LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Midway University's Equine Hunt Seat season kicks off this weekend at the University of Louisville for the team's first competition of the year.

This weekend will mark the 13th recorded year of competition for the Hunt Seat team, while head coach Heath Gunnison enters his 10th season with the program.

Gunnison said he is "stoked about the strength of riders we are presenting this year, with many returning riders who will be complemented by the new team members."

The Hunt Seat team will compete in two main disciplines this year: Over Fences and On the Flat.

Starting in the Pre-Novice division, the competition will feature returning team members Rachel Watters, Amber Zupancic and Puck Helmink. In the Introductory division, Midway will rotate Sawyer Elwood, Izellah Price and Aleah Arlinghaus.

Next, in the Novice division, six individuals will compete for the Eagles: Katherine Chairez, Isabella Dicenzo, Kylie Hayden, Emily Sue Watts, Annaliese Arnold and Kierra Wismar.

Gunnison said returning riders Chairez, Dicenzo, Hayden and Watts will be joined by two new team members, Arnold and Wismar. Both newcomers earned top-10 finishes at IEA Nationals while competing in high school.

The Limit division is one of Midway's largest groups this season, with eight riders set to compete, six of whom are freshmen. The group consists of Alexis Williams, Ella Hutcherson, Addison Berry, Catherine Goeckel, Brielle Rivera, Josen Perry, Sierra McCunn and Avery Taft.

Gunnison described the Limit division as "one of our bigger groups this year."

Following the Limit division, four Eagles will represent Midway in the Intermediate division: Mary Helen Hickey, Jojo Rodriguez, Sophia Quattrocchi and Cassandra Doucette.

"The Intermediate Division is the lighter division this year as far as numbers," Gunnison said. "It will still be a good group of Midway riders."

Midway will also be represented in Open Fences. After lacking numbers in the division in previous seasons, Gunnison said the Eagles will enter this season on par with the other schools competing.

Reese Dorsey and Riley Whelan will lead the way in Open Fences, while Zoe Macbeth will also join her teammates in the competition. Macbeth enters the season just one point shy of qualifying individually for Intermediate Fences at Regionals.

In addition to competing Over Fences, all three riders will compete in the Open Flat division.

Gunnison shared his thoughts on the team entering its season-opening competition.

"Although our team may not be as large as some of the other schools in our region, we still have a competitive team that I am excited to be starting with riders in all divisions this year that are strong both individually and should benefit the strategy of the team competition," Gunnison said. "They have all been putting in the work at home during practice, and I am excited to watch them put their efforts on display in the show arena."

About Midway University Athletics 

 Midway University competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and its 29 athletics teams are part of the River States Conference, Mid-South Conference, the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and USA Archery. For more information about Midway University Athletics, please visit www.gomidwayeagles.com or contact Tyler Beck at 859-846-5366.