Successful Nationals Under the Tutelage
of Head Coach Jeremy Mimitz
Colin "CJ" McLaughlin on Tommy, provided by Midway University, in the AQHA Individual Beginner Horsemanship with UConn Head Coach Jeremy Mimitz and Bob Cacchione. Photo by EQ Media
The University of Connecticut (UConn/Storrs, Connecticut) Western Equestrian Team hasn't qualified for an IHSA National Championship Horse Show in eight years. This year, the team had two riders qualify – one in AQHA/NRHA Individual Ranch Riding and AQHA Level II Horsemanship and the other in AQHA Individual Beginner Horsemanship. The Level II rider placed sixth and eighth, respectively, while Collin "CJ" McLaughlin (Stamford, Connecticut), the Beginner Horsemanship rider, was reserve champion. McLaughlin celebrated both his award and his birthday.
"I started with the team four years ago, the year of COVID," said UConn Western Equestrian Team Head Coach Jeremy Mimitz. "The team is an amazing group of kids. We have a great ag (agricultural) science program at UConn and this team has come a long way in the last several years."
"It doesn't feel real yet," McLaughlin said. "Nothing could prepare me for this, honestly. I never thought this was even a possibility when I started showing." McLaughlin has ridden horses since elementary school but only started consistently showing with the UConn team.
This is McLaughlin's last year on the team. "It's been a wild ride and none of it would've been possible without Jeremy (Mimitz) and the rest of my team," he said. "I'm so grateful for everything that's gone into this."
Emotions ran high as the McLaughlin stood in the lineup as results were called in reverse order from 10th place. "Every time they called the next placing, I kept looking over at my mom and Jeremy (and thought), 'Is this happening?'" McLaughlin said.
"This is my first time coaching a team to Nationals," Mimitz said. "As they kept calling the numbers, the level of emotions and anxiety was kicking in."
These kids have worked so hard and to be able to come here and have this experience, but also be recognized is amazing," he said.
As for the future of the UConn Western equestrian program, Mimitz is optimistic. "It's like a big family," he said. "I've never seen such a great group of kids collaborate together. Their sportsmanship and horsemanship are just impeccable. We just hope to continue to grow and come back in the future.
The University of Connecticut (UConn/Storrs, Connecticut) Western Equestrian Team hasn't qualified for an IHSA National Championship Horse Show in eight years. This year, the team had two riders qualify – one in AQHA/NRHA Individual Ranch Riding and AQHA Level II Horsemanship and the other in AQHA Individual Beginner Horsemanship. The Level II rider placed sixth and eighth, respectively, while Collin "CJ" McLaughlin (Stamford, Connecticut), the Beginner Horsemanship rider, was reserve champion. McLaughlin celebrated both his award and his birthday.
"I started with the team four years ago, the year of COVID," said UConn Western Equestrian Team Head Coach Jeremy Mimitz. "The team is an amazing group of kids. We have a great ag (agricultural) science program at UConn and this team has come a long way in the last several years."
"It doesn't feel real yet," McLaughlin said. "Nothing could prepare me for this, honestly. I never thought this was even a possibility when I started showing." McLaughlin has ridden horses since elementary school but only started consistently showing with the UConn team.
This is McLaughlin's last year on the team. "It's been a wild ride and none of it would've been possible without Jeremy (Mimitz) and the rest of my team," he said. "I'm so grateful for everything that's gone into this."
Emotions ran high as the McLaughlin stood in the lineup as results were called in reverse order from 10th place. "Every time they called the next placing, I kept looking over at my mom and Jeremy (and thought), 'Is this happening?'" McLaughlin said.
"This is my first time coaching a team to Nationals," Mimitz said. "As they kept calling the numbers, the level of emotions and anxiety was kicking in."
These kids have worked so hard and to be able to come here and have this experience, but also be recognized is amazing," he said.
As for the future of the UConn Western equestrian program, Mimitz is optimistic. "It's like a big family," he said. "I've never seen such a great group of kids collaborate together. Their sportsmanship and horsemanship are just impeccable. We just hope to continue to grow and come back in the future.