Mississippi College

CLINTON, MS - Mississippi College's equestrian team gears up for its spring 2010 season featuring horse shows in Tennessee in February and Kentucky in March.

The MC team travels to Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competition Feb. 12-14 in Sewanee, Tenn. and is booked for an IHSA show at Murray State University in Kentucky March 5-7. The IHSA regionals will be held in Maryville, Tenn. March 19-21 followed by the zone finals in Rome, Ga. April 9-11.

In its third season of collegiate action, MC will be up against stiff competition next month at Sewanee. The hosting Tennessee school, also known as the University of the South, recently finished seventh of 28 teams competing in the 2009 Holiday Tournament in New Jersey.

Also making it much tougher for the Lady Choctaws is the fact that MC's nationally ranked rider, Meredith Guider of Utica, graduated from the Christian university in December.

A business student and award-winning rider, Guider placed 4th and 7th in the national finals the past two seasons. The Hinds County resident presently works at Providence Hill Farm, headquarters of the MC team.

MC equestrian coach Becky Baumel says Meredith's recent graduation provides an opportunity for other members of the squad to step up and shine.

Team members include seniors like Sara Mellado of Mesquite, Texas,and sophomores Cameron Crowe of Belden and Audra Johnson of Holcomb. Other students on the roster include: freshmen Josie Taylor of Petal, Kathryn Cawthon of Brandon and Caitlyn Hagenbrok of Memphis.

This season, the MC team received a nice boost from the hiring of top-notch trainers Jack Stedding and Linda Andrisani. On Dec. 5, Stedding was inducted into the Virginia Horseman's Hall of Fame.

"This is a huge honor," says Jamie Martin, owner of Providence Hill Farm, and the adviser to the MC equestrian team.

The 2009-2010 season of collegiate competition wraps up with the IHSA national finals in Lexington, Ky. May 6-9.