LYNCHBURG, Va. – Delaware Valley's Hunt Seat Equestrian team traveled to Lynchburg, Virginia, on Saturday to compete in the Pre-Season Tournament of Champions Invitational at Lynchburg University. The tournament provided an opportunity for riders to compete against some of the top teams in the country and gain experience on horses they may encounter in postseason competition.
Lynchburg University claimed the team title, followed by national champion Savannah College of Art and Design. A series of tiebreakers kept the Aggies out of the top eight, but just six points separated DelVal from the Reserve Champion finish.
Sophomore Kiera Larkin led the Aggies with a first-place finish in Introductory at the end of the day. Sophomore Maggie Gardner made her tournament debut in the Novice division, earning second place. Junior Elsa Heacock moved up to compete in Limit Flat and placed third, while junior Alicia Smoot returned as the Limit Fences rider and also earned third.
Junior captain Maggie Gardner and senior captain Sophia Frisbie each earned fifth-place finishes in Intermediate Flat and Intermediate Fences, respectively. Senior Paige Gatz also made her tournament debut as the Aggies' Open Fences and Open Flat rider, earning sixth and third place, respectively.
Senior Rhiannon Swimelar competed in the first phase of the individual Low Medal, while Gatz competed in the High Medal. Gatz was called back as one of the top eight riders following the flat portion of the competition and advanced to the jumping round.
After both phases were scored, Gatz was announced as the High Medal champion, earning an 84 over fences and an impressive 90 on the flat. She became the first DelVal rider to win the High Medal at the Tournament of Champions since Chelsea Koerper claimed the title in 2013 at Centenary University. Koerper's victory followed three consecutive wins by current co-head coach Ciara Tjong (née Menkens). Grace Allen finished as the High Medal Reserve Champion at last September's Pre-Season Tournament.
The Aggies begin regular-season competition this Saturday, October 3, at Brookside Show Stables in a show hosted by Lehigh University.
