St. Lawrence University Head Coach Mary Drueding to Judge College Preparatory Invitational Florida Horse Show
Miami, Florida - July 18, 2016 -
The College Preparatory Invitational (CPI) has secured top coach and IHSA veteran Mary Drueding as judge for the CPI Florida horse show which takes place January 13-15, 2017 at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Head coach of the St. Lawrence equestrian program since 1995, Mary has established the St. Lawrence University team as one of the nation's elite, winning back-to-back Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Hunt Seat Championships in 2012 and 2013.
Under her leadership, Mary's teams have won regional High Point Team honors for six consecutive seasons from 2011 to 2016, four consecutive zone titles from 2013 to 2016 and have been consistent competitors at the IHSA National Championships. In addition to back-to-back team titles, she has coached 15 individual IHSA national champions. The 2016 team became the 13th team during her tenure to win the region and she has had 11 top-ten finishes in IHSA National Championships, including reserve national team honors in 2001, 2008, and 2011.
Mary's teams have finished second in the prestigious Tournament of Champions and were champions at an inaugural Affiliated National Riding Commission Championship as well.
Mary is the first coach in the history of the IHSA to lead two collegiate programs to national championships. As the head coach at Colby-Sawyer College, she won the IHSA National Championship in 1989 and 1994. A graduate of Colby-Sawyer, Mary was inducted into the Colby-Sawyer College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. She was named the inaugural winner of the IHSA's Sportsmanship Award in 1997 and was awarded the IHSA's Lifetime Achievements Award in 2012.
In addition to her college coaching responsibilities she has trained amateurs and juniors to circuit awards on the Vermont Summer Festival Circuit, Hits Ocala Circuit and Hits New York Circuit. She has also successfully coached adult and junior riders to ribbons at the NEHC Finals and various state and national finals. Mary is also a USEF licensed official with cards in Hunter, Jumping Seat Equitation, and Jumpers.
"It is such an honor to have Coach Drueding as a judge for CPI Florida," said CPI president Lindsay Martin. "Our student riders will benefit from her vast experience in collegiate riding, and her incredible success in preparing riders for IHSA competition."
About the College Preparatory Invitational
The CPI is a three-day event designed to educate student riders about the different formats of college equestrian competitions and provide riders with resources to help them create their desired college equestrian experience. Riders in grades 9 through 12 have a chance to win scholarships in hunt seat equitation competition and participate in educational presentations throughout the event. In an effort to encourage academic excellence and embed social integrity as a lifelong commitment to the equestrian sport, the CPI Scholarship and Educational Fund also awards riders the opportunity to win scholarships for academics and community service. To learn more about the CPI, please visit
www.collegeprepinvitational.com
.
Media Contact:
Candace FitzGerald
Dobbin Group LLC
603-738-2788
* Photo available upon request
