Ocala, Fla. -- The University of Lynchburg equestrian team won the NCEA single-discipline national championship for the third year in a row cementing the program in the history books as a dynasty across the equestrian landscape. The Hornets defeated Sweet Briar 6-3 on Saturday at the World Equestrian Center.
The Hornets and Vixens were locked in a tie up until the final two Lynchburg riders broke the stalemate with consecutive points to secure the historic win. Sweet Briar has been the victim in all three of Lynchburg's title wins, falling by the greatest margin in this year's single discipline finals.
Competing riders for Lynchburg included Emma Schweizer, Lucy Metzler, Fallyn Belcastro, Abby Zemp, Mackenna Moss, Jacqueline Needle, and Kelley McCormick.
The first point of the meet for the Hornets was secured by ODAC rider of the year Belcastro with a score of 85, good for a margin of 19.33 over her opponent. Schweizer earned the only other point won by the Hornets over fences riding to a score of 77.33.
The two teams were evenly matched over fences as three different points were decided by a margin of less than one, including a tie at 77.67 between Needle and her opponent. Smith's 84 fell to a Vixen score of 84.67, and the meet moved to the flat all tied at 2-2.
The defending champs would not be denied their third ring, nearly sweeping the flat for the second day in a row at the championships. The lone Vixen point on the flat came by a slim margin of 0.33 over Zemp who earned a 78.
McCormick, the captain of the Lynchburg squad, rode to a 75 defeating her opponent by a margin of 7.66.
Belcastro continued her dominance scoring her second point of the meet. She earned the high score on the flat of 82.33, winning her head-to-head by a margin of 11.33. The junior's performance earned most outstanding performer on the flat for the championship meet. Belcastro swept her opponents through the championship weekend winning four points for the Hornets and was awarded all-tournament team honors. The NCEA all-tournement team includes riders from both the dual and single discipline formats.
Flat specialist Metzler secured her point with a 72.67, and Schweizer won her second point of the meet earning a 77.33. Metzler and Schweizer won their points by a combined margin of 17.
Lynchburg defeated the Vixens 4-1 on the flat just as they did in last year's championship final, where they erased a 1-4 deficit to take down Sweet Briar via raw score.
Lynchburg made history taking down Sweet Briar 6-3 establishing themselves atop the single discipline world for the third consecutive year.
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--LYN--
