Fresno State Athletics
Bulldog Brings it at WEF
2/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Equestrian
Feb. 11, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State equestrian team captain, Kimberly Hewson Budnik, galloped across the country to Florida to compete in the 2011 Winter Equestrian Festival and finished the competition in sixth place. She was one of 16 chosen for the event and she was the first Bulldog to ever compete in the nationally recognized competition.
"This was such a great experience," said Hewson Budnik. "The horses were so nice and there was a big crowd here watching which was really cool. I feel so honored to have been invited to compete in this event."
The tournament was ran in the Varsity Equestrian head to head, bracketed format with sixteen top collegiate riders from all over the country. Riders competed over an equitation course with heights up to 3'6". Competition started today at 2 p.m. with all sixteen riders in the Preliminary Round. The eight winners qualified for the finals in the evening. The horses were on loan from local professionals and unfamiliar to the riders.
Hewson Budnik rode against Nellie Foosaner from the University of Miami in her first round and beat her with a high score of 80. The junior then advanced to the second round to ride against Texas A&M's Brooke Coleman where she received a score of 74. Unfortunately that was just four points short of the Aggies' ride but Hewson Budnik finished the national competition in sixth place.
"I am so proud of Kimmi," said head English coach Julia Scrivani. "She had some spectacular rides and I am very happy that she came and represented Fresno State at the Winter Equestrian Festival. It is fantastic to go to such an extravagant venue and be able to represent the Bulldogs like we did today."
Scrivani and Hewson Budnik will jump on a plane early tomorrow morning and head to Texas where they will meet the rest of the Equestrian team and take on SMU and TCU this weekend.
"We Are Your Team!" The annual Best in the West Tournament will take place at the Student Horse Center on February 26 and 27. Mark it on your calendar and come see your Bulldog equestrian team in action! Admission is FREE!
Players Mentioned
