Riding Team finishes in 3rd Place at ODAC Championships

Salem, VA -- Bridgewater College won its second ODAC Equestrian Championship in the last three years Friday afternoon, adding the 2009 title to the title it won in 2007. Sweet Briar finished as the reserve champion, while Randolph College placed third.

Randolph took fifth in the Equitation Over Fences Class 1. The WildCats finished third in Equitation Over Fences Class 2, and captured first place in Equitation on Flats.

Senior WildCat Ashley Lovegrove claimed her second straight ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar Athlete award. The Moneta native boasts a 3.818 grade point average while majoring in political science with a minor in economics. An All-ODAC rider in 2008, Lovegrove has been the high point rider at four invitationals this season including the IHSA Regionals. She qualified for the IHSA national meet where she will compete for the national individual title. Gillian Baird also earned individual honors for Randolph, being named to the All-ODAC Equestrian Team.

Posted below are the point standings and the 2009 All-ODAC members.

Final Standings (points awarded as 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for places1-6)
1. Bridgewater - 16 pts.
2. Sweet Briar - 14 pts.
3. Randolph - 13 pts .
4. Hollins - 10 pts.
5. Washington and Lee - 9 pts.
6. Lynchburg - 4 pts.

2009 All-ODAC Equestrian Team
Gillian Baird, Randolph
Sarah Fishback, Sweet Briar
Katie Furches, Hollins
Chelsea Hames, Bridgewater
Allison Lemon, Washington and Lee
Tamara Morse, Washington and Lee
Meredith Newman, Sweet Briar
Alison Sims, Sweet Briar
Patti Ann Thornton, Bridgewater
Kailey Williams, Bridgewater

Rider of the Year: Patti Ann Thornton, Bridgewater
Coach of the Year: Sarah Irvine, Bridgewater
Rookie of the Year: Kailey Williams, Bridgewater
ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete: Ashley Lovegrove, Randolph

CONTACT: Vince Scalzo, Sports Information Director