue team, while junior Lauren Carr and sophomore Hannah Flammang won for the Red team.
But the Blue dominance was over after the Hunter Seat events, as the Red team made a comeback to force the tie in the Western events.
In horsemanship, the Red team downed the Blue 5-1 and sophomore Katelyn Haynes was named MVP of the event, scoring a 75. The Bakersfield native and two-time Dean’s List honoree beat the Blue team’s Kirsten McKillop 75-72.5. Senior Allie Warkentin, junior Christa Beezley, sophomore Shauna Woodward, and freshman Bryn Boyett all won their points for the Red team.
The Red team held on in the reining event, forcing a 3-3 tie that ultimately tied the scrimmage.
But it was the Blue team’s Sydney Coletti who earned MVP honors in her 72-70.5 defeat over freshman Ciara Kozlowski. Sophomore Lauren Crivelli and freshman Mercedes Antonini earned wins for the Blue team.
It was a good showing for co-coaches Stephanie Reeves and Julia Scrivani, who will have a little more than a week to prepare for the team’s first competition since the winter break.
The ‘Dogs will compete in the Winter Equestrian Festival on Feb. 10 in Wellington, Fla. before returning to the arena for their annual Best in the West Invitational slated for Feb. 18-19 at the Student Horse Center.
