SEWANEE, TN - The Mississippi College Equestrian team shined at Sewanee, TN. last weekend to continue their winning ways in their second season.
MC placed third in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association's team competition hosted by the University of the South Oct. 4-5. The MC riders finished behind powerhouses Murray State University of Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee State University.
Other teams competing were the University of the South in Sewanee, Maryville College, Mississippi State University, Vanderbilt University and Tennessee Tech.
MC senior Meredith Guider, a business student from Utica, finished as the high point rider for the show Saturday. The 20-year-old also claimed second-place for the over fences class on Sunday.
The MC team is coached by Mandi Callaway Powers, trainer at Providence Hill Farm and former equestrian coach at Rice University in Houston. The 2,000-acre farm with its 36-stall heated barn, a Grand Prix jumping field, water jump, lake, trail riding and much more is the home base for the team. Providence Hill Farm is about a 15-minute ride from the Clinton campus.
Eight MC team members traveled to Sewanee for the competition. Others turning in stellar performances include Sara Mellado, a junior from Dallas. The Christian Studies major placed first in Saturday's Beginning Walk-Trot-Canter division. Rebekah Langley, a junior elementary education major, placed first Sunday in her Walk-Trot division. Ann Howard, a sophomore communications major from Madison, placed first in her Walk-Trot class Sunday.
Whitney Dedmon, a freshman nursing major from Madison, placed third in the Beginning Walk-Trot-Canter. Emily Hunt, a junior communication and French major from Clinton, placed fourth in her Walk-Trot class Sunday. New team members competing in the weekend event included freshman Cameron Crowe, a business major from Belden.
Fans of the MC Equestrian Team will get the opportunity to meet them this Saturday Oct. 11 beginning at 10 a.m. at the Mississippi State Fair. Team members will be stationed at the welcome center booth to sign autographs, pose for pictures and help promote the program at MC. Coach Powers plans to join them at the booth near the Jefferson Street entrance to the fair. Last May, Guider finished as the 4th best rider in the nation at the IHSA National Championships in Los Angeles.
Following the fair, MC's team will compete in Canton at the Mississippi Hunter Jumper Association show on Oct. 18-19. The team's next IHSA show will be Oct. 25-26 at Maryville College in Tennessee. For more information about the team, go to www.providencehillfarm.com or call 601-925-0557 or contact the MC athletic department at 601-925-3341 or visit www.mc.edu