Equestrian Rides to Perfect Score on Senior Day

Saturday, October 19

Norwalk, CT

9 a.m.

Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart University

Equestrian Rides to Perfect Score on Senior Day

10/21/2024 2:39:00 PM | Equestrian

Hwalek and Skelton earn top honors as SHU takes decisive win

By: Cameron McClarren

NORWALK, Conn. — Kylie Hwalek and Rebecca Skelton teamed up to take High Point and Reserve High Point Rider honors as the Sacred Heart Equestrian team accumulated a perfect score at its first home Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) show of the season on Saturday.

Hwalek continued her excellent run-of-form to begin the 2024-25 season, claiming her third-consecutive win in Open Fences with a win in Section C. She then claimed her first High Point Rider honor of the season after grabbing a 1^st place showing in Section A of the Open Flat. Skelton, a first year rider for SHU, grabbed her first-ever Reserve High Point Rider honor, claiming 1^st in Section A of Open Fences and 2^nd in Section C of the Open Flat.

The Pioneers had stellar performances in the Fences portion of Saturday's show, taking wins in all three sections of Open Fences with Hwalek, Skelton, and Ella DiFazio grabbing wins. On Senior Day, Lauren Radi secured a 2^nd place finish in Section B of the Open Fences to close out that portion of the event. In Limit Fences, Sophia Poling grabbed a first place showing in Section C while in Section B, Ava Hufford took second place.

In Flat, SHU continued its dominance with four wins in the Limit and Open Flat. In the Limit Flat, Kayla DeStephanis took first in Section A while Harley Jimenez took first in Section B while in the Open Flat, Emma Grimes grabbed a win on her Senior Day in Section B while Hwalek grabbed the win in Section A. On her Senior Day, Kelly Mecatl took a win in Section C of Introductory while in Section A of Novice, Julia Parlapiano took first as the Pioneers grabbed a perfect score in their home-opening win at Silvermine Farm.

Team Results

Sacred Heart (49 points)
LIU (37 points)
NYU (29 Points)

Individual Results
Kylie Hwalek – High Point Rider
Rebecca Skelton – Reserve High Point Rider

Kayla DeStephanis – 1^st Limit Flat Section A
Ella DiFazio – 1^st Open Fences Section B
Cynthia Estey – 3^rd Intermediate Flat Section A
Emma Grimes – 1^st Open Flat Section B
Ava Hufford – 2^nd Limit Fences Section B
Kylie Hwalek – 1^st Open Fences Section C, 1^st Open Flat Section A
Harley Jimenez – 1^st Limit Flat Section B
Molly McKegney – 6^th Limit Fences Section A
Kelly Mecatl – 1^st Introductory Section C
Julia Parlapiano – 1^st Novice Section A
Sophia Poling – 1^st Limit Fences Section C
Lauren Radi – 2^nd Open Fences Section B
Isabella Schupler – 2^nd Limit Flat Section C
Rebecca Skelton – 1^st Open Fences Section A, 2^nd Open Flat Section C
Kennedy Teasdale – 1^st Intermediate Flat Section B, 6^th Intermediate Fences Section A
Reagan Waggoner – 2^nd Intermediate Fences Section A, 4^th Intermediate Flat Section A

Up Next:
The Pioneers have a two-meet weekend this week, hosting Dartmouth College in their first National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) match of the season on Saturday, October 26 before heading to Northport, N.Y. for an IHSA show against NYU and Princeton on Sunday, October 27. More information can be found at sacredheartpioneers.com.