Wilson Hall equestrian team rides to SCISA state title
The Wilson Hall equestrian team took part in the SCISA State Championships on Sunday at Tally Ho Equestrian Center. The Lady Barons got excellent contributions throughout the team on the way to a state title.
"We've had a really well-rounded, strong competitive team this year," head coach Cali Bowman said. "We've got a great group of girls, many seasoned riders that have been on the team for a few years and some new faces as well. To be competitive in equestrian, you have to have riders in all divisions, and we really have that. I think that's what really helped us come out on top."
The Lady Barons won with a total of 46 team points, while Hammond finished in second as a team with 40 points. Third place was Trinity Collegiate with 29 points.
Wilson Hall had a total of four first-place finishers on Sunday, a mix of returners and newcomers.
Coker Cutler, Josie Jackson and Campbell Cormer are three riders that were back for the Lady Barons this season, each winning a division.
Cutler won the varsity open on the flat and finished in fourth in varsity open over fences. Cutler is the oldest rider on the team as the lone junior and has provided excellent leadership for the young squad.
"I've known Coker since she was in sixth grade. I've gotten to really watch her grow as a rider and a young woman," Bowman said. "She's really stepped up as a mentor to the younger riders, always helpful and just a wonderful asset to the team with her knowledge. I've really watched her blossom as a leader."
Jackson, meanwhile, won varsity intermediate over fences and placed second in the varsity intermediate on the flat as a freshman. Jackson made a leap in competition level this season and Bowman was proud of the way she responded to the challenge.
"Josie really stepped up to the plate this year," Bowman said. "She really answered the call. She's been a wonderful rider to work with. I've been working with her for four or five years, so it's been nice to see her develop from a rider I was teaching how to trot to someone who is having great success in the SCISA championships."
Cormer, an eighth-grader, won the beginner walk trot canter.
"She had a good draw and a good ride," Bowman said. "We started off the day really strong with a win from Coker and Campbell really helped us finish it out strong with a win in that walk trot canter. She just went out there and did what she needed to do."
One newcomer to win a pair of titles for Wilson Hall was freshman Emmi Leard, joining the Lady Barons after transferring from Ashley Hall. She won both novice over fences and novice on the flat.
"She's kind of like a sponge, she soaks everything up," Bowman said. "She's performed really well this year and received quite a few first-place finishes. She's just a great student, someone who really listens and applies what she learns."
They weren't the only contributors for Wilson Hall.
Lottie Bynum placed fourth in the A division of beginner walk trot canter, while teammate Sofia Dall'Erta, a seventh-grader, earned the same finish in the B division. Avery Goode had a fifth-place finish in the same event. Sanders Warrick placed fourth in the beginner walk trot, Karsen Jones, a fifth-grader, placed fifth, and Joslynn Barrick, another fifth-grader, placed seventh. Elizabeth Busch placed fifth in novice over fence and novice on the flat.