WELLINGTON, Fla. - South Dakota State senior hunt seat rider Megan Violand represented the Jackrabbits at the Fourth Annual Collegiate Equestrian Challenge at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla., on Friday, advancing all the way to championship bracket to win the equitation on the flat portion of the tournament.

"Coming back to WEF was such an incredible experience," flat champion Violand said. "To end the tournament with a victory for the Jackrabbits makes me beyond thankful to be a part of this amazing team."

Violand won her first round of competition against Oklahoma State's Samantha Harrison's 154 with a score of 159. She then advanced to the championship round, where she defeated Kansas State's Larissa Laffey's no score, for going off-pattern, with a score of 149.

"Both Violand and Santana Wright rode great," assistant coach Kamerra Brown said. "Between Santana coming back from a rough start to Megan's big win, I couldn't be more proud!"

Wright rode three times at the event in equitation over fences, bot got throw off her horse on the last ride, and received no score. Her opponent, Schaefer Raposa scored a 90 and advanced to the final round to win the overall championship.

In the consolation bracket, Wright rode twice, winning her first round with a score of 70 over her opponent's 45, but fell in the second round with her score of 72 to her competitor's 78.

"I was disappointed that I didn't make it to the final rounds," the Port Hope, Ontario native Wright said. "But I'm very happy with my rides in the consolation bracket. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to ride such talented horses."

The Jackrabbits return home to host SMU and Sacred Heart in a doubleheader at the DeHaan Center on Feb. 23.