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MSA Sports
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Student Athlete Spotlight - Kaleigh Holdrieth and Stephanie Vrana
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Horseback riding has become more than a pastime for many area riders. With over 400 colleges now offering competitive teams and scholarships, several area high schools and barns now have equestrian teams.
Recently, Kaleigh Holdrieth, a sophomore at West Allegheny, and Stephanie Vrana, a freshman at Canon-McMillan, competed in the International Equestrian Association Hunt Seat National Finals in Springfield, MA. Nearly 300 competitors from across the country converged on the Eastern State Exposition for the three-day event featuring English riders over a hunter equitation course. The girls represented Caustelot Farms riding team out of Cecil, PA.
Both Holdreith and Vrana reached the national finals by winning the IEA Zone 2 championships in their respective events. Holdreith competed in the Junior Varsity Novice over Cross Rails class, and Vrana performed in the Junior Varsity Novice on the Flat class.
The IEA was formed to promote and improve the quality of equestrian competition and instruction available to middle and high school students. The organization is run similarly to the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association so to prepare the riders looking to compete in college.
According to Kathy Marciak, coach of the Caustelot Equestrian Team, the competition is very different from riding in a typical horse show. "The riders are judged on their ability to perform their riding skills on an unfamiliar mount (horse). The riders attend horse shows and ride a randomly drawn horse that they may know nothing about."
Each rider had to accumulate a minimum number of points by placing in various competitions to qualify for the regional finals. To compete in a Junior Varsity Novice jumping class, a rider must be capable of jumping two-foot rails, but have never competed over rails higher than two-foot three. A Junior Varsity Novice on the Flat must be capable of performing Hunt Seat Tests one through eight of the 13 Hunt Seat rider tests. Classes are judged just like at a normal horse show with places counting for both individual and team points.
Although Holdreith and Vrana only reached the semi-finals at the nationals, it was quite an accomplishment for a first-year program to send four individuals to the national championships. According to Marciak, what made the performances of Holdreith and Vrana even more impressive was their competition. She explained, "Most of these riders are from exclusive boarding schools where they ride every day. Many of these riders compete every week in A-rated shows."
Two middle school girls, Jessica Bossong, a student at Peters Township Middle School, and Kayleigh Brink, who attends Canon-McMillan Junior High, also reached the semifinals of the national event in the middle school Future Beginner on the Flat class.
IEA is open to anyone who is in grades six through twelve. Contact Caustelot Farms for more information on how you can become a member of the equestrian team.
-- Submitted by the National Scouting Report*
* This Student Spotlight was submitted by the National Scouting Report and follows the guidelines and permissions set within that organization. MSA Sports is not liable for this submission. |
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| Previous Students in the Spotlight |
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2007-2008
Ryan Kissell, Corey Smith, Jonna Handry, Nikki Becker, Heather Sellew, Tyler Lunevich, Josh Aldridge, Erica Bartholow, Emily Fenton
2006-2007
Tom Holoman, Zack Ruffner, Tyler Ellis, Nick Sipes, Ashley Henderson, Connie Placone, Sadye Litsko, Corey Brown, Matt Metcalf, John Hastings
2005-2006
Chadd Moros, Jordan Foley, Ashley Miller, Joey Tutro, Katie McLay, Scott Muska, Matt Gray, Janie Killian, Katie Wills
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| How to Get Your Student in the Spotlight |
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Balancing sports, schoolwork, and other activities is one of your
child's greatest challenges. We at MSA Sports would like to
spotlight some of these students who do just that — and
do it WELL!
Parents, teachers, family members and friends, we need your help
identifying students to feature in the Student Athlete Spotlight.
Send a photograph of the student, along with some biographical
information. Student bio should be brief (2 or 3 paragraphs) and
include sport played and position, academic and other honors, GPA,
extracurricular activities, and any other information that helps to
showcase the achievements and character of this student athlete.
Once your child is selected we will send you a permission form to
allow us to post the student's picture and profile. Please
use this form to submit a student
for consideration.
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Management Science Associates, Inc.
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