Equestrian team rides well to capture victory

Shane Koob

Shane KoobSportswriter

Senior Angela Gebhart took high point honors on both days of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Western show held at the Swiftel Center in Brookings last weekend.

“It’s a great thing to have her (Gebhart) winning both classes in another outstanding performance,” head coach Joe Humphrey said.

Gebhart won her sections of open reining and open horsemanship Friday night. In the same two events, sophomore Jana Basler placed second in each, qualified her for reserve high point rider honors.

The first night also went well for the many riders on the SDSU equestrian team, as they earned seven first place finishes as well as two second place finishes.

“I was very happy. We had a lot of good individual performances,” Humphrey said.

Saturday, the team rode on to four first place finishes and a third place finish, which earned them reserve high point honors as a team. Also for the second straight day, the Jacks received a high point rider performance by Gebhart, while senior Britta Barta took reserve high point honors.

“It was a very good weekend. Inside and out, it was a very good compilation of performances, and the final results showed that,” Humphrey said.

The Jacks are closing in on the midpoint of their season, which can extend to the IHSA Nationals held in Lexington, Kentucky May 5-8. The team has already been to Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin for competition this season.

SDSU will be looking for Gebhart to continue to lead the team with top performances over the course of the season. The last fall event for the Jacks is an IHSA Western Show held in Fargo, North Dakota Nov. 13-14. The spring season begins in Fargo with an IHSA Western from Feb. 5-6.

This Friday and Saturday, the Jacks will be in Crookston, Minnesota for the IHSA Hunt Seat for two all-day events.

#1.1743570:2011016449.png:Ashley Marrin 11-03-2010 59:Senior Ashley Marrin competes on the flat in the huntseat division at an ISHA show last season. The team had four first place finishes Saturday, Oct. 30.:File Photo