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Clemson, SC - Both Wesleyan IHSA equestrian teams traveled to Clemson University this past weekend to compete in the Clemson Classic.
On Saturday, the hunt seat team started the weekend off with fourth place finishes for newcomer Anna Latimer in the beginner walk/trot/canter division, junior Maria Rodriguez in the walk/trot division, and junior Ashaunti Samms in her debut in the advanced walk/trot/canter division.
The western team competed on Sunday to earn the reserve champion overall team for the day. The team was led by point riders Brittany Pye, Caroline Thompson and Jessica Henslee. Pye wrapped up her western collegiate show career with a third place finish in the Novice division to start the day, and Thompson quickly followed that up with a first place finish in the Intermediate 1 division, which earned her enough points to move up to Intermediate 2 for the coming year. Freshman Jessica Henslee capped off the team's points with a fourth place finish in the Beginner walk/jog division.
Junior Maria Rodriguez represented Wesleyan at the Regionals competition on Sunday afternoon, walking away with a first place finish. Rodriguez now moves on to the western semi-finals competition, which will be held at Findlay University at the end of March. The team also earned a third place finish in the region for the year overall.
Next up, the hunt seat team will finish out their season at College of Charleston on March 5th.
"I am so proud of how well our riders represented Wesleyan College this past weekend,"" Wesleyan head coach Jessica Denniston remarked. ""It was truly a great way to wrap up our western season and the perfect warm up for the hunt seat finale at College of Charleston. We are all so excited to plan Maria's trip to semi-finals, and I know it will be a great experience for her and our program. I am also very thankful to our barn manager, Laura Murphy, who was able to travel with the teams this past weekend."
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