SFA Equestrian Signs Three
1/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Equestrian
Jan. 3, 2007
NACOGDOCHES - Liz Landes, Andrea Routzon, and Lydia Roof will join the Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack equestrian team as the trio signed national letters of intent announced head coach Leigh Heusner. Landes and Routzon will be part of the English discipline, while Roof is a western rider.
Landes, a senior at Turner Ashby High School in Dayton, Va., comes to SFA after competing in many championships in the hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions. Since 2003, she has ridden for Ashmont Farm, now known as EMC International, in Middleburg, Va., and Palm Beach, Fla. She will join her sister, Kristin, who is in her rookie year at SFA.
"We are really excited about having Liz come ride here at SFA," said English coach, Jennifer Wiggins. "She has spent the last few years showing various horses and ponies on the East Coast. That experience will serve her well in Varsity Equestrian Competition as a Ladyjack."
Routzon joins the Ladyjacks after riding in the hunter and equitation classes in the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association, most recently placing in the top ten in the 2006 CHJA Junior Medal Finals. She is a senior at Heritage High School in Littleton, Colo.
"Since the first time we saw Andrea ride," said Wiggins, "we knew we wanted her to ride for us. We are so pleased that she chose to be a Ladyjack. She is a very successful equitation rider in the CHJA and we expect that success to continue here at SFA."
Roof, the signing class' only Western rider, is active in many horse show associations including the NRHA and AQHA. She has also participated in her local 4-H club and FFA and is currently the FFA Chapter President. The Lexington, SC, native has also qualified and competed in the AQHA Youth World show in 2004 and 2005, earning top ten finishes in youth reining.
"Lydia's extensive experience working with quality trainers and horses will make her such an asset for the Ladyjacks program," said Heusner. "She is a very well-rounded individual that will bring great things to SFA's Equestrian and academic programs."
"Overall, we couldn't be more pleased with the quality of the riders who will become Ladyjacks next season," said Heusner. "The talent these riders possess will be sure to enhance our growing program."
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