UA Equestrian Team Caps off Successful Season, Looks Toward Championship Competitions

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama Equestrian Team recently wrapped up its 2014-2015 season with a show at Berry College, where it earned the reserve high point title out of 14 schools entered.

The performance was one of numerous high point and reserve high point finishes throughout the season that contributed to their second place ranking in the region in total points for the year, a jump of two places over last year’s ranking.

Eight team members also qualified for an upcoming regional competition that could allow them to progress to the zone championship, which is the final step toward competing for national championship honors.

Of those students, two earned enough points to bypass the regional and progress directly to the zones. Courtney Poist was the only rider in the region to qualify on the flat in the open level of competition, the highest level attainable. Adam Sklansky qualified in open fences and was one of only two riders in the region who will move directly to zones.

Head coach Heather McCall, who has been with the team for two years, says that although her team is young, with only one rider graduating this year, the members are devoted to the growth and success of the equestrian program at UA. Since she came on board, McCall has focused on fostering team spirit through individual contribution by scheduling motivational speakers, videotaped practice reviews, team workout sessions and community service efforts.

“I’ve seen the entire team grow stronger and more confident as a whole because they are all valued in this program regardless of their level,” she said. “I want them to know this is a competitive team and each rider needs to do his or her part in competition and work toward an overall goal of improvement and winning.”

As part of that goal, McCall takes her top riders to extra competitions against NCAA schools in addition to their regular Intercollegiate Horse Show Association schedule.

“I’m a firm believer in competing against the highest level of competition to make your team stronger,” she said. “I take riders who are excelling at practice and the IHSA shows to NCAA meets, so they can get even more competitions under their belts.  We scored points and held our own against several nationally ranked NCAA schools that have had equestrian programs for well over 10 years.”

Her strategy has paid off. After winning only one meet last year, the UA equestrian team has won four and placed second in three of its eight competitions for 2014-2015. The team has also had riders named MVP at several events out of some 250 competitors at each.

The regional championships will be held Saturday, March 7,  at the University of Georgia. For more information, go to http://equestrian.ua.edu/

The UA equestrian team members who have qualified for regional and zone competition are:

Amy Phillips (Fleming Island, Florida):  Walk Trot.

Elizabeth Connell (Decatur):  Walk Trot.

Austen Waldron (Trussville): Walk,Trot, Canter.

Ashton Somers (Northport): Novice Flat and Novice Fences.

Hannah Clements (Wilsonville):  Novice Flat.

Megan Krewsky (Slidell, Louisiana): Novice Flat.

Courtney Poist (Tuscaloosa): Open Flat.

Adam Sklansky (Skillman, New Jersey): Open Fences.