University of Georgia Athletics
Equestrian Rides for National Title
April 18, 2006 | Equestrian
April 18, 2006
Athens, Ga. -- The Georgia equestrian team is poised to end its hunt for a third national title as the No. 1 seed at the fourth annual Varsity Equestrian National Championships April 20-22 in Albuquerque, N.M., where the country's top 12 varsity equestrian teams will ride for the crown.
The VENC will be competed head-to-head in a tournament style format for the first time this year after being contested in classes in previous years.
"We're all really psyched about traveling out to Albuquerque," Georgia head coach Meghan Boenig said. "I am so excited to see the championships come to this level."
The Bulldogs secured the No. 1 seed in the English discipline after winning the Big Eight English Tournament and going 6-0 through their regular season dual meet slate. The No. 1 seed gives the English riders a bye in the first round of the tournament after which they will face the winner of Fresno State and Kansas State, eight and nine seeds respectively, on Friday in round two.
"We're planning to utilize all of our talented riders in the English discipline," Boenig said. "They really represent a talented group of individuals."
Seniors Logan Fiorentino, Leigh Harper, Megan Richardson, and Byerly Vaughn, junior Rachel Berkowitz, and sophomores Michelle Blair and Kelly Bonau will ride for Georgia in the English discipline. In the tournament style format the Bulldog competitors will compete three times in each event if they make it to the championship round after competing just once in each event at past championships. They must also be prepared for two different tests as a different test has been designated in each event for each day of the competition.
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