ALFRED, NY – Alfred University's Haley Ruffner (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) swept Saturday's High Point Rider honors leading the Saxons as the High Point Team in the Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center at Maris Cuneo Equine Park. Following both shows, 21 AU riders qualified for the ISHA Western Regionals.
 
Morning Show
Ruffner swept the Open Reining and Open Horsemanship events during the morning show, solidifying her spot as the High Point Rider. Fellow senior Sydney Popovski (Springville, NY/Springville-Griffith) took third in Open Horsemanship to bolster the Saxons hold on the day.
 
Ten other Saxons took top honors in their events: Taylor Soderholm (Tully, NY/Tully) and Kendra Byrwa (Wasilla, AK/Colony) in Advanced Horsemanship; Julie Barr (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas), Emma Van Dyne (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) and Hannah Watt (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) in Novice Horsemanship; Grace Hiltunen (Rochester, NY/Brighton), Kassie Slezak (Victor, NY/Victor), Amber O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley), Jessica TenBrink (Clarence, NY/Clarence) and Vanessa Virgilio (Vestal, NY/Vestal) in Intermediate Horsemanship II.
 
Second place finishers include: Lauren Cole (Boston, NY/Springville) in Advanced Horsemanship; Kendell Sokolow (Clark, NJ/Union County Academy) and Patricia Kirk (East Longmeadow, MA/Minnechaug) in Novice Horsemanship; Itan Chait Clemente (Huixquilican, Mexico/Westhill Institute), Jaclyn Schnurpfeil Whitinville, MA/Norfolk County Agricultural) and Hailey Cook (Horseheads, NY/Thomas A. Edison) in Intermediate Horsemanship II; AmandaJo Young (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) in Walk/Jog.
 
Afternoon Show
The Saxons were far from done following the morning show. Eleven more Saxons went on to win in their respective events. Senior Gabrielle Warren (South Deerfield, MA/Frontier Regional) took home top riding honors in Open Reining while Ruffner and Popovski finished first and second in Open Horsemanship, respectively.
 
Other Saxons that won their events were: Kristie Wagner (Pittsfield, PA/Youngsville) in Advanced Horsemanship; Paige Klinger (Mays Landing, NY/Cedar Creek), Rebecca Scalen (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Sutherland), Watt and Chait Clemente in Novice Horsemanship; Slezak, Megan Cochran Brockport, NY/Kendall) and TenBrink in Intermediate Horsemanship II; Young and Kaylee Ducey in the Walk/Jog.
 
Second place finishers were: Soderholm and Cole in Advanced Horsemanship; Kirk, Van Dyne and Hiltunen in Novice Horsemanship; Madeleine Mahoney (Marcellus, NY/Marcellus), Natalie Waddell (Allegany, NY/Allegany-Limestone) and Kassie Murdock (Troy, NY/Stillwater Central) in Intermediate Horsemanship II.
 
The following Saxons punched their ticket to participate in the IHSA Regionals held at Alfred University on February 17, 2019:
Open Reining
Haley Ruffner
 
Open Horsemanship
Haley Ruffner
 
Advanced Horsemanship
Kristie Wagner
Gabrielle Warren
Sydney Popovski
 
Novice Horsemanship
Nellie Burch
Taylor Soderholm
Paige Klinger
Lauren Cole
Kendra Byrwa
Catie Donahue
Lily Rieks
Rebecca Scalen
 
Intermediate Horsemanship
Emma Van Dyne
Kendell Sokolow
Grace Hiltunen
Julie Barr
Itan Chait Clemente
Patricia Kirk
Hannah Watt
 
Walk/Jog
AmandaJo Young
Vanessa Virgilio