MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College western equestrian team posted a thrilling show victory Saturday in their morning competition, edging rival competitor SUNY Cobleskill by one team point to claim the show's high point team accolades.
Morrisville State had six take home winning rides, including Blacey Bakutis (Kent, N.Y.) who was the show reserve high point rider after taking home the blue ribbon winning ride in reining and third place ride in open western horsemanship.
Stephanie Zajac (Belchertown, Mass.) also collected the win in the advanced western horsemanship class, topping the field of four, while Lea Inhaber-Courchesne (Westborough, Mass.) added another victory for the Mustangs with her first place ride in the intermediate II class.
Inhaber-Courchesne kicked off the Morrisville State sweep in the intermediate II class, as teammates Elyse Scott (Averill Park, N.Y.) and Elizabeth Lederman-Updike (Beaver Dams, N.Y.) each had top rides in their section.
Melanie Walters (Kennedy, N.Y.) rounded out Mustang winners with her first blue ribbon in the intermediate I western horsemanship class.
In the afternoon show, Morrisville State used a winning ride in the beginner western horsemanship class to top the field of competing institutions for their second high point team accolade of the afternoon.
The Mustangs posted the show victory with 32 team points, edging Cobleskill who collected 28 and Colgate, 12, on the day.
Bakutis repeated as reserve high point rider, finishing second in open western horsemanship and third in open reining.
Zajac repeated with her second win of the day in the advanced western class that featured four additional Cobleskill riders, before Heather Perry (Goshen, N.Y.) added a blue ribbon in the novice field among eight additional riders.
Katelyn Bonarrigo (Raynham, Mass.) and Scott each recorded winning rides in the intermediate II class, while Kelli Castaldo (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) posted the win in the beginner western horsemanship class.
Morrisville State returns to the riding arena, Sunday, December 3, hosting another double show at the Swamp Road riding arena.
Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2018 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2018 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.
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