April 8, 2002

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The USC Equestrian Team will be sending two individuals to the IHSA National Championship after attending Zone 5 Finals this past weekend at Midway College in Lexington, Kentucky.

Junior Lisa Wilson was the only rider in South Carolina’s entire region to progress to Nationals in Hunt Seat after placing second in Walk/Trot/Canter. Junior Sarah Tomasi will also represent Region 2 as the Cacchione Cup Rider at the IHSA National Championship. Zones consist of all region champions competing against each other. Zone 5 is made up of all IHSA Equestrian teams in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana and Kentucky.

Junior Kelly Girtman was third in Intermediate Fences and Tomasi was third in Open Fences.

“Third place is a little hard to swallow,” Coach Duncan said, “because you just miss qualifying for the National Championship by one spot. Everyone rode well, it was just particularly frustrating for these two.”

Sophomore Lisa Boykin finished sixth in Intermediate Western Horsemanship.

“Alexis (Pospischil) and I returned to Zones for the second time but this was our first time as individuals” said Boykin. “Everyone else was experiencing it for the first time. We rode well and will build upon this experience for next year.”

Nationals will be held May 3-5 at Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, New York.