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Mississippi College equestrian team riders finished the Fall season in style with an impressive showing at a recent Georgia tournament.
Topping the highlight reel for the Blue & Gold was MC senior captain Maggie Waters. The Zanesville, Ohio rider and her horse earned a first-place ribbon in the category of open over the fences.
Georgia College and University hosted the November 12 event in Buckhead. The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association event attracted 16 teams. Overall, Mississippi College finished in 6th place.
“Getting first at the Georgia College Show was especially exciting,” said Waters, 21, a chemistry and biology major. “Now I’m only six points away from qualifying for the IHSA Regionals this spring.”
“It was a great show to wrap up the Fall season,” said coach Mandi Powers.
It should energize the Lady Choctaws as the riders kick off the Spring season with a horse show at Auburn University January 28, Powers added.
Among second-place finishes at the horse competition in the Peach State: MC’s Kaylyn Kimpel of Winter Gardens Florida in the walk/trot category and Bree Holmes of Albertville, Alabama in the intermediate equitation on the flat.
Among third-place showings: Jessica Patch of Madison in novice over the fences, Meg Anderson of Memphis, Tennessee in advanced walk/trot/canter and Kayla Kramer of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey in novice equitation on the flat. Bailey Welch of Madison got third place in intermediate equitation on the flat.
Starting its 10th season, Mississippi College competes in a strong IHSA division with perennial champion Berry College of Georgia as well as leading schools like Alabama, Auburn, Georgia Tech and Georgia.
The 13-member MC Lady Choctaws team consists of riders from Tennessee, Colorado, Mississippi, Michigan, Alabama, Florida, New Jersey and Texas. The Mississippians on the squad include Madison residents Darby Damon and Hope Henry.
Earlier this Fall, MC’s equestrian team earned second-place honors behind champion Berry College in a 16-team show in Georgia. Other schools competing October 15-16 included Mississippi State, the University of Alabama, Georgia Tech, the University of Mississippi, Emory, North Alabama and the University of Georgia.
“Everyone worked very hard and pushed through as a team,” Powers said.
Horses with the Christian university’s equestrian squad come with pretty interesting names – from MC Capiche to MC Quintessential, from Spoon River Lew to Isabella. The MC squad is headquartered at 2,000-acre Providence Hill Farm.
An MC team member for four years, Maggie Waters loves the transition from her rigorous pre-med studies to the joys of riding on a speedy horse. “I enjoy our riding lessons every week. It’s a nice break from studying and school work.”
For more information, contact assistant coach Brett Shufelt at bshufelt@mc.edu
Photo: 2016 Mississippi College Equestrian Team: Left to right- Jessica Patch, Joy Marble, Bree Holmes, Mattie Dennis, Meg Anderson, Sydney Williams, Kyla Kramer, Co- Captain Bailey Welch, Kaylyn Kimple, Hope Henry, and Captain Maggie Waters.
