ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University western equestrian team hosted a two-day show at the Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center at Maris Cuneo Equine Park, claiming title of the High Point Team on Saturday and Reserve High Point Team on Sunday.
 
The Saxons and the Alfred State College western equestrian team were neck-and-neck on the weekend. AU was followed by A-State on Saturday as the team from across the street finished as the Reserve High Point Team on Saturday and claimed the top honor on Sunday. The Saxons were the only team between the two Alfred teams that had a High Point Rider as Keira Hanschman (Chicago, IL/Cary-Grove Community) claimed that title on Saturday. Both squads had a Reserve High Point Rider, first with the Saxons' Emily Peluso (Ridgway, PA/Johnsonburg) earning the recognition on Saturday and then A-State's Ashley Wolfe earning it on Sunday, behind West Virginia University's Lauren Hettinger who earned High Point Rider.
 
On Saturday, Hanschman was the first place finisher in Level II Ranch Riding after starting off with a second place finish in Level II Horsemanship. Peluso won Level II Horsemanship and tacked on a fourth place finish in Level II Ranch Riding.
 
Brooke Boyko (Holley, NY/Holley) won Open Reining to start the day on Saturday. Allison Herring (Pittsburgh, PA/Seton-LaSalle Catholic) claimed the blue ribbon in Rookie Horsemanship, Section II. Meridian Bremel (Reading, VT/Woodstock Academy) took the top finish in Level I Horsemanship, Section I, just before Hannah Barr (Burdett, NY/Odessa-Montour) won Pre-Rookie Horsemanship and Megan Wilson (Youngstown, OH/Ursuline) took the victory in Level I Horsemanship, Section II, closing out the blue ribbon collection from the Saxons on Saturday and the title of High Point Team.
 
On Sunday, Erin Auclair (Norfolk, CT/Northwestern Region District #7) picked up the first blue ribbon of the day, winning Rookie Horsemanship, Section I. Boyko followed with the victory in Open Horsemanship, Section II. Aaliyah Anthony (Ringgold, PA/Punxsutawney Area) and Barr ended the day with a pair of top ribbons. First, Anthony took home the win in Level I Horsemanship, Section I and then Barr won Pre-Rookie Horsemanship.
 
Another Saxon joined the group of AU riders who qualified for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Western Regionals. Michael Doner (Newfield, NY/Newfield) qualified in Rookie Horsemanship and will join the group of Samantha Smit (Columbiana, OH/Ursuline), Boyko, Hanschman, Bremel, Joslyn Dukich (Massillon, OH/Tuslaw), Wilson and Barr.
 
"We ended the regular western season with a strong sense of gratitude for the support of our Saxon community and the teamwork of all of the riders and our horses at the Equestrian Center," Director of Equestrian and Western Head Coach Adam D'Agostino said. "The Equestrian Team will be back in the ring on Sunday, Feb. 15 with Hunt Seat at Cornell University! Good luck riders!"
 
Full Results
Saturday, Feb. 7:
 
Open Reining:
Brooke Boyko - 1st
Samantha Smit - 5th
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section I:
Michael Doner - 4th
Sienna Smalt - 5th
 
Level II Horsemanship:
Emily Peluso - 1st
Keira Hanschman - 2nd
 
Rookie Horsemanship:
Breanna Unruh - 4th
 
Open Horsemanship:
Samantha Smit - 4th
Brooke Boyko - 6th
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section II:
Allison Herring - 1st
 
Level II Ranch Riding:
Keira Hanschman - 1st
Emily Peluso - 4th
 
Beginner Horsemanship:
Madison Smith - 2nd
 
Level I Horsemanship, Section I:
Meridian Bremel -  1st
Abigail Nevins - 6th
 
Pre Rookie Horsemanship:
Hannah Barr - 1st
 
Level I Horsemanship, Section II:
Megan Wilson - 1st
Aaliyah Anthony - 3rd
Joslyn Dukich - 4^th
 
Sunday, Feb. 8:
 
Open Reining:
Samantha Smit - 2nd
Brooke Boyko - 5th
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section I:
Erin Auclair - 1st
 
Level II Horsemanship:
Keira Hanschman - 2nd
Emily Peluso - 3rd
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section II:
Allison Herring - 3rd
 
Open Horsemanship, Section I:
Samantha Smit - 2nd
 
Rookie Horsemanship, Section III:
Michael Doner - 2nd
Breanna Unruh - 6th
 
Open Horsemanship, Section II:
Brooke Boyko - 1st
 
Level II Ranch Riding:
Emily Peluso - 2nd
Keira Hanschman - 4th
 
Beginner Horsemanship:
Madison Smith - 5th
 
Level I Horsemanship, Section I:
Aaliyah Anthony - 1st
Meridian Bremel - 2nd
Abigail Nevins - 6th
 
Pre Rookie Horsemanship:
Hannah Barr - 1st
 
Level I Horsemanship, Section II:
Megan Wilson - 3rd
Joslyn Dukich - 6th
 
The western equestrian team will next send its qualified riders to the IHSA Western Regionals on Saturday, March 7 with rides beginning at 8:00am from the Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center at Maris Cuneo Equine Park.