Virginia Intermont’s Intercollegiate Dressage Team clinched the regional championship for the 11th year in a row after competing March 23 at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. As regional champions, the VI team is automatically qualified to compete at the national championships held at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Mass., April 25-28.
In addition, senior Sierra Mills was Champion at First level for the year in Region “H” and will compete as an individual at the national competition. Freshman Bailey Halverson finished as Reserve Regional Champion at Introductory Level and is in contention for a wild card slot to compete at nationals. VI’s regional year-end awards also included a Horse of The Year award for Virginia Intermont’s “Vinnie.”
VI has previously won the national championship in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
Heading to Massachusetts, the team representing Virginia Intermont at the 2013 national competition will be:
Sierra Mills (senior) – First Level
Courtney Vesel (junior) – Upper Training Level
Leah Bear (junior) – Lower Training Level
Bailey Halverson (freshman) – Introductory Level
Thank you to all the riders on the team for helping to secure this regional championship!
Regional Team results:
Virginia Intermont College-Regional Champion Team
winning 4 out of the 8 regional shows – score of 28
Virginia Tech- Regional Reserve Champion Team
winning 3 out of the 8 regional shows – score of 26
Wake Forest University- 3rd place regional finish
winning 1 of the 8 regional shows- score of 21
Appalachian State University- 4th place regional finish
score of 19
Lenoir Rhyne University- 5th place regional finish
score of 4
Salem University- 6th place regional finish
score of 2
Results from Wake Forest Show on March 23
1st- Wake Forest University Team A- 15 points
2nd- Appalachian State University Team A- 15 points
3rd- Virginia Intermont College Team A- 14 points
4th- Virginia Tech Team B- 12 points
5th- Virginia Intermont College Team B- 5 points
6th- Appalachian State University Team B- 5 points
Individual VI rider results
First Level:
2nd- Sierra Mills
3rd- Joa Sigsbee
Upper Training Level:
3rd- Leah Bear
8th- Alyssa Walsh
Lower Training Level:
2nd- Paige Gregerson
6th- Hannah Michalakes
Introductory Level:
6th- Kelly Barnes
7th- Morgan Rich