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Issue date: 2/18/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jordan Rooney Tournament of Champions riders display their ribbons after the Mary Washinton show where they earned 24 points helping secure a third place finish in the series.

The Lynchburg College equestrian team finished third overall in the Tournament of Champions, a series of competitions the team has competed in since October. The Tournament of Champions is an invitation only competition, consisting of 28 of the top schools in the east coast, so it is considered a real accomplishment by the coach, the team and the college to be invited for the first time and do so well.

Out of the 25 riders on the team, head coach Matt Arrigon selected eight to compete in the tournament: junior Drew Nichols, sophomores Taylor Fellows, Kelly Gerland and Jordan Rooney and four freshmen Emily Eckenberger, Krissy Guthrie, Rachel Jones and Caroline Thompson.

In the final show of the tournament, a series of three, on Jan. 30 at the University of Mary Washington, the riders performed well and achieved very high results for the day. Guthrie won the intermediate fences, and Jones placed second in novice fences. Nichols placed fourth in the walk trot, and Thompson placed fourth in the walk trot canter. Rooney placed fourth in open flat, Fellows placed sixth in intermediate flat and Eckenberger placed fifth in novice flat.

The team started the tournament at Hollins University in October earning a low total of 11 points. With such a low amount of points for the day, the team did not place in the first show, but Arrigon did not let them give up.

"It was a learning experience," he said.

In December, they competed at Centenary College, earning a much higher total of 22 points, tying Mount Holyoke College for third place in the second show. On Jan. 30, the team earned their most points with a total of 24, tying Virginia Intermont for fifth place in the third and final show, Rooney said.

The teams' top two scores in the series were added together, giving them an overall total of 46 points and third place overall in the Tournament of Champions. Virginia Intermont College finished second overall, and Virginia Tech won the tournament, finishing with 49 points.

"We are absolutely pleased with the results of the tournament. We were shooting to win overall, but we did our part and did well," Arrigon said.

Arrigon said he was impressed with the riders and how well everyone on the team is doing.

"We have a bunch of good kids and a very, very bright future," he said.

The team hopes to be invited to the Tournament of Champions again next year, but for now, they plan to finish out the season with the same kind of success. Their next show is this upcoming weekend on Feb. 21, at Sweet Briar College.

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