Mississippi College Equestrian Team Saddles Up for New Season
Mississippi College equestrian rider Erica Reynolds advanced to the 2015 Nationals in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Capping a terrific season, Erica became only the second MC rider in school history to reach the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association championships. Meredith Guider of Hinds County became the first MC standout to get that far in 2008.
As Mississippi College saddles up for its 9th equestrian season this fall, there’s good news: Erica returns with her horse to jump more fences, and win more ribbons.
The Mississippi College senior didn’t place at the Massachusetts event ending May 3. But the Texan sharpened her skills and built her confidence just by being in elite company at the Nationals.
“It was the coolest experience to see all of the top collegiate riders in the USA at the same show competing against each other,” says Reynolds, a Dallas resident. “The horses at the show were some of the most talented horses I’ve seen,” she added. “Nationals was awesome.”
The talented MC student shined at the IHSA zone competition in Georgia in late March to punch her ticket to the Nationals.
Based at 2,000-acre Providence Hill Farm, the MC equestrian team is expected to again rank among the best college squads in the South during the 2015-16 season.
The new season begins with competition at the University of Alabama October 17-18. There’s another IHSA tournament at Berry College in Georgia November 7-8. In 2016, MC takes February road trips to schools like Auburn University and Berry College for more action. The regionals are booked for March 15 at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
While facing bigger schools, Mississippi College competes very well in the region. This year’s team features 12 student-athletes from six states. They come from as far away as New Jersey (sophomore Jamie Kurlej) and California (sophomore Natalie Baumann and Ashley Brogan), and close as Mississippi (Erin Steffey, Darby Damon and Bailey Welch).
An MC sophomore and graduate of Northwest Rankin High in Brandon, Erin is the daughter of MC Law professor Matt Steffey.
A nursing major who plans to become a nurse practitioner, Erin “loves the horses and the challenge of getting better,” Matt Steffey says. “But what she loves the most is her friendship with the girls on the team and the sense of comradeship among the team and coaches.”
The equestrian team, he said, was a key factor in Erin’s selection of Mississippi College.
MC’s team features horses with interesting names. Veteran horses include: Mac, Laddie, and Hale Bopp. Newly acquired horses such as Capiche from New Mexico and Quinn from New York will add more spice to the lineup. “Boppie” was among the stars of a new movie “A Gift Horse” that was filmed at Providence Hill Farm.
Equestrian team head coach Tina Davey is pumped about MC’s prospects this fall and spring.
“We had a great season last year sending four riders to zones, and having Erica ride for our team at Nationals,” Davey said. “We are excited about this upcoming year.”
Former MC head coach Mandi Powers returns as the team’s assistant coach. Mandi doubles as Jackson Prep’s equestrian team coach. She also leads the horse riding lesson program at Providence Hill Farm.
Prospective Mississippi College students interested in joining the equestrian team are invited along with their parents to an open house at Providence Hill Farm on November 14. It coincides with the Christian university’s Preview Day that Saturday.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn more about the team,” says Davey, a former California star collegiate rider.
For more information, go to www.mcequestrianteam.com or contact Tina Davey at cdavey@mc.edu
Sign-up For Our Newsletter
Get the latest news about Mississippi College delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Along College Street e-newsletter.
