Tryon, N.C. -- The University of Lynchburg equestrian team took their talents to Tryon International for IHSA Nationals and finished in fourth place as a team, the highest team placement in program history. Amaya Bellfield became an individual national champion with a win in Individual Open Fences.

Lynchburg's performance was highlighted by strong results in the Open divisions. In Open Fences, Bellfield's performance contributed eight points to the team total. The Open Flat division added another top finish, with a third-place result from Bellfield that brought in seven additional points.

In the Intermediate division, Lynchburg's Jessica McElhaney earned a fifth-place finish in Intermediate Flat, adding five points. While no points were recorded in Intermediate Fences, the team continued to build its total through consistent placings in later sections.

The Limit divisions also contributed to the overall score. McElhaney placed sixth in Limit Fences and Adam Matejko added another sixth-place finish in Limit Flat, earning four points in each class. These results added depth to the team's performance across both fences and flat phases.

Although Lynchburg did not record points in the Novice or Introductory sections, the team's results across the board in multiple classes secured a fourth-place finish overall. The combination of high placements in the Open divisions and steady contributions in the Limit and Intermediate sections demonstrated consistency against top collegiate programs.

Throughout the national championship, Lynchburg riders contributed points in multiple divisions, resulting in a top-four finish and a strong showing on the national stage. Last season, the Hornets earned a spot as a team at IHSA Nationals for the first time in program history and finished in fifth of the 16-team field.

To view the complete results from IHSA Nationals, click here.

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