LONG VALLEY, N.J. — The Delaware Valley University Hunt Seat Equestrian Team has secured its place at the IHSA National Horse Show in Tryon, N.C., after earning the title of Reserve Champion Team at the Zone 3 Finals.
The Aggies placed second behind Centenary University and out-rode competitive programs from the University of Delaware and Penn State University to advance. In addition to the team qualification, two individual riders and the team's High Point Open rider also earned their spots at Nationals.
The Zone 3 Finals opened with a demanding series of jumping classes for senior Evan Holt. He began the day in the jumping phase of the Cacchione Cup competition, where no scores were announced as the jumping round accounts for 50% of the final result. The four Cacchione Cup competitors returned later in the day for the flat phase. Holt quickly swapped mounts to compete in Individual Open Fences, where he placed sixth, then rode his third horse of the morning in the Team Open Fences class and earned a strong fourth-place finish.
Senior Kerrin Long followed with a third-place ride in Team Intermediate Fences, while fellow senior Brooke Wolfinger took the ring in Individual Intermediate Fences, where she returned for a tie-breaking test over a shortened course and ultimately placed third.
Junior Grace Allen and sophomore Rhiannon Swimelar concluded the Aggies' jumping performances. Allen took sixth in Individual Limit Fences, and Swimelar earned third in Team Limit Fences. At the end of the jumping rounds, the Aggies stood in fourth place overall as the competition transitioned to the flat classes.
Momentum began to shift in DelVal's favor during the flat phase. Senior Alaina Runt rode to a third-place finish in Individual Intro, followed by a clutch victory in Team Intro from freshman Madison Heitman. Freshman Elsa Heacock kept the energy going with a win in Team Novice, and freshman Maggie Mitchell earned a strong second in Team Limit Flat.
Allen returned to the ring for Individual Limit Flat and, after a challenging no-stirrups test, earned the blue ribbon—clinching the Aggies' first individual ticket to Nationals. Junior Taylor Pruitt also competed in the Limit Flat division, earning sixth place.
Wolfinger came back for Individual Intermediate Flat, where she delivered a standout performance, finishing second after no-stirrup testing and securing the team's second individual qualification. Allen then returned for her third ride of the day in Team Intermediate Flat, placing fourth.
To close out the day, Holt returned to the ring for a trio of flat classes. He placed fourth in Individual Open Flat after another demanding no-stirrups test, then earned third in Team Open Flat—a key result that sealed the Aggies' second-place finish in the team standings and earned them a coveted spot at Nationals.
Finally, Holt competed in the flat phase of the Cacchione Cup, where he was named Reserve Champion, placing second overall and clinching the final spot for DelVal at Nationals.
The IHSA National Horse Show will take place May 2–4 in Tryon, North Carolina, where the Aggies will represent Zone 3 in both team and individual competition.
Several team members were also recognized for season-long achievements. Long finished as the fifth overall point earner over fences in the Zone. Allen was named sixth overall flat rider, while sophomore Kellyn Meadows earned third overall in the Intro/Novice division. Additionally, senior captain Brooke Wolfinger was honored with the Joan Johnson Leadership Award, celebrating her outstanding leadership and dedication to the team.
