APRIL 3, 2007
SPORTS
Equestrian Club sends first two to regionals BY ARIEL COHEN Beacon Sports Editor
It has been nearly two full years since Alisha Cain’s dream of having an equestrian club at Wilkes University became a reality. The road from being granted club status back in April 2005 seems like such a long time ago considering all that the team has accomplished, especially this year. Wilkes is sending not only one competitor to regional competitions but two -Jessica Ashford and Sarah Brown. The Equestrian Club, which does not represent Wilkes University in any official varsity athletic competition, still finds its way to bring Wilkes pride and name recognition as they compete with other schools as part of the Inter-Collegiate Horse Show Association. “The team is going well. It is really a blast and a big adrenaline rush to be able to ride a horse that you have never ridden before,” said freshman Tia Hickman, who just joined the team this year. In addition to Tia, there are two other freshmen and a total of eight members on this year’s team. The experience level of
the women, including Jessica Ashford and zone show in Pittsburgh, “which, out of the Sarah Brown, who have both been riding 15 to advance to that point, we had two insince the age of seven, is very high. cluding myself and Brown,” Ashford said. “All of the girls on the team have been With this being the first regional show riding all of their lives, but we would like for any Wilkes University Equestrian club to recruit girls who haven’t had as much ex- member, a new landmark has been set and perience,” new goals are now being stated juformed for next fall as the nior Jessica women head back to work Ashford. for another season. “My new Experiaspiration since I won a blue ence is what ribbon for Wilkes this past matters for year is to go to regionals in members of the novice competition,” said the equestriAshford. an club. The Although neither one of the Courtesy of wildheartranch.com team has ten representatives from Wilkes shows per advanced beyond this zone year, includcompetition this past weeking five in the fall and five in spring. Every end, the knowledge and level of experience fall semester, the team co-hosts a show with for the team continues to grow with higher Cedar Crest which has been a tradition since hopes and bigger expectations for next seathe team began two years ago. Every team son. member’s dream, however, is to win that blue ribbon and head to the national show. According to Ashford, a competitor needs to accumulate a minimum of 35 points over three semesters to qualify for the regional
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don’t offer up careful, smart pitching, the Bulldogs offensive muscle could be intimidating. But facing a team of the Colonels stature is never easy for any conference opponent. Folek is a veteran at his profession and will look to lead the Colonels to another Freedom Conference victory. “Our upperclassmen have to have good series, and our offense needs to score more runs,” stated Folek breaking down his keys to victory in beating the DeSales Bulldogs. The Colonels will look to bring hard hitting and solid pitching out of their bag of tricks on the road against the DeSales Bulldogs this Thursday at 3 p.m.