By Robin Duff
MTSU hosted the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Hunt Seat, Zone 5, Region 1 show February 11-12, 2017, and the western show on February 18-19, both in Murfreesboro, Tenn. This is the IHSA’s 50th year!
Hunt Seat
The MTSU hunt seat was attended by 11 schools: Belmont University, Maryville College, Middle Tennessee State University, Murray State University, Rhodes College, Tennessee Tech University, The University of the South Sewanee, University of Arkansas, University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Vanderbilt University, and Western Kentucky University.
The University of the South Sewanee started Saturday with a win in Open Fences by Michael Wallace. Vanderbilt’s Marianna Salas took home a win in a large Open Flat class. Novice Fences, split into two sections, was won by Maryville College’s Erin Buckley and Murray State’s Jill Williams. Murray State also had a win with Intermediate Fences rider Natalie Himmelberg.
Saturday concluded with Vanderbilt University, coached by Janelle Harcus, winning High Point Team. MTSU and Sewanee tied for Reserve High Point Team.
On Sunday, Sewanee’s Mary Marshall Fariss and TTU’s Brooke Powell won their respective sections of Intermediate Fences, and Vanderbilt’s Caroline Biggs took home a blue ribbon in Intermediate Flat. MTSU’s Kelsey Sloan won both the Open Fences and Flat classes. Sloan’s successful season means she has qualified to compete in the Cacchione Cup at IHSA’s National Championship in May.
The final results saw MTSU, coached by Anne Brzezicki, winning High Point Team, with the University of the South Sewanee in Reserve.
Western Show
The Western Regional Championships held had participation from Middle Tennessee State University, Murray State University, Tennessee Tech University, University of Tennessee Knoxville, and Western Kentucky University.
MTSU’s Delaney Rostad was the Regional Champion in both Reining and Open Horsemanship, with Lauren King of MTSU in Reserve. Morgan Bowie of MTSU won the Advanced Horsemanship, with Murray State’s Mercedes Cruse in Reserve. Lindsey Ross of MTSU took home the Regional Championship in Novice Horsemanship, with Murray State’s Rachael Webber in Reserve. MTSU’s Trevor Higgins and Helena Hattendorf were Champion and Reserve in Intermediate Horsemanship, and MTSU’s Evan Stratton and Chelsey Lynch were Champion and Reserve in Beginner Horsemanship.
Both the Champion and Reserve Champion from each class advance to represent the region at the Semi-Final Championship, which is held at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC in March.
Murray State was named the Reserve Regional Team Champions, with Middle Tennessee State University as the Regional Team Champions.
The show concluded with Regional President and TTU coach Becky Huddleston giving a commissioned sculpture to MTSU Coach Anne Brzezicki, who will retire after the conclusion of the IHSA season in May.
Brzezicki founded the MTSU Equestrian Team in 1977 and helped introduce Western Horsemanship to the IHSA. In 2003, shereceived the Lifetime Achievement Award from the IHSA and in 2004was named IHSA Regional Coach of the Year. Upon retiring, Brzezicki will have spent 40 years coaching IHSA teams. She will continue to serve as the IHSA Zone 5 chair.
MTSU hosted the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Hunt Seat, Zone 5, Region 1 show February 11-12, 2017, and the western show on February 18-19, both in Murfreesboro, Tenn. This is the IHSA’s 50th year!
Hunt Seat
The MTSU hunt seat was attended by 11 schools: Belmont University, Maryville College, Middle Tennessee State University, Murray State University, Rhodes College, Tennessee Tech University, The University of the South Sewanee, University of Arkansas, University of Tennessee – Knoxville, Vanderbilt University, and Western Kentucky University.
The University of the South Sewanee started Saturday with a win in Open Fences by Michael Wallace. Vanderbilt’s Marianna Salas took home a win in a large Open Flat class. Novice Fences, split into two sections, was won by Maryville College’s Erin Buckley and Murray State’s Jill Williams. Murray State also had a win with Intermediate Fences rider Natalie Himmelberg.
Saturday concluded with Vanderbilt University, coached by Janelle Harcus, winning High Point Team. MTSU and Sewanee tied for Reserve High Point Team.
On Sunday, Sewanee’s Mary Marshall Fariss and TTU’s Brooke Powell won their respective sections of Intermediate Fences, and Vanderbilt’s Caroline Biggs took home a blue ribbon in Intermediate Flat. MTSU’s Kelsey Sloan won both the Open Fences and Flat classes. Sloan’s successful season means she has qualified to compete in the Cacchione Cup at IHSA’s National Championship in May.
The final results saw MTSU, coached by Anne Brzezicki, winning High Point Team, with the University of the South Sewanee in Reserve.
Western Show
The Western Regional Championships held had participation from Middle Tennessee State University, Murray State University, Tennessee Tech University, University of Tennessee Knoxville, and Western Kentucky University.
MTSU’s Delaney Rostad was the Regional Champion in both Reining and Open Horsemanship, with Lauren King of MTSU in Reserve. Morgan Bowie of MTSU won the Advanced Horsemanship, with Murray State’s Mercedes Cruse in Reserve. Lindsey Ross of MTSU took home the Regional Championship in Novice Horsemanship, with Murray State’s Rachael Webber in Reserve. MTSU’s Trevor Higgins and Helena Hattendorf were Champion and Reserve in Intermediate Horsemanship, and MTSU’s Evan Stratton and Chelsey Lynch were Champion and Reserve in Beginner Horsemanship.
Both the Champion and Reserve Champion from each class advance to represent the region at the Semi-Final Championship, which is held at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC in March.
Murray State was named the Reserve Regional Team Champions, with Middle Tennessee State University as the Regional Team Champions.
The show concluded with Regional President and TTU coach Becky Huddleston giving a commissioned sculpture to MTSU Coach Anne Brzezicki, who will retire after the conclusion of the IHSA season in May.
Brzezicki founded the MTSU Equestrian Team in 1977 and helped introduce Western Horsemanship to the IHSA. In 2003, shereceived the Lifetime Achievement Award from the IHSA and in 2004was named IHSA Regional Coach of the Year. Upon retiring, Brzezicki will have spent 40 years coaching IHSA teams. She will continue to serve as the IHSA Zone 5 chair.
