Three Sweet Briar student-athletes were scheduled to compete at the Zone 4 Show at St. Andrews University Equestrian Center, before the remainder of the IHSA season was canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but even with the shortened season, the Vixens squad can look at plenty of positives throughout the 2019-20 season.
For the third-straight season, Sweet Briar clinched the Zone 4, Region 4 championship following a surge in the back-half of the season that earned Sweet Briar the regional title after trailing Liberty by 16 points at the end of November. Sweet Briar won the regional title by seven points over the Flames.
Individually, the Vixens were scheduled to send three riders to the Zone 4 show as junior Kaitlin Duecker (Chesapeake, Va.), sophomore Chloe Kerschl (Lexington, Va.) and senior Sarah Miller (Culpeper, Va.) were ready to show after strong outings at the Zone 4, Region 4 show.
REGIONAL LOOK BACK
At the Zone 4, Region 4 show, which was hosted by Mary Washington, five riders competed with a pair finishing as champions.
Duecker competed in both Intermediate Flat and Fences, winning the flat championship, while Miller won the regional title in Limit Flat and also competed in Limit Fences.
By finishing as reserve champion in open flat, Kerschl had punched a ticket to the Zone 4 show.
Seniors Lauren Helber (Richmond, Va.) and Abbey Narodowy (North Smithfield, R.I.) competed at the regional show in limit fences and novice, respectively.
WHAT THE VIXENS ARE SAYING
"I felt like the team was strong since we finished as region champions for the third time," said Miller. "We were high point team or reserve high point team multiple times, as well as having high point or reserve high point rider at almost every show. Everyone worked very hard and put in extra practice hours and it paid off. I felt like we would have had a very strong team for Zones and hopefully Nationals if the rest of the season would have not been canceled."
"Some highlights from this season were, of course, winning the region for the third year in a row," said Kerschl. "[Other highlights include] making many new memories with old and new friends, like jamming out to our favorite songs in the van headed to a horse show and having team lunches where everyone, even the more quiet members, catch-up on everything together."
"This season was a very competitive one, but the hard work shown by our entire team was amazing," said Duecker. "Every team member worked super hard to improve their riding this year, and it really showed."
HIGH POINT RIDERS
Sweet Briar had individual high point riders at multiple shows throughout the 2019-20 season, led by three high point rider performances by Miller.
Kerschl opened the season as high point rider at Christopher Newport before Miller earned the honor at William & Mary, Randolph-Macon and Liberty.
Helber earned high point rider at Sweet Briar's home show in February.
BLUE RIBBONS
During the regular season, Sweet Briar riders took home over 35 blue ribbons.
Kerschl earned blue ribbons during the season in open flat, while Duecker won blue ribbons in intermediate flat, intermediate fences and open flat.
Miller won blue ribbons throughout the season in limit flat, limit fences, intermediate fences and intermediate flat.
Narodowy earned blue ribbons in novice, limit flat and limit fences during the season and Helber received blue ribbons in limit flat and limit fences.
First-years Anne Rucker (Midlothian, Va.) and Madeline Rucker (Midlothian, Va.) both earned blue ribbons in the intro class, first-year Sita Moses (Dublin, N.H.) won blue ribbons in novice and junior Madeleine McAllister (Richmond, Va.) won in pre-novice.
Senior Amber Snyder (Jefferson, Md.) and sophomore Abby Bell (Stafford, Va.) both earned blue ribbons in novice flat during the regular season.
TEAM HIGH POINT HONORS
As a team, Sweet Briar earned team high point honors at William & Mary, Randolph-Macon, Liberty and Mary Washington.
LOOKING AHEAD
"I see a successful team and season for IHSA next year," Miller said. "I see them going to zones and nationals again, and I can't wait to watch them as an alumna."
"I see Sweet Briar's IHSA team diving headfirst into another season," Kerschl said. "We will welcome in more team members and jump into practice full swing. I see us winning the region again, and making our way through zones to head to nationals. I see new memories, lots of laughter, and more amazing van rides!"
