Levy Named Reserve National Champion

With a score of 69.472% and a nearly flawless ride at First Level, senior Lauren Levy (Amherst, MA/Stoneleigh Burnham School)capped her collegiate equestrian career with a reserve championship at the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Championship hosted by Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey.

Levy made her intercollegiate dressage debut last fall after spending the early years of her Albion College career as a member of the school's hunt seat team.  A multifaceted rider, she competes her own horse, Ultair's Bailey in both jumping and dressage competitions and in March, she was a member of the Albion Prix de Villes dressage team that secured a third place finish at Lake Erie College.

Also qualifying as individuals for the IDA National Championship were junior Alyssa Olson (Clarkston/Clarkston) and first-year student Paige Gustafson (Dexter/Dexter).  Olson had previously attended Nationals as a first-year student as part of Albion's team and in her first individual appearance netted a fifth place finish in the Lower Training division.  Gustafson was the first Albion first-year student to secure an individual berth to Nationals and came in twelfth at Upper Training.

"I was incredibly proud of all three of my riders," said dressage coach and interim equestrian director Danielle Menteer.  "They have really improved all season and each one of them came to Nationals prepared and focused on what they needed to do to be successful.  Their strong finishes were just the icing on the cake."

Levy will graduate from Albion on Saturday and has already secured a position with Amerigroup Corporation.  Olson and Gustafson will spend the summer training at home and return to Albion in the fall.