The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) Western Equestrian team closed out their regular season in style by winning the Zone 7, Region 1 Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Regional Championship on Jan. 28-29, 2012. SMWC’s riders swept the competition, including Ball State University, Butler University, Eastern Illinois University, Indiana University, Parkland College, Purdue University, Purdue-Calumet University, St. Mary’s College (Notre Dame) and University of Illinois, all teams from the region or Division I programs.
Because of this win, the team will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., to compete at the IHSA semi-finals hosted by Florida State University on March 24-25, 2012. “This is an amazing group of young women,” said Sara Schulz, head western equestrian coach and assistant professor of equine studies at SMWC. “There is a mutual respect among the team members and I am so proud to work with each of them.”
Team captain Whitney Mahloch, of Plymouth, Wis., senior, finished as high point rider. Nine western team individuals have qualified for the regional horse show hosted at SMWC on March 2, 2012, including:
Karen Cannon (Duncan, Okla.)
Ali Mahloch (Plymouth, Wis.)
Whitney Mahloch (Plymouth, Wis.)
Jordyn Perrott (Bridgeport, Ill.)
Sarah New (Filmore, Ind.)
Erika Stanley (Greensburg, Ind.)
Jena Thralls (West Terre Haute, Ind)
Victoria Toy (Bishop, Calif.)
Danielle Willenborg (Dieterich, Ill.).
High point team members are:
Reining – Whitney Mahloch (Plymouth, Wis.)
Open Rail – Jordyn Perrott (Bridgeport, Ill.)
Advanced – Karen Cannon (Duncan, Okla.)
Novice – Sarah New (Filmore, Ind.)
Intermediate – Paige Harvey (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Walk/Trot – Shelby Harber (Wabash, Ind.)
The IHSA represents more than 6,500 riders, with more than 300 member colleges and universities in 45 states and Canada.