On Saturday, the equestrian team trekked to Hanover, N.H., to compete in the All-Ivy League Championship horseshow. The Bears dominated the competition, ending the day with seven first-place finishes - a perfect score - and the Ivy League title.
"It was just a fantastic day," said co-captain Alexis Gilbard '06. "As a team, we won the championship, which was obviously amazing. ... Every point rider won her heat, and that doesn't happen too often."
There were standout performances from everyone on the team. Point rider Whitney Keefe '08 took top honors in both the flat and fences classes of the Open Division, while Marissa Geoffroy '07 contributed to Brown's success by earning first place in her Intermediate fences heat. Additionally, Novice rider and co-captain Galyn Burke '05 won her heat in both the flat and the fences classes. Katie Goetz '08 won the Walk-Trot-Canter division and, in one of the most thrilling moments of the day, Lizy Freudmann '05 won her heat of the Walk-Trot.
"This past Saturday was definitely one of my most memorable days at college, and certainly one of the happiest," Freudmann said.
Freudmann's victory was especially impressive given that the senior had only begun riding this year, joining the team "on a whim."
Although she consistently put the team first throughout the year, Freudmann said that a primary goal of hers was to win a blue ribbon. She had never participated in athletics before joining the team and had worked hard all season to learn the skills required to succeed on horseback.
With her parents proudly watching from the stands, Freudmann rode beautifully in her last performance of the year and her collegiate career, ultimately fulfilling her aim and earning that coveted blue ribbon.
"When Lizy won, it was just amazing. Half of the team was crying, and we were all cheering. Everybody was just so happy for her. We knew this was everything she had wanted all season long, and she just worked so hard for it, which can be tough when you are just beginning as a rider," Gilbard said.
While the season has ended for Freudmann and most of the team, three riders - Keefe, Grace Peloquin '07 and Jamie Peddy '06 - have qualified for the National Championships, to be held the weekend of May 6 in Sunbury, Ohio.
