ELVERSON, Pa. - The Delaware Valley Hunt Seat Equestrian Team arrived at the Regional Championship horse show with strong team spirit and their sights set on victory! Having already secured the Regional Champion Team title, their focus shifted to supporting their individual riders.
Senior Evan Holt kicked off the day in Open Fences, where all qualified riders competed over the same course on the same horse. The challenging course included a trot fence, halt, and counter canter to help the judge determine the winner. Holt ultimately triumphed over a Lehigh rider, securing his spot at the Zone Championship with the win.
Next up were senior captains Brooke Wolfinger and Victoria Coale in Intermediate Fences, competing in a class of five qualifiers. Wolfinger emerged victorious in the competitive field, punching her ticket to Zones as well.
Limit Fences followed, featuring four Aggies in a field of thirteen: seniors Kerrin Long and Morgan Brosius, along with juniors Grace Allen and Taylor Pruitt. Allen rode first, earning a score of 78, which held strong as the top ride, making her the class winner. Pruitt held second place until the final rider bumped her to third, while Brosius finished in eighth.
Several Aggie riders also returned to compete on the flat. Holt placed second in Open Flat, securing his final qualification in five classes for the Zone Championships. He will represent the team in Team Open Flat and Fences, compete individually in Individual Open Flat and Fences, and ride in the two-phase High Point Open Rider competition, which includes both flatwork and jumping.
Wolfinger and Coale returned for Intermediate Flat, with Wolfinger claiming her second win of the day to qualify for Zones, while Coale finished fourth. Allen and Pruitt also competed again in Limit Flat, joined by senior Julianne Jodry. Allen secured another win, while Pruitt followed in second, earning her spot at Zones. Jodry finished in seventh.
The final two classes were Novice and Intro. In Novice, juniors Sophia Alcamo and Sofia Walsh, along with sophomore Rhiannon Swimelar, all delivered strong performances but saw their journeys end at Regionals. Alcamo placed third, Swimelar fourth, and Walsh fifth. In Intro, senior Alaina Runt and sophomore Kellyn Meadows rounded out the day, with Runt taking the win and Meadows finishing third.
Of the 16 individual qualifying spots available for the Zone Championship, DelVal riders claimed half!
The day concluded with a lunch and regional awards ceremony, marking the end of the regular show season. Captains Wolfinger and Coale accepted the Regional Championship trophy, while Holt earned the High Point Open Rider trophy. To cap off an incredible day, Holt was also honored with the Regional Sportsmanship Award, which is awarded based on nominations and votes from all participating schools.
With just two weeks until the Zone 3 Championship at Centenary University on April 5, the Aggies will continue training for their last stop before the IHSA National Championship in Tryon, NC, in May.
Riders Representing the Team at Zones:
Team Competitors: Evan Holt, Kerrin Long, Grace Allen, Rhiannon Swimelar, Maggie Mitchell, Elsa Heacock, and Madison Heitman.
Individual Competitors: Evan Holt, Brooke Wolfinger, Grace Allen, Taylor Pruitt, and Alaina Runt—each striving to finish in the top two and earn a trip to Nationals.
