Tryon, N.C. -- The University of Lynchburg IHSA equestrian team concluded its incredible season with a fifth-place finish of 16 teams at IHSA Nationals this weekend, hosted at Tryon International.

The Hornets appeared as a team at the pinnacle of IHSA competition for the first time in program history and showed out with a top-five finish, totaling a team score of 29.5. Centenary took home the title with a team score of 34.0 with Skidmore close behind at 33.0. Purdue and Sacred Heart tied for third place with team scores of 31.0.

Lynchburg's fantastic performance was highlighted by reserve champion Ava Jackson in the Team Limit Fences, clinching eight team points. The Hornets had two stellar showings from Jessica McElhaney in Limit Flat and Fallyn Belcastro in Open Fences as each of them placed third in their respective events to snag seven team points apiece.

Alexandria Russell put on a great display in Intermediate Fences to take home a fifth-place ribbon and five team points for the Hornets. Russell added another team point in Team Intermediate Flat with a ninth-place finish. Clair Humphreys also took ninth in Team Novice for a Lynchburg point, and teammate Lucy Metzler placed 10th in Team Open Flat for half a team point.

The Hornets had an impressive performance in their first IHSA Nationals appearance as a team to wrap up their extraordinary 2024-25 campaign.

Visit Lynchburg athletics' home online, LynchburgSports.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news on all Hornets sports and coverage from the Lynchburg Hornets Sports Network.

Sign up here to receive Lynchburg Sports news in your email inbox.

Give Lynchburg Athletics a like on Facebook, and follow Lynchburg Athletics on Instagram and X.