GALES FERRY, Conn. – The Roger Williams University Equestrian team participated in the Connecticut College Show at the Mystic Valley Hunt Club in Gales Ferry, Conn. over the weekend and finished in second place with 32 points behind the winners from Brown and Connecticut College who tied for first with 37 points.
The Hawks put in a strong all around effort, getting contributions from a number of team members. Senior Olivia Cornell (Rowley, Mass.) finished first in the Novice Flat division, followed up by teammates Brittany Cornell (Rowley, Mass.) and Alexandra Pastor (Westhampton, N.Y.) who placed second, and Jacqui Allred (Paoli, Pa.) who finished in fifth. In the Intermediate Flats division Chelsea Weiner (Syosset, N.Y.) and Amelia Stasny (Bernardston, Mass.) would both placed second and freshman Alice Bueno (Coco del Panama, San Francisco, Panama) finished in third. In the Open Flat division Kayla Waskiewicz (Bristol, R.I.) placed fifth, Shannon O'Keefe (Glastonbury, Conn.) shared sixth place with Samantha Taylor (Essex Junction, Vt.).
The Novice Fences division saw Pastor and Allred share the victory, and Alyssa Schankman (Newtown, Conn.) would follow them in second. Senior A. Courtney Levitsky (Phoenixville, Pa) would share fifth with Brittany Cornell. In the Intermediate Fences division, Bueno got the win followed by Stastny in second and Weiner would place fifth. In the Open Fences O’Keefe and Waskiewicz shared third place.
The last two events were the Beginner’s and Advanced Walk-Trot Canter. In the Beginner’s division, Riana Fortin (Warren, R.I.) would win, followed up by Kyle Alexander (Tolland, Conn.) in second place and Amy Silvia (Walpole, Mass.) placed sixth. The Advanced division saw Erin Demarco (Florence, Vt.) and Alyssa Volpi (Providence, R.I.) as the top finishers from RWU sharing third place. Teammates Emily Pammett (Groton, Mass.) and Karen Quinn (Berkely, Mass.) share fourth and Cara McSoley (Essex Junction, Vt.) would finish in fifth.
A strong team effort led to the second place finish out of the 11 teams that participated in the show. The Equestrian team returns to action next weekend in Storrs, Connecticut at the University of Connecticut Show which will be held at the UConn Equestrian Facility on November 7th, at 9:30 a.m.
Team Results:
1. Connecticut College 37
Brown University 37
2. Roger Williams University 32
3. University of Connecticut 30
4. Johnson and Wales University 27
5. Wesleyan 26
6. Post 25
7. University of Rhode Island 23
8. Rhode Island College 17
9. Central Connecticut State University 14
10. Trinity College 11