McDONALD, PA – The Alfred University western equestrian team won back-to-back High Point Team titles on Saturday and Sunday at Caustelot Farms, hosted by West Virginia University.
 
The Saxons already had both High Point Team titles from the October shows hosted by WVU at the Mountaineer Horse Show Circuit in Reedsville, WV. Alfred University leads the regional standings with 168 points while West Virginia University has 160 for second and Alfred State College has 153 points for third.
 
Samantha Smit (Columbiana, OH/Ursuline) led the way for the Saxons over the weekend, claiming High Point Rider on Sunday and Reserve High Point Rider on Saturday. She won both Open Horsemanship runs over the weekend and was second in both showings in Open Reining. Keira Hanschman (Chicago, IL/Cary-Grove Community) was the High Point Rider on Saturday as she won Level II Ranch Riding and picked up a second place finish in Level II Horsemanship.
 
Smit qualified for Regionals on Saturday in Open Horsemanship and on Sunday in Open Reining. Brooke Boyko (Holley, NY/Holley) qualified for Regionals in Level II Horsemanship on Saturday and Hannah Barr (Burdett, NY/Odessa-Montour) punched her ticket as well on Saturday, qualifying in Beginner Horsemanship.
 
Joining Hanschman and Smit on Saturday as first place finishers were Madison Smith (Rome, NY/Room Free Academy) in Beginner Horsemanship, Section I, Michael Doner (Newfield, NY/Newfield) in Pre-Rookie Horsemanship, Sienna Smalt (Bath, NY/Avoca) in Rookie Horsemanship, Emily Peluso (Ridgway, PA/Johnsonburg) in Level II Horsemanship and Megan Wilson (Youngstown, OH/Ursuline) in Level I Horsemanship, Section II. The blue ribbon winners on Sunday, joining Smith, were Wilson in Level I Horsemanship, Section I, Barr in Pre-Rookie Horsemanship, Doner in Rookie Horsemanship, Section I and Smalt in Rookie Horsemanship, Section II.
 
Full Results:
 
SATURDAY
Open Reining
Samantha Smit - 2nd
Brooke Boyko - 5th
 
Level II Ranch Riding
Keira Hanschman - 1st
Emily Peluso - 3rd
 
Beginner Horsemanship, Section 1
Madison Smith - 1st
 
Pre-Rookie Horsemanship
Michael Doner - 1st
 
Beginner Horsemanship, Section 2
Hannah Barr - 2nd
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section 1
Sienna Smalt - 1st
 
Level I Horsemanship, Section 1
Abigail Nevins - 3rd
 
Level II Horsemanship
Emily Peluso - 1st
Keira Hanschman - 2nd
Brooke Boyko - 3rd
 
Level I Horsemanship, Section 2
Megan Wilson - 1st
Lauren Mandel - 2nd
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section 2
Allison Herring - 5th
 
Open Horsemanship
Samantha Smit - 1st
 
High Point Rider: Keira Hanschman (AU)
Reserve High Point Rider: Samantha Smit (AU)
 
High Point Team: Alfred University
Reserve High Point Team: West Virginia University
 
SUNDAY
 
Open Reining
Samantha Smit - 2nd
Brooke Boyko - 4th
 
Level II Ranch Riding
Keira Hanschman - 2nd 
Emily Peluso - 4th
 
Beginner Horsemanship, Section 1
Madison Smith - 3rd 
 
Level I Horsemanship, Section 1
Megan Wilson - 1st
Abigail Nevins - 2nd
 
Level I Horsemanship, Section 2
Lauren Mandel - 2nd
 
Pre-Rookie Horsemanship
Hannah Barr -  1st
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section 1
Michael Doner - 1st
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section 2
Sienna Smalt - 1st
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section 3
Breanna Unruh - 4th
 
Level II Horsemanship
Keira Hanschman - 4th
Emily Peluso - 5th
 
Open Horsemanship
Samantha Smit - 1st
Brooke Boyko - 5th
 
High Point Rider: Samantha Smit (AU)
Reserve High Point Rider: Ashley Wolfe (ASC)
 
High Point Team: Alfred University
Reserve High Point Team: West Virginia University
 
The Saxons will next turn their sights towards 2026 with a home show at the Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center at Maris Cuneo Equine Park on Saturday, February 7 and Sunday, February 8.