UD Equestrian Team competes May 7-9

3:31 p.m., May 5, 2004--Two members of the University of Delaware Equestrian Team (UDET) will compete this weekend, May 7-9, at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championships at Tennessee Miller Coliseum in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

UD western team captain Jessica Isbrecht, a junior, will vie for the national title in the Open Western Horsemanship class, while sophomore Sharon Bryant will compete in the Novice Equitation on the Flat. Both Isbrecht and Bryant won their classes at the zone three championships two weeks ago.

Also representing UD in support roles in Tennessee will be hunt captains Sara Holland and Amanda McGeary, who are both juniors.

The team, coached by Bryan Bradley, competes during the fall and spring at horse shows in region two, zone three. It won the regional championships this year before losing a close competition to rival Delaware Valley College to represent zone three in team competition at nationals.

At the regional championships, western rider sophomore Dana Mastronardy placed first and won the John Nye Memorial Trophy as a top point rider. Other recent UDET placements include sophomore Kristi Denton, who won the Beginner Regional Champion, junior Brooke Bacas, who was named intermediate reserve regional champion, and junior Michelle Morges, who was pinned open western horsemanship champion.

The following 24 UDET riders qualified and competed at regional championships: Brooke Bacas, Sharon Bryant, Curtis Callender, Jen Carr, Christine Collins, Kristi Denton, Katie Freedman, Sara Holland, Jessica Isbrecht, Sarah Keep, Jessica Keuger, Cat Krahe, Ashley Leighton, Amy Maurice, Amanda McGeary, Kim Melnick, Michelle Morges, Jessie Munyan, Samantha Pyser, Kristin Ricciardone, UDET President Kristen Sentoff, Jessica Slade, Lauren Stille and Lauren Twist.

Article by Becca Hutchinson

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