March 30, 2004

FAIRFIELD, CT - After closing out the season by winning the Reserve High Point College title at Sunday's show, members of the Sacred Heart University equestrian team have set their sites on the 2004 Zone 3, Region 1 Championship Horse Show.

The roster for next weekend's show grew by two today as teammates Kate Janczak and Lauren Pierce earned their spots in the post-season show. Captain Kate Janczak needed one point going into the show to qualify for Open Fences. A fifth place finish guaranteed her the two points she needed to move on to compete at Regionals over Fences.

To her credit, last year, Janczak finished as Reserve Champion in Open Equitation over Fences and continued on to compete at the Zone Horse Show. Janczak will also compete in Open Equitation on the Flat.

Freshman Lauren Pierce finished the regular show season with a win in Intermediate Fences today. The seven points qualified her for the post-season and into Open Fences for the 2004-2005 season.

Sacred Heart will be well represented in the post-season. With riders competing in all but two classes, we look to send one of our strongest rosters ever into this show. In addition to our six undergraduate qualifiers: Janczak, Pierce, Emily Grayson (Open Flat), Lauren O'Connell (Walk/Trot), Jessica Reynolds (Novice Flat) and Crystal Taylor (Intermediate Flat), Sacred Heart Alumna Kristine Brackenridge ('03) has qualified for Alumni Flat.

The IHSA Zone 3, Region 1 Championship Horse Show will be held on April 4th at Fox Ridge Farm in Newtown, CT. Owned by Sacred Heart Alumnus Justin Gregory, Fox Ridge serves as the home training facility for the SHU Equestrian Team.