Elizabeth Hay, 2015 USEF/Cacchione Cup Hunter Seat Equitation champion (Al Cook Photo)

Fairfield, CT – The 42nd Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Championships, April 30-May 3 at the Eastern States Coliseum in West Springfield, MA, saw a first-ever Collegiate Cup High Point Hunter Seat Team championship for coach Ashley Henry and the Savannah College of Art & Design Bees, while coach Margaret Knight and the Berry College Vikings repeated their winning ways with their second American Quarter Horse Association High Point Western Team title since 2011 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Three times proved the charm for coach Bob Story and College of Charleston Cougars senior Elizabeth Hay, who made school history as COC's first USEF/Cacchione Cup Hunter Seat Equitation champion. Selena Finn rewrote the record books for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Huskers and coach Lori Jaixen, as its first AQHA High Point Western Rider.

EquestrianCoach.com Achievement of Excellence Awards for style, effective riding and potential to excel in equestrian sport were presented to hunter seat rider Cody Wooten (Centenary College) and western rider Morgan Sykes (University of Central Florida). Wooten receives a six-day apprenticeship with Karen Healey and certificate for an Antares helmet; Sykes gets a six-day apprenticeship with Tim McQuay. Each also receives a $1,000 expense stipend, lifetime membership to EquestrianCoach.com and annual memberships for their coaches, and an embroidered saddle pad, hat and backpack.

Honored for academic and/or behind the scenes accomplishment were Senior IHSA Essay Academic Achievement Award Contest winner, Megan Talbott (Central Connecticut State); Teresa L. McDonald IHSA Scholarship Challenge winner Anna Knowles (Dartmouth); IHSA Nationals Sportsmanship Volunteer Award winner, Karen Hurff (Skidmore); IHSA Nationals Sportsmanship Rider Award winner Anthony DeSimone (Centenary); and the IHSA Nationals Sportsmanship Coach Award went to Cazenovia assistant coach, Liz Pinto.

The 2015 Collegiate Cup winners, SCAD, also won the right to reward the individual of their choice with a new set of paddock boots courtesy of Fabbri Boots USA, and selected Goucher College rider and all-around good sportsman, Joseph Fink.

The live feed webcast of the competition by The EPCo Group drew international viewership from 19 nations, and its social media post reach on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube reached nearly a quarter of a million. The 2016 IHSA National Championships will be at the Kentucky Horse Park. For complete results and more about IHSA visit www.IHSAinc.com.