Holy Innocents Equestrian Team Gallops Toward Championship Crown

Sarah Meyer wasn’t used to being the leader and the one her teammates looked up to for guidance.

But after three years, the Holy Innocents senior knew it was her time to assume that role as the lone 12th grader on the squad. Meyer, the team captain, has excelled in this position and leads the equestrian team in their quest to capture the region title Sunday in Gainesville.

“I think as our team, it’s a team thing,” Meyer said. “Everyone contributes. All of our riders are really good riders. Everyone puts forth effort to make our team what it is.”

Meyer’s been the consummate team player this season. When asked about specifics, she deflects the attention to the rest of Holy Innocents’ riders. In fact, she was hesitant to reveal she placed second out of 62 at a recent major show not affiliated with high school equestrian in Ocala, Fla. This weekend, she’s and her teammates are determined to come out Region 1 as the victors.

Fellow Holy Innocents rider Annie Kuniansky, a freshman, said Meyer has stepped up as a leader since the beginning of the season.

“She’s been a really good captain and a great leader to the team,” Kuniansky said. “She’s really helped us a lot with staying organized.”

Holy Innocents’ equestrian team has been a member of the Interscholastic Equestrian Association since it formed in 2006 and fields a high school and middle school team. If Holy Innocents places first or second in the regional round Sunday, it will advance to the zone competition. Holy Innocents is in Zone 4, which contains schools from Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and South Carolina.

Within Zone 4 are six regions and Holy Innocents competes in Region 1. The zone round will take place in Suwanee, with nationals following in Washington, D.C.

Last year, Holy Innocents advanced to nationals and placed sixth. Peggy Kuniansky, Annie’s mother and a team mom for the equestrian team, said Meyer’s leadership should prove pivotal with regionals next on the schedule.

“She’s the best captain we’ve ever had,” said Peggy Kuniansky. “She’s really taken the bull by the horns and actually rallied the kids. She comes to all the meetings, she’s a role model. She’s just been a good leader. All the girls look up to her and admire her.”

Holy Innocents appears to be the favorite heading into regionals. The riders have accumulated a total of 45 points this season, which is the best mark against all the other Region 1 teams.

The Eastside/Eastminster equestrian team is second with 39 points. Of the rest of the Zone 4 teams, only Wall Street Farm Wellington in Florida has posted more points with 48.

From an individual ranking, Holy Innocents’ Tabatha Yelos has paced the team with 24 in fencing or reining points and 31 flat or horsemanship points, according to the Interscholastic Equestrian Association Zone 4’s website. Thirteen Holy Innocents riders have posted double digits in both categories.

With Meyer’s high school career winding down, she’s hoping to make it back to nationals and win an elusive championship. While confident, she’s aware that this Sunday is the beginning of the end.

“This could be my last show, so it’s weird thinking of it in those terms,” she said. “But I think we’re going to do well.”