TERRE HAUTE — In May, members of the St. Mary-of-the-Woods College Hunter Seat and Western Equestrian teams traveled to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, Calif., to compete at the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Nationals, and many team members received high marks for their riding skills.
As the Hunter Seat Reserved Champion Team in Zone 9, SMWC served as a representative at nationals for the zone. This was their first team appearance at nationals, and the team finished 11th out of 18 teams. Hunter Seat rider Mary Bungum, an equine business management major from Park Ridge, Ill., placed sixth out of 18 in Individual Novice Equitation Over Fences, and Melissa Madsen, an equine studies major from South Bend, placed fourth out of 18 in the Team Walk-Trot Canter Equitation class.
On the Western team, Charlynn (Larissa) Turner, who graduated in May 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies, took the Reserve Champion title in the American Quarter Horse Association High Point Western Rider competition. Turner, who is from Center Point, was the regional high point rider in Zone 9, Region 1, which qualified her to compete at nationals, and her Reserve Champion title means that she placed second out of 22 riders. Other Western Team riders who placed include Brittany Eyer, an equine studies major from Cromwell, who placed ninth out of 12 in the Individual Beginner Western Horsemanship class and Ashley Bruner, an equine training and instruction major from Solsberry, who placed ninth out of 12 in Individual Intermediate Western Horsemanship.
The following students also represented the SMWC Equestrian Teams at nationals:
• Cortni Bigley, an equine studies and pre-veterinary double major from Ellettsville, competed in Team Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation.
• Sarah Kniesly, a criminal justice major from Indianapolis, competed in Team Novice Equitation on the Flat and Team Novice Equitation Over Fences.
• Molly Migliaccio, an equine business management and graphic design double major from Anthem, Ariz., competed in Team Intermediate Equitation on the Flat and Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences.
• Aubrey Fait, an equine training and instruction major from Mequon, Wis., competed in Team Open Equitation on the Flat and Team Open Equitation Over Fences.
• Allison Kralovansky, an equine business management major from Elkhart, competed in Individual Open Western Horsemanship.
“I continue to be very proud of the accomplishments of the teams,” said Cindy Durham, SMWC Western Equestrian Team coach. “Every goal begins with a vision. That vision becomes work, perseverance, patience and finally joy as the goal becomes a reality.”
The SMWC Equestrian teams compete throughout the year in both Western and Hunter Seat riding, traveling to about 20 shows per season. SMWC has often been the site for regional horse shows, and students are a vital part of the management of these shows.
Students at SMWC can pursue degrees in equine studies, equine training and instruction, equine business management and pre-veterinary studies through the Mari Hulman George School of Equine Studies. And, all students involved in the equestrian teams and academic programs at SMWC get to take advantage of the college’s Equine Center, which includes a historic 20-stall stable and a new, modern complex that has a 32-stall barn, a laboratory and a classroom wing.
More than 90 percent of the students in the campus-based program at SMWC receive scholarships and financial aid, and special scholarships are available for select equestrian team riders. More information about the equestrian teams, programs and scholarship and financial aid opportunities at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College can be obtained by e-mailing
smwcadms@smwc.edu or by calling (812) 535-5106 or
1-800-926-SMWC. Information is available online at www.smwc.edu.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods
Woods Equestrian teams earn high marks at Nationals
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Secret weapon: Kelsey Rosselli finishing Woods career with a bang
At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, reporting game results to the Tribune-Star after a win or a loss is not always a high priority.
So when one of its athletes enjoys an outstanding season, like senior Kelsey Rosselli is doing for the Pomeroys’ softball team in 2013, media publicity doesn’t always follow.
In fact, her efforts almost seem like a government secret.
Rosselli’s name might sound familiar to longtime Terre Haute softball followers because she was a standout for North High School, from where she graduated in 2009.
Since then, she’s helped The Woods finish runner-up in three straight U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) national tournaments in 2010, 2011 and 2012. -
A time for firsts: SMWC seniors have national title aspirations
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Federal audit says SMWC should return $42M in student aid
A federal audit says St. Mary-of-the-Woods College should return $42 million in loans and grants made to students between 2005 and 2010, something the college plans to challenge.
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This underdog has its day
It’s been an up-and-down regular season for the St. Mary-of-the-Woods College women’s basketball team, but it concluded on a definite uptick.
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The mane attraction: Woods students learn about careers in equine world
A horse can be a powerful therapeutic tool, something Chris Marks knows firsthand.
“I’ve seen children with autism speak their first word to a horse,” causing their parents to “dissolve in a puddle of emotion,” said Marks, chairman of the Equine Studies program at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College.
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Rose, The Woods post weekend victories
Rose-Hulman relied on a balanced scoring attack and a strong defensive effort to earn a 55-44 women’s basketball victory Saturday over Mount St. Joseph.
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SMWC topples Rose-Hulman
After a sluggish first half for both teams, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College found enough offensive rhythm in the final 20 minutes to outlast host Rose-Hulman 51-41 in the 19th annual Clabber Girl Trophy women’s basketball showdown Tuesday night inside Hulbert Arena.
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METRO ROUNDUP: SMWC’s Runyon wins USCAA cross country title
Blinding snow and freezing temperatures couldn’t stop Saint Mary-of-the-Woods junior Stephanie Runyon, an education major from Noblesville, from becoming the 2011 U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association women’s national champion in cross country Friday.
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Trimmed roster may benefit SMWC
“Less is more” is a statement with many, many meanings, attributed to many, many sources through the years.
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Dottie King becomes 16th president of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College
As the mother of six children, Dottie King learned early on the importance of setting priorities and achieving the right balance between family, education and work.
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Pomeroys battle to second at national championship
Eight times, St. Mary-of-the-Woods has captured some form of a national championship in softball.
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Shearing Time
You’ve probably never seen a haircut quite like this.
Alpacas, remarkably sweet-looking members of the camel family, were getting their annual shearing last week at the White Violet Center for Eco Justice at St. Mary-of-the-Woods. -
SMWC puts up fight in tourney
St. Mary-of-the-Woods downed Judson 6-2 Sunday morning in the semifinal round of the 2011 USCAA national softball championships, earning a trip to the best-of-three title series.
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BREAKING: St. Mary-of-the-Woods College names Dottie King as 16th president
Dottie L. King, Ph.D. has been appointed the 16th president of St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, the board of trustees announced today.
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Ex-Wildcat finds new home at Woods
Many people find “the path of least resistance” as a preferable way to proceed in life. After all, less risk is involved with a sure thing.
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NEW: St. Mary-of-the-Woods College announces academic changes
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College announced today a refocus of its academic programs. An afternoon news conference is under way at SMWC, which posted a notice about the changes on its website, www.smwc.edu.
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Marian holds off Rose women’s second-half charge
Marian University relied on a strong defensive effort to hold off a second half Rose-Hulman charge and earn a 61-52 women’s basketball victory Saturday afternoon.
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Influx of new players has Pomeroys on rise
With a steady influx of “Killer B’s,” the fortunes of the St. Mary-of-the-Woods’ women’s basketball team are once again on the rise.
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Woods soccer goes 1-1, earns national honors
St. Mary-of-the-Woods returned from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association soccer finals with a 1-1 record and a host of national honors.
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Six St. Mary-of-the-Woods teams compete in national tournaments
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College athletics celebrates the end of a phenomenal year during the 2009-10 season as six teams competitively competed in national tournaments.
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Rosselli, other Valley talent leads Woods into national softball tourney
The St. Mary-of-the-Woods softball program is no stranger to national tournaments.
The Pomeroys claimed some form of a national championship in 1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2008, the last several sanctioned by the U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). -
St. Mary-of-the-Woods plans Saturday commencement
St. Mary-of-the-Woods College will celebrate its 169th commencement Saturday. Graduation activities will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the traditional baccalaureate mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
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Woods, Rose softball teams split doubleheader
Rose-Hulman and St. Mary-of-the-Woods College split a softball doubleheader that featured the longest athletic contest in history between the two schools on Friday night.
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Ring Day a much anticipated event at The Woods
Ring Day is a much anticipated and special day for most students, but for two St. Mary-of-the-Woods External Degree students in particular it was an especially great experience this year.
- Injury bug bites: St. Mary-of-the-Woods basketball trying to get and stay healthy A myriad of injuries have plagued the St. Mary-of-the-Woods women’s basketball team in recent seasons, forcing the Pomeroys to compete on numerous occasions with just seven, six and sometimes only five players able to play.
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- The Woods celebrates 168th commencement More than 140 students are expected to participate in St. Mary-of-the-Woods College’s 168th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday.
- Untold Stories: Film takes unique look ‘Inside Iraq’ At 7 p.m. Monday, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College will present “Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories,” which will include a film showing and discussion with the director of the film, Mike Shiley. The presentation, which will be in the Cecilian Auditorium of the SMWC Conservatory of Music building, is part of the College’s Four-Star series, and it is being co-sponsored by the SMWC Student Activities Committee. The presentation is free and open to the public.
- TH to promote ‘Crossroads of Higher Education’ at Statehouse Terre Haute may lie near Indiana’s western border, but business, education and government leaders want state lawmakers to know that the city that bills itself as the “Crossroads of America” is also the “Crossroads of Higher Education.”
- More Saint Mary-of-the-Woods Headlines
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