Equestrian Claims Fourth IHSA Zone IV Title, Earn Trip to Nationals

TOWSON, Md. - The Goucher College equestrian team captured the 2023 Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) Zone IV Championship on Saturday at the Goucher stables.

Goucher's Zone IV title is the fourth in program history, with the others coming in 2012, 2014 and 2015.  The Gophers will be making their eight IHSA nationals appearance and the first since 2017 as a team.

The 2023 IHSA nationals are set for May 3-7 at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

Goucher bested defending national champion Emory & Henry, which finished as Reserve Champion to also earn a trip to nationals.  Sweet Briar College, Hollins University and St. Andrew's University rounded out the team competition.

Senior Cole Jackson (Denver, Colo./East) also qualified as an individual in Open Flat, finishing as the Zone Reserve Champion.  Jackson also finished second in the Cacchione Cup Qualifier Class, meaning he will compete for the Cacchione Cup at nationals.  The Cacchione Cup is awarded to the top open rider at nationals.

Jackson also earned Zone IV champion honors in team Open Flat and team Open Fences.

Kellen Sullivan (Hampton, Va./Donald Sullivan) earned Zone Champion honors in Team Intermediate Flat.  Jacob Connell (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) was Team Limit Flat Champion and Reserve Champion in Team Limit Fences.

The Gophers had two more Zone champions in the team competition.  Kristen Wilhelm (Columbia, Md./Liberty) was the champion in Team Novice Flat, while Morgan Kingsbury (Wentworth, N.H./Plymouth Regional) was Zone champion in Team Intro Flat.

Makaylin Shoop (Davidsonville, Md./South River) was the Zone Reserve Champion in Team Intermediate Fences.  She also placed ninth in the individual Limit Flat competition.

Elsa Sellmeyer (Silver Spring, Md.) finished sixth in individual Limit Flat, while Lexi Mason (Lothian, Md./Southern) was fifth in individual Novice Flat.