Waynesboro, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg equestrian squad took first place at the 2025 ODAC Equestrian Championship on Wednesday, hosted by Bridgewater College.

The traditional ODAC Equestrian Championship belongs to the Hornets for the third consecutive year. Three of Lynchburg's four riders earned a spot in the top eight to earn All-Conference selections: Fallyn Belcastro, Elle Nutting, and Madeline Rubin. In back-to-back years, Belcastro was tabbed as the ODAC Rider of the Year and director of Equestrian Phillip Williamson was named the ODAC Coach of the Year. Nutting was selected as the ODAC/Virginia Farm Buerau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Belcastro earned first place on the leaderboard for the second consecutive year with an average score of 86.750. She claimed a score of 86.000 in Class 1 and 87.500 in Class 2. Rubin was the next top finisher for Lynchburg, placing third overall with an average score of 84.875 in her rookie campaign. Nutting was the final Hornet performer to be named an all-conference member, taking eighth overall with an average of 77.500. Alexandria Russell averaged a score of 71.500 to take 14th overall at the event. 

Lynchburg took first in each of the first two classes and second in class three, claiming 19 total team points to claim the top spot of the five schools that participated. In second was Hollins with 14 total points and Bridgewater rounded out the top three with 11 points. Washington & Lee took fourth with 10 points and Sweet Briar rounded out the competition in fifth with nine points.

While the IHSA squad will be traveling to Findlay, Ohio on Saturday, March 22 for the IHSA Tournament of Champions, hosted by Findlay, the NCEA group will prepare for the ODAC Head to Head Tournament at the home ring from Friday, March 28 through Sunday, March 30.

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