SBC's Schlosberg Earns Top Rider and Rookie Honors 

FOREST, Va. --- The 2016 ODAC Equestrian Championships required extra action to determine a team champion on Friday afternoon at the Randolph College Riding Center, with Randolph and Sweet Briar College tied following the completion of the scheduled show format. The Vixens proved victorious in a ride-off against the WildCats, securing their second straight and fourth overall conference title.

In another repeat occurrence, first-year Vixen's rider Emily Schlosberg took home both the ODAC Rider and Rookie of the Year awards, matching the performance of teammate Makayla Benjamin from 2015.  SBC's Mimi Wroten garnered ODAC Coach of the Year laurels, while Randolph senior Renee Russell received ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete recognition.

Full Championships Results

The team scoring was based on a 7-5-4-3-2-1 points system with the class winner receiving seven points and working down to the sixth-place team which garnered one point.

Sweet Briar opened the competition by winning the first Equitation Over Fences class with a 253.000 team score.  Randolph proved the runner-up with a 244.000 mark.  Lynchburg College (248.250) collected seven points towards first place in the second jumping class, followed by Sweet Briar (247.625). The WildCats (232.000) finished fifth, leaving them five points behind SBC heading into the flat.  Randolph made its comeback in the final class, winning the flat (175.000) to pick up seven points. The Vixens (158.250) placed fifth in the discipline, awarding them just two points to leave SBC and RAND tied 14-all.

The ride-off took place on the A course, which was used for the first jumping class. Both schools used their top two riders in the title-deciding showdown.  SBC's Schlosberg and Benjamin combined for a 159.0 score, clipping the 150.5 posted by Randolph's Meaghan Hynes and Morgan Hoke.

Washington and Lee earned third place with 11 total points, but a second tie for fourth featured Lynchburg and Hollins University at 10 points each. The Hornets were awarded fourth placed based on conference tiebreakers, which involved combined points earned in the two jumping classes.  LC received nine to HU's seven.  Bridgewater College finished sixth with 10 points.

Individually, Schlosberg won the first Equitation Over Fences class with an 87.500 average from the show's two judges.  Hynes chimed in just behind at 87.000, while Benjamin registered an 86.000 mark.  Lynchburg's Christina Antonucci posted the #1 average in the second jumping class, shaving by W&L's Jane Chiavelli, 87.250 to 87.000. Benjamin ranked third with an 85.625 average, with Schlosberg finishing fourth courtesy of an 85.500 score.

Schlosberg's combined average of 86.500 following the two jumping courses earned her top marks amongst all riders, which brings with it ODAC Rider of the Year honors.  Given that she is also a first year student-athlete, Schlosberg doubled as the ODAC Rookie of the Year.  The top-10 combined averages from the two jumping classes comprise the All-ODAC Riding Team (posted below).

Posted below are the full team standings from the 2016 ODAC Equestrian Championships, as well as the All-ODAC Riding Team.  For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook, or follow@odacathletics on Twitter.

ODAC Rider of the Year: Emily Schlosberg, Sweet Briar
ODAC Coach of the Year: Mimi Wroten, Sweet Briar
ODAC Rookie of the Year: Emily Schlosberg, Sweet Briar
ODAC/Va. Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete: Renee Russell, Randolph

* Sweet Briar won a ride-off to secure the ODAC title
+ Lynchburg was awarded fourth place based on tiebreakers (cumulative point total over fences)