Home Meet Clinches Region Win for Dressage Team (March 23, 2013)

The Albion dressage team hosted their final regular competition of the season on home turf at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center on March 23. By the end of the day, one team from the whole region was confirmed to go to IDA Nationals along with eight individual riders (two from each level). That team turned out to be Albion College, and three of those individual spots were filled by Albion riders as well.

Three Albion riders completed dressage tests with percentage scores in the 70’s. Team captain Paige Gustafson (Dexter/Dexter) drew one of her favorite mounts, Albion College Romulus, and together they secured an impressive 74.32% at First Level, also winning reserve high score for the day and winning their class. Megan Grobbel (Berlin/Armada) rode Albion College St. James to a 70% in Upper Training Level, and teammate Maggie-Mae White (South Lyon) rode Albion College Clare for a 70.63% in Introductory Level.

Other notable Albion placings included a second place for first-year student Emma Stapley (Rockford/Rockford), a third place for senior Ruthie Doering (Cadillac/Cadillac), and a fourth place for Stephanie Early (Watsonville, CA/Monte Vista Christian). At the end of the day, both of Albion’s teams were awarded Champion and Reserve Champion of the whole show (“B” team winning Champion, and the “A” team winning Reserve). These wins clinched the regional title for Albion College.

The Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) Nationals will take place at Mount Holyoke University in South Hadley, Mass., on April 26-28. Albion riders going to compete at Nationals are as follows:    

• Paige Gustafson – individual and team (First Level)
• Alyssa Olson – team (Upper Training Level)
• Ruthie Doering – individual and team (Lower Training Level)
• Maggie-Mae White – individual and team (Introductory Level)