MANHATTAN, Kan. – The 2011-12 equestrian season started off with a bang on Friday at Timbercreek Stables, as Kansas State swept past Minnesota-Crookston, 19-0 (1472-1195.5). On top of shutting out the Eagles, K-State also took home all four match-MVP awards, a feat that was last accomplished by the Wildcats on September 24, 2010.
“This was a great start to our season and it gave our riders a lot of confidence to move forward,” said K-State head coach Casie Lisabeth. “We did have small mistakes and we will definitely be working on cleaning up our rides and equitation this week, but overall we were very happy with their performances. To win all four MVP awards just tops the day off; a huge congratulation toRachel Webster, Meredith Finch, Whitney Unkefer and Jordan Cox for their outstanding performances.”
On the Western stage, K-State defeated Minnesota-Crookston by a point total of 9-0, with an overall score total of 714-687.5.
Cox and Unkefer paced the Wildcats’ winning ways, with Cox taking home match-MVP honors in Reining, while Unkefer was awarded the match-MVP award in Horsemanship. Cox, a sophomore from Trenton, N.C., garnered the third match-MVP award of her career, while Friday’s MVP honors were the first of Unkefer’s career.
In Reining, Cox was joined in the win column by junior Sam Etsell and senior Alayna Warner, with newcomers Jesse Johnson and Margaret Peine carding wins in their first dual as Wildcats.
In Horsemanship, sophomores Kelly Bovaird and Rachel Wetherell notched their first win of the year, with junior Hannah Ribera also taking home a victory.
On the Hunter Seat side, K-State blanked Minnesota-Crookston, 10-0 (758-517). The English squad was led by Webster and Finch, who carded match-MVP honors in Equitation Over Fences and Equitation on the Flat, respectively.
In addition to her Fences MVP award, Webster, who was named Sophomore of the Year for the 2010-11 season, also captured a victory in Equitation on the Flat. Also picking up wins in the discipline were returning riders Finch, Jacquelyn Bogstad and Larissa Laffey and freshman Madison Wayda.
A trio of sophomores led the Fences discipline to a 5-0 win, with Cat Avolese, Shana Barnett and Sarah Mershon besting their UMC counterparts. Junior Kali Yates also picked up her first win of 2011 on the day.
Wildcat riders Amelia Crites, Melanie Hinzpeter and Kate Hennessy garnered victories over their opposition from Minnesota-Crookston in Exhibition action.
Kansas State will have the next two weeks off before facing reigning Big 12 champion, Baylor, in the conference opener on October 14. The match will mark the first of three regular season home meets for the entire 2011-12 season.
For a complete breakdown of the scores click here.
