MILL SPRING, N.C. -- Mount Holyoke junior Lainey Nibbio got the Mount Holyoke hunt seat equestrian team off to a terrific start on the first day of showing at IHSA Nationals Friday at Tryon International.

Nibbio (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) went into the ring for her Individual Novice class aboard Ollie, provided by University of Lynchburg. Nibbio rode beautifully and really stood out in a ring full of riders. She was among the top riders left in the ring after judges were making their final decisions, and she placed third in the nation in her division.

Nibbio went straight back into the ring for Team Limit Flat on Keepsake, provided by Sewanee. Lainey put down another great ride and received an honorable mention among the top riders in the country.

Mount Holyoke is one of 16 teams competing for the national championship, and the Lyons are making their second consecutive appearance at Nationals. The competition resumes Saturday and concludes on Sunday.

Competing at 2026 IHSA Nationals for Mount Holyoke are first-year Sophia Bull (Lumberton, N.J.), junior Milly Chen (Nanjing, China), senior Lili Evans (Groton, Mass.), sophomore Emi Graf (Belmont, Mass.), sophomore Peixi Jia (Dongguan, China), junior Grace Neumuth (Marlborough, Conn.), Nibbio and first-year Nory van Rhyn (Montclair, N.J.).

-- Reporting by Grace Neumuth