PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – The JWU (Providence) IHSA program was named Champion Team this past weekend at Sandy Point Farms. The Wildcats accumulated 33 points, which bested URI (26), Salve Regina (25), and Roger Williams (17).

Freshman Grace Taylor was named High Point Rider of the Day following a pair of first-place finishes in Class 8 Open Hunter Seat Equitation over Fences and Class 7 Open Hunter Seat Equitation on the Flat. Junior Samantha Stepanik took second in both events.

Sophomore Emma Palagonia took home Reserve High Point Rider of the Day honors by placing first in Class 4 Limit Hunter Sat Equitation over Fences – Section A; freshman Kate Scherer placed first in Section B. Palagonia also claimed third in Class 3 Limit Hunter Seat Equitation on the Flat – Section A while junior Adaline Hanes was third in Section B.

Freshman Annika Ormsby placed second in Class 2B Novice Hunter Seat Equitation on the Flat while junior Cadence Mirto took third in Class 6 Intermediate Hunter Seat Equitation over Fences, and sophomore Caitlin Talbot finished fourth in Class 1 Introductory Hunter Seat Equitation on the Flat.

"The team benefited from the strong starts by Grace Taylor and Sam Stepanik in the Open Flat and Fences classes," said head coach Dirk Fogg. "Finishing 1-2 set the tone and helped block other teams at the same time. Emma Palagonia and Kate Scherer won the two sections of Limit Fences to support these efforts as well. Annika Ormsby continued to show her consistency with her another second-place finish – her third of the season – in a competitive group of 10 riders at the Novice Flat level."