From left to right are Savannah College of Art & Design head coach Ashley Henry, Peter Cavagnac and SCAD assistant coach Sammy Perlman. Cavagnac was the first of three SCAD riders to win a team class at 2024 IHSA Nationals, winning team limit flat on May 3rd. The Bees would never trail after that.

2024 IHSA NATIONALS: BLUE RAIDERS MAKE IT TWO STRAIGHT WHILE BEES SET RECORD FOR MOST POINTS

MILL SPRING, NC - There was a new - no make that old - wrinkle to 2024 IHSA Nationals May 3rd through 5th at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Riders, coaches, parents and fans were accustomed to the year-end Nationals event taking place over four days, starting on a Thursday and concluding on a Sunday.

But this time the event was held over only three days. This is because English and Western classes could be held in separate indoor rings under the same roof within the indoor complex (as the structure is known on Tryon maps). Thus simultaneous English and Western classes were held starting on a Friday and ending relatively early on Sunday afternoon.

In reality this was not the first time Nationals was a three-day event or that English and Western classes were held at the same time. From 1998 through 2003 IHSA Nationals were held over three days, though at each of these events English and Western classes did not overlap. That last happened in 1997, when Nationals was held over only two days (a Saturday and a Sunday) with English and Western running in separate rings. On that occasion, which took place at Mount Holyoke College, the indoor arena and one of the outdoor rings were used, with the disciplines alternating. The University of Delaware hunter seat team clinched their lone IHSA National Championship to date outdoors while Ohio State officially clinched one of their many Western titles in the Mount Holyoke indoor.

In 2024 all the English classes took place in one ring while Western was within eyesight further down the builing in another. Savannah College of Art & Design mathematically clinched their first hunter seat title in seven years early on Sunday morning (May 5th) while Middle Tennessee State University won their second consecutive Western title at about quarter to three in the afternoon the same day.

On the hunter seat side SCAD took the early lead when Peter Cavagnac (Freshman; Amherst, Massachusetts) won team limit flat (the only English team class held on Friday, May 3rd and coincidentally the final English class of the day). Defending National Champion Skidmore College would briefly tie SCAD for the lead at 19-all before Kameron Riggs won the fourth team class. A sophomore from Avon Lake, Ohio, Riggs won team introductory equitation. From this point forward SCAD held the lead. Alexander Alston would add one more team blue ribbon to the Bee's total. From New Albany, Ohio, Alston completed his third semester with a blue ribbon in the final hunter seat team class on May 5th, team open on the flat. Alston remains undefeated at IHSA Nationals, having won individual open flat and team open flat at 2023 Nationals while starting the 2024 event with a blue ribbon in individual open over fences on May 3rd. Since the scoring system changed for IHSA Nationals events starting in May of 2019 where ten points are awarded for first place, eight for second, seven for third all the way down to a half point for tenth place the Bees' total of 59 at Tryon is the new all-time high score English or Western. Finishing second to SCAD was Sacred Heart University. The Pioneers came from behind on the final day to overtake Skidmore for the reserve championship. Kylie Hwalek (sophomore; Vernon, Connecticut) won team open over fences to start the Sunday session while teammate Erin Phillips followed with a second in team intermediate flat. Ava Flannery had concluded the Saturday slate of hunter seat classes with a second in team novice equitation. The final margin separating Sacred Heart from Skidmore was close, with the Pioneers edging the Thoroughbreds 41.5 to 39.

Jordan Martin of Middle Tennessee State University (third from left) is seen here after winning the Individual Western High Point Rider Award (previously known as the AQHA High Point Award but now officially known as the Back on Track Western High Point Rider Award). The junior from Murfreesboro, Tennessee won three blue ribbons at 2024 IHSA Nationals, the only person Western or English to take the top prize more than twice. Martin's wins in Team Open Reining and Team Open Western provided 20 of the 47 team points for the Repeating Western National Champion Blue Raiders.

The Western Team Race was more complicated. Marty Kacsh of West Texas A & M University won team level I western horsemanship to give the Buffs the early lead, with Kaylee Klein of Midway University second. One class later those schools traded ribbons, with Alana Utlak of Midway the champion and Haley Bucher of WTAMU the runner-up in team level II. With both schools at 18 points Jordan Martin of Middle Tennessee State University recorded what was one of several blue ribbons she would deliver for the Blue Raiders. A junior from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Martin won team open reining to conclude the Friday session. This put MTSU close with 17 points, trailing Black Hawk College by a point, WTAMU by a point and a half and Midway by five. Lily Roman of St. Andrews University kicked off Saturday with a blue in team ranch riding, raising the Knight's total to 23 only a point out of first place at the time. Black Hawk and Midway were tied with the lead at 24 each, with the former having not placed higher than third but not lower than fifth over four team classes. St. Andrews had 23 and MTSU 22 headed into team beginner horsemanship. MTSU took the lead for the first time courtesy of a first for Monica Braunwalder in the division without any loping. The Blue Raiders went up 32-30 on Black Hawk with St. Andrews at 28 and Midway and WTAMU sitting at 26 with two team classes remaining on Sunday, which would be held back-to-back to close out the weekend. Natalie Bailey of the Knights won team rookie horsemanship to put St. Andrews ahead with 38 points. MTSU had 37, West Texas 32 and both Black Hawk and Midway 30 headed into team open western horsemanship.

For the first time since 1997 two public address announcers were necessary due to overlapping English and Western classes. While Kenn Marash announced the hunter seat results (which he has now done at every Nationals since 2010) Barbara Rea was the announcer for the Western arena. And both announcers read the results from tenth place back to first. As a result it was apparent after the 'honorable mentions' (i.e. riders who did not place in the top ten) and tenth place that St. Andrews was not going to hold the lead. After seventh place West Texas A & M wasn't going to take the trophy. After sixth place it wasn't going to be Black Hawk either. And at that point it was safe to say Midway would not outscore Middle Tennessee State. Midway's Chase Summerville added eight points with a second to give the Eagles 38 points and third place for the weekend. Martin won the open horsemanship, making it an eight and a half point margin of victory for MTSU over St. Andrews and nine over Midway. Martin would add yet another honor when the results of the Individual High Point Open Rider competition were announced a short time later.

Martin was one of 21 riders to compete for the Individual High Point, awarded to the top Western open rider each season. Each of the 21 entries had the most combined open rail and open reining points in their respective IHSA regions to automatically qualify for this class at Nationals. There were two sections of rail/horsemanship on May 4th with the same sets of riders riding in the reining phase a day later (there was one scratch; otherwise the field would have been made up of 22 riders - Editor). While Jordan Martin had the top combined reining and rail score another Jordan, in this case Jordan Schauer of Midway University, was second. Martin is the third MTSU rider to win the individual open western high point at Nationals, following Janet Ross in 1983 and Sarah Elder in 2003.

Sarah Mahoney (back to camera) interviews Delani Franklin (on far right) and Lake Erie College head coach Sarah Dwyer for EQ Media after Franklin won the Cacchione Cup (Josh Walker is the cameraman on the left). Franklin rode "George" in the jumping phase, "Crosby" in the flat phase and "Milton" during Sunday's workoff. Not feeling her best during the workoff, Franklin claimed she played it conservative after having seen others have issues during the work-off. Franklin is the second Lake Erie rider after Kim Peters in 1995 to win the Cacchione.

The Cacchione Cup, awarded to the top English open rider, has different criteria to qualify for the Nationals event. There is a Cacchione Cup Class held at each of the eight Zones shows in which only the top three riders go forward. Thus this division routinely is made up of 24 riders at Nationals (save for scratches). All 24 entries jump first, then ride on the flat in two separate sections of 12 riders each. Then the judges decide how many riders will be invited back the next day for the 'work-off.' Some years as few as four riders have been tested while on one occasion ten riders were brought back. In 2024 six riders made the cut. Delani Franklin, a Lake Erie College junior from Cupertino, California, had the second best combined flat and fences score entering the work-off. Apparently judges Andrea Wells (a former IHSA head coach at both Centenary University and Albion College) and Archie Cox (a former IHSA rider with Drew University) liked Franklin's test the best as she was awarded the 2024 Cacchione Cup. Franklin is the second consecutive Cacchione winner to hail from a West Coast state while competing for a school located in the Eastern Time Zone. 2023 winner Elizabeth Nevins graduated from Boston University but is from the state of Washington. Nevins was on hand as a color commentator for the live internet feed and may have announced Franklin's victory to those watching on phones and laptops worldwide. SCAD junior Celia Cram was the reserve champion, the second time over the weekend in which she earned a red ribbon. Cram was second to teammate Alston in the individual open over fences class that started the three-day event.

First time for some, first time in a while for others: When Mount Holyoke College won the Albion, Michigan Semifinal show on March 24th by a 30-27 score over Black Hawk it marked the first time that not only had the Lyons won a Semifinal but also the first time they had ever advanced a full Western team through to IHSA Nationals. Meanwhile not that far south in Findlay, Ohio Penn State University (the Main Campus, in State College, Pennsylvania) placed third in the Semifinal behind the host Oilers and runner-up St. Andrews. This also marked the first time the Nittany Lions advanced a full Western team through to IHSA Nationals. On the hunter seat side St. Mary of the Woods College advanced a full hunter seat team through Zone 7 Zones. Not since the Pomeroys were in the old Zone 9, Region 1 during the 2009-10 season had they fielded a full hunter seat team at IHSA Nationals. The University of Georgia waited even longer. The last time the Bulldogs fielded a full hunter seat team at Nationals was in the spring of 1996. The 1995-96 season marked the last time all of the high point English teams in their respective regions fielded a full hunter seat team at Nationals. It was not until the following season that the Zones team competitions began reducing the English field. The University of Georgia was second to SCAD at Zone 5 Zones on April 6th after having won their first Region Title since 2006. And Zone 4, Region 2 in a very competitive portion of Virginia had not sent a full team through to Nationals since Bridgewater College competed at 2011 Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky. Hollins University came from behind to win 2024 Zone 4 Zones and break the drought. Like St. Mary of the Woods it was the first time with a full team at Nationals for Hollins since the 2009-10 season.

What does that middle initial stand for?: If you opened up the IHSA Nationals 2024 Show Program to any of the pages listing the riders competing in the Western Divisions one would quickly notice that the Middle Initial of almost every rider is included. For example Jordan Martin is listed as Jordan T. Martin each time she competed. This was fascinating when riders showed in both an English and a Western division. Kacsh of West Texas A & M rode in two hunter seat classes with no middle initial and as Marty D. Kacsh when he won the team level one western class. Kyley Pelfrey of St. Mary of the Woods rode once under that name (fourth in individual novice equitation) and twice as Kyley M. Pelfrey as a Western rider. And Albion College junior Katelyn Proshek earned the Versatility award for being the best rider who showed both English and Western. Or did Katelyn M. Proshek receive it? From Concord, Michigan, Proshek won her individual beginner western class on May 3rd with the "M," was sixth in individual introductory equitation on May 4th without it and tenth in team rookie western horsesmanship with the "M" back in the fold on May 5th.

From Vernon, Connecticut, Kylie Hwalek of Sacred Heart University looks relaxed in the stands prior to riding in the team open over fences class which kicked off day three of IHSA Nationals on May 5th. Hwalek closed out her sophomore year with a first in the division, which put Sacred Heart into second through six English team classes. The Pioneers held that position to claim their first-ever IHSA Reserve National Championship.

Four blue ribbons for the men of Zone 5, Region 5: While Cavagnac, Riggs and Alston won team classes for SCAD (and Alston won individual open over fences) a fourth male rider from a Zone 5, Region 5 school was a blue ribbon winner. Christian Echavarria, a Florida Atlantic University freshman from Cranford, New Jersey won the individual intermediate equitation on the flat on May 3rd. Echavarria, who trains under Nona Garson, is the first-ever rider from Florida Atlantic to win a class at an IHSA Nationals event.

Bardwell breaks streak and even wins the class!: Zone 5, Region 4, which is made up of Louisiana and part of Texas, had not advanced a rider through to Nationals since 2019 prior to Zone 5 Zones on April 6th. On that day two Region 4 riders made it through to end the drought. The first of the two to compete at 2024 Nationals was Caroline Bardwell of Louisiana State University. While Bardwell was second in individual intermediate over fences at Zones the senior from Baton Rouge, Louisiana won the same division outright at Nationals following Alston's open fences win on the morning of May 3rd. Bardwell is the first rider ever from LSU to win an individual class at an IHSA Nationals event.

The Best?: Did SCAD really set the all-time hunter seat team record? Some who went to Virginia Intermont College during the 2006-07 school year might debate this. If you convert SCAD's 2024 Nationals score of 59 points using the current system back to the pre-2019 Nationals scoring system that matches the current regular season (seven points for first, five for second, four for third down to a point for sixth) the score is 35 points. Seven of the eight SCAD team rides would still have earned at least a point under the old system (all eight SCAD team rides resulted in points in 2024 under the current scoring system). However Virginia Intermont scored 37 points with the old system at 2007 Nationals in East Springfield, Massachusetts. VI earned points in seven of the eight divisions in '07, with no one knowing today if their team open flat rider would have placed between seventh and tenth had the new system been in place. But strangely if you convert the Virginia Intermont '07 Nationals team rides to the new system the number comes to only 58! Try this out for the old versus new, first with SCAD this season: Old = 7 + 3 + 0 + 7 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 7 = 35. New = 10 + 6 + 3 + 10 + 7 + 7 + 6 + 10 = 59. Then look at this for VI in '07: Old = 4 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 4 + 0 + 5 + 3 = 37. New = 7 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 7 + 0(?) + 8 + 6 = 58. All this writer can say is that SCAD Director of Riding Eddie Federwisch deserves some credit for each, since he was the head coach at Virginia Intermont College when they won in 2007 (and 2004 and 2005 too).

Hall of Fame adds seven (plus two four-legged friends): Four years ago the IHSA announced that there would be an IHSA "Hall of Fame," with former members, coaches and even horses being inducted periodically. The inaugural class was headlined by Elizabeth "Beezie" Patton Madden, perhaps the most famous former IHSA rider (she rode for two seasons at Southern Seminary Junior College 1982-84 and has since ridden for the US Olympic team on multiple occasions). Joining Beezie were John H."Jack" Fritz (former head coach of the second-ever recognized IHSA team, Fairleigh Dickinson University's Madison Campus), former Skidmore College head coach Cindy Ford, former University of Findlay head coach Cindy Morehead, former Dartmouth head coach Sally Batton, former Randolph-Macon Woman's College and Lynchburg College head coach J.T. Tallon and IHSA founder and executive director Bob Cacchione, who founded the IHSA while a student at FDU's Teaneck, New Jersey campus (and invited Fritz's FDU-Madison team to compete against his Teaneck team at the end of the 1964-65 season). Also Cornell University's horse "Clifford" (a.k.a. Clifford the Big Red Horse) was inducted. It is unclear if the pandemic caused a delay between the first inducted Hall of Fame class and the second, but four years later a new class was inducted.

During the Saturday session the second-ever IHSA Hall of Fame Class was officially announced by Marash. While former Tufts University rider Peter Wylde and former University of Pennsylvania rider Greg Best were not in attendance (both of whom went on to be olympians) the rest of the living members were. Former Stony Brook University head coach George Lukemire (he saw a short piece in the Chronicle of the Horse about the two Fairleigh Dickinson campuses showing against each other and wanted to get Stony Brook and other Long Island, New York schools into the competitions) was joined by former Hollins University head coach Nancy Peterson and former Southern Seminary Junior College and University of Findlay head coach Russ Walther to address the crowd during the Saturday session. Also inducted were Jon Conyers, who was involved as a coach at four different IHSA programs (including St. Andrews University and Wesleyan College among others) and former Cazenovia College head coach Naomi Blumenthal who was also the IHSA Treasurer for nearly two decades. Blumenthal and Conyers as well as Fritz and Tallon were inducted posthumously. Two horses were inducted in 2024, including a horse that joined Blumenthal's Cazenovia program in 1997 named "Case in Point" (a.k.a. "Casey," a 16.3 hand Thoroughbred mare). "Idol Talk," who answered to the name "Billy" was originally from Canada where he was most successful in the 1980's. Billy was part of the Skidmore College riding program in the 1990's when the school went on to win five hunter seat National Championships (four under Ford, who was on hand to watch the the Hall of Fame class of '24 be inducted).

Opening Act: The Tryon International complex is perhaps the largest facility in terms of the number of rings, stables and even businesses located on the grounds that has ever hosted an IHSA Nationals event. There were multiple shows going on outdoors in other rings each day concurrent to IHSA Nationals. Tryon holds what they call "Saturday Night Lights" events on occasion where an equestrian event and a musical event will be combined within their Tryon Stadium Ring Number Five (the largest of all the rings on the property with the largest number of permanent seats). On Saturday, May 4th the Saturday Night Lights began with the annual IHSA Parade of Teams. Normally held in the same arena as the IHSA Nationals event the parade began with Kenn Marash announcing the names of the schools in each Zone as the full teams qualified entered the ring starting with Zone 1 and ending with Zone 8. This was followed by a Grand Prix Jumping Event and perhaps included musical acts later on in the evening. A very small number of raindrops fell during the start of the Grand Prix event but fortunatly the parade was completed in time for the riders who took part to make their way into the stands or the International Pavilion where a dinner was served to membership, sponsors and media.

Storms were predicted when the IHSA Parade of Teams took place Saturday evening in Stadium Ring Number Five. However the rain held off until after all the teams had safely entered and exited the arena. In this photo the teams had finished lining up, with Sacred Heart University from Zone 1 on the far left and the University of Southern California from Zone 8 on the far right (both school banners have a fair share of red in them). This was the first time ever that the annual parade took place nearly a mile from where the year-end show took place. And this parade probably had the largest audience of any IHSA Nationals parade to this day.

Back-to-Back in Tryon: Prior to the first day of 2023 IHSA Nationals IHSA Founder emeritus Bob Cacchione stated that both 2023 and 2024 Nationals would take place at AllTech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. This in fact did not happen, as 2024 Nationals were held at Tryon International. On June 29th of this year Cacchione stated the IHSA has a two-year contract with Tryon, with the IHSA definitely returning in 2025. During Nationals a small number of people were not happy that the Western arena was a work in progress (the permanent seating area should be completed for next season). The one aspect of the Tryon Indoors that received a historic-good rave review is the short distance from the stabling area to the actual indoor rings. The stalls were in some cases only about 100 feet from the English and Western mounting areas, and even the longest trek from stall to in-gate was as short as any this writer can recall at any prior IHSA Nationals since 2002 in Cazenovia, New York. Because of this the show itself was over and done in the shortest time since the two-day event at Mount Holyoke in 1997. On Sunday first place in team open flat (Alston) was announced at 11:59AM with the hunter seat team awards all handed out by 1:15PM at the latest. First place in team open western horsemanship (Martin) was announced at 2:47PM with the western individual AQHA high point awards and western team awards all handed out by 4:15PM. If you competed at Nationals in the past 20 years you might recall that on the final day of English the team awards were usually handed out by 2:00PM and at the end of the Sunday session the Western awards were handed out between 4PM and 6PM.

--Steve Maxwell

The 2024 IHSA Nationals Class-by-Class Results, held at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina May 3rd through 5th. The Hunter Seat Judges were Andrea Wells and Archie Cox while the Western Judges were Tom McBeath and Carolyn Johnson.

Friday, May 3rd:

Individual Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Alexander Alston, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Celia Cram, Savannah College of Art & Design. 3. Rafi Wolf, Stanford University. 4. Anna Perlow, Long Island University - Post. 5. Grace McEneaney, Lafayette College. 6. Kenya Sanders, Skidmore College. 7. Rebecca Kaplan, Centenary University. 8. Isabella Karr, University of Vermont. 9. Janet Hedges, Boston University. 10. Madison Weber, University of British Columbia.

Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Caroline Bardwell, Louisiana State University. 2. Roberta Cullinan, Miami University of Ohio. 3. Kelsey Sullivan, Randolph - Macon College. 4. Sonia Agarwal, Boston University. 5. Amelia Gugino, Centenary University. 6. Maggie Lawrence, University of Delaware. 7. Philine Weisbeek, Northeastern University. 8. Noelle Boltz, University of Dayton. 9. Sophia Santoro, University of Georgia. 10. Lexi Smith, University of Oklahoma.

Individual Limit Equitation Over Fences: 1. Becca Polzin, University of Vermont. 2. Sophia Mirando, Long Island University - Post. 3. Andrea Battram, Saint Louis University. 4. Hattie Bradford, Savannah College of Art & Design. 5. Natalia Onisko, University of Delaware. 6. Jillian Steinmetz, Cornell University. 7. Katie Ripple, University of Wisconsin - River Falls. 8. Kaitlyn Hagopian, University of Colorado at Boulder. 9. Emma Stokes, University of Rhode Island. 10. Zoey Horn, University of Lynchburg.

Individual Intermediate Equitation On The Flat: 1. Christian Echavarria, Florida Atlantic University. 2. Rachel Chard, Sweet Briar College. 3. Chloe Thatcher, Otterbein University. 4. Emma Neal, University of Tennessee at Knoxville. 5. Samantha Gilley, Wilson College. 6. Riley Gerardo, Cornell University. 7. Sophia Mirando, Long Island University - Post. 8. Aislinn Bermingham, Centenary University. 9. Evelyn Smith, University of California at Davis. 10. Madisyn Courtney, St. Mary of the Woods College.

Individual Limit Equitation On The Flat: 1. Alexis Schwarz, University of Michigan. 2. Alyssa Buback, Long Island University - Post. 3. Alexandra Russell, University of Lynchburg. 4. Alyssa Davis, Middle Tennessee State University. 5. Alisaundre Finnerty, Le Moyne College. 6. Meghan FitzPatrick, Centenary University. 7. Annemieke Forte, Centenary University. 8. Karma Redman, Savannah College of Art & Design. 9. Elinor Addonizio, University of Connecticut. 10. Antonin Cornillon, Northeastern University.

Individual Open Equitation On The Flat: 1. Rebecca Kaplan, Centenary University. 2. Willow Vince, Amherst College. 3. Celia Cram, Savannah College of Art & Design. 4. Harper Sanford, Skidmore College. 5. Marianna George, University of Findlay. 6. Rafi Wolf, Stanford University. 7. Emma Pell, Emory & Henry College. 8. Emma Sameth, University of the South. 9. Caroline Mancini, Centenary University. 10. Jaden Perry, St. Mary of the Woods College.

Individual Novice Equitation: 1. Anna Berd, Endicott College. 2. Madelyn Whitley, Emory & Henry College. 3. Victoria Varella, Centenary University. 4. Kyley Pelfrey, St. Mary of the Woods College. 5. Emily Roberts, Sweet Briar College. 6. Mila Quinonero Koch, University of California at Los Angeles. 7. Samantha Mayer, University of Findlay. 8. Mary - Elizabeth Hrycay, Springfield College. 9. Carly Vujakovich, Savannah College of Art & Design. 10. Abigael Berdan, University at Buffalo.

Team Limit Equitation On The Flat: 1. Peter Cavagnac, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Lainey Rockacy, St. Lawrence University. 3. Hannah Minton, St. Mary of the Woods College. 4. Julia Furst, Penn State University (State College). 5. Isabella Ruisi, Sacred Heart University. 6. Anabella Erikson - Brottet, Miami University of Ohio. 7. Elyssa Parker, Hollins University. 8. Charlotte Lyon, Skidmore College. 9. Rachel Dahmer, University of Georgia. 10. Kristina Todd, West Texas A & M University.

Individual Ranch Riding: 1. Kaitlyn Praisler, Morehead State University. 2. Jerica Bozio, St. Andrews University. 3. Jennica Dannehl, West Texas A & M University. 4. Dakota Tierney, North Dakota State University. 5. Grace Stief, Black Hawk College. 6. Miley Phillips, Albion College. 7. Kia Davis, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. 8. Natalie Ruha, Mississippi State University. 9. Brooke Wolfinger, Delaware Valley University. 10. Kenlee West, Middle Tennessee State University.

Individual Open Western Horsemanship: 1. Hannah Belich, Lake Erie College. 2. Megan Manlief, St. Mary of the Woods College. 3. Calen Braden, Black Hawk College. 4. Jordan Schauer, Midway University. 5. Faith Borbonus, University of Findlay. 6. Erin Murray, Ohio State University. 7. Jordan Martin, Middle Tennessee State University. 8. Carli Kerns, Albion College. 9. Jerica Bozio, St. Andrews University. 10. Brenna Orchard, Reedley College.

Team Level 1 Western Horsemanship: 1. Marty Kacsh, West Texas A & M University. 2. Kaylee Klein, Midway University. 3. Simone Allen, Middle Tennessee State University. 4. James Shrock, University of Findlay. 5. Gabrielle Olson, Black Hawk College. 6. Luke Rogers, St. Andrews University. 7. Anastasia Kiser, Albion College. 8. Cady Ninnemann, University of Wisconsin - River Falls. 9. Lucinda Naples, Penn State University. 10. Katie Wendorf, St. Mary of the Woods College.

Team Level II Western Horsemanship: 1. Alana Utlak, Midway University. 2. Haley Bucher, West Texas A & M University. 3. Lily Roman, St. Andrews University. 4. Peyton Podmolik, Black Hawk College. 5. Emmalyn Mirarchi, Mount Holyoke College. 6. Jenna Smith, Albion College. 7. Sarah Munson, Penn State University (State College). 8. Hope Gillaspie, St. Mary of the Woods College. 9. Grace Scott, University of Findlay. 10. Madison McCuen, Ohio State University.

Individual Beginner Western Horsemanship: 1. Katelyn Proshek, Albion College. 2. Madison Cresanti, University of Findlay. 3. Shelby Amanns, Middle Tennessee State University. 4. Caitlin Igel, University of Washington. 5. Izzi Velinsky, University of Nebraska at Lincoln. 6. Hannah Wheeler, Black Hawk College. 7. Jiahui Zeng, Mount Holyoke College. 8. Jakeob Stewart, Colby Community College. 9. Adrienne Murray, Middle Georgia State University. 10. Lauren Lauber, Missouri State University.

Team Open Reining: 1. Jordan Martin, Middle Tennessee State University. 2. Sydney Hill, University of Wisconsin - River Falls. 3. Calen Braden, Black Hawk College. 4. Megan Manlief, St. Mary of the Woods College. 5. Jordan Schauer, Midway University. 6. Lili Evans, Mount Holyoke College. 7. Sidney Hawk, University of Findlay. 8. Noel Pickel, St. Andrews University. 9. Aria Morgan, Albion College. 10. Anna Wilhelm, West Texas A & M University.

Saturday, May 4th:

Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Sadie Nesbitt, Skidmore College. 2. Sierra Smith, Emory & Henry College. 3. Natalia Onisko, University of Delaware. 4. Hattie Bradford, Savannah College of Art & Design. 5. Marie Hollertz, Otterbein University. 6. Olivia Wilson, Miami University of Ohio. 7. Isabella Catto, Penn State University (State College). 8. Emilie Stokes, University of Georgia. 9. Ellen Aasted, Stanford University. 10. Reagan Waggoner, Sacred Heart University.

Team Limit Equitation Over Fences: 1. Cate Weis, St. Lawrence University. 2. Molly Drass, Penn State University (State College). 3. Elise Sigety, Skidmore College. 4. Kayla DeStephanis, Sacred Heart University. 5. Anna Birney, University of Delaware. 6. Rachael Wingard, Otterbein University. 7. Peter Cavagnac, Savannah College of Art & Design. 8. Elyssa Parker, Hollins University. 9. Parker Watt, Stanford University. 10. Robyn Nieman, University of Georgia.

Individual Introductory Equitation: 1. Mara Bunderson, University of Wisconsin - Madison. 2. Leticia Vaz, Cal Poly - Pomona. 3. Emma Jennison, Skidmore College. 4. Chloe Lakloufi, Savannah College of Art & Design. 5. Marguerite Perryman, University of North Carolina at Ashville. 6. Katelyn Proshek, Albion College. 7. Julia Hathaway, Morrisville State College. 8. Parker Myrus, University of Kentucky. 9. Milena Aggelikas, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. 10. Elena DeDominicis, Marist College.

Team Introductory Equitation: 1. Kameron Riggs, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Wenzdae Wendling, University of Vermont. 3. Bevin Dean, Skidmore College. 4. Abbigael Coyle, St. Mary of the Woods College. 5. Rachel Nottestad, Otterbein University. 6. Dorian Meekins, Hollins University. 7. Alysse Quin, University of Southern California. 8. Ilaria Chen, Stanford University. 9. Miranda Whitten, West Texas A & M University. 10. Ella Cooper, University of Delaware.

Team Novice Equitation: 1. Hudson Gauthier, University of Southern California. 2. Ava Flannery, Sacred Heart University. 3. Lexie Stoebenau, Savannah College of Art & Design. 4. Maeve Nickloes, Emory & Henry College. 5. Jordan Atwell - Purcell, Hollins University. 6. Natalie Nawa, Otterbein University. 7. Jenna Mansueto, Stanford University. 8. Stella Allen, Skidmore College. 9. Sarah Bowe, Penn State University (State College). 10. Cecilia DuBose, University of Vermont.

St. Andrews University narrowly claimed Western Reserve National Champion Status. From left to right are Knights assistant coach Cailey Culp, Natalie Bailey and head coach Carla Wennberg after Bailey claimed first place in Team Rookie Western Horsemnship on May 5th. This briefly put St. Andrews into the lead through six of the seven team classes.

Team Ranch Riding: 1. Lily Roman, St. Andrews University. 2. Isaiah Baughman, Ohio State University. 3. Kyley Pelfrey, St. Mary of the Woods College. 4. Kurstin Walker, Black Hawk College. 5. Mackenzie Latimer, Middle Tennesee State University. 6. Kallie Hill, University of Wisconsin - River Falls. 7. Grace Scott, University of Findlay. 8. Kathryn Smith, Mount Holyoke College. 9. Chase Summerville, Midway University. 10. Helene Keiser, West Texas A & M University.

Individual Level 1 Western Horsemanship: 1. Isabella O'Daniel, Bowling Green State University. 2. Sadie Tullock, Midway University. 3. Taylor McIntosh, Berry College. 4. Jessica Endecott, University of Findlay. 5. Kaitlyn Evans, West Texas A & M University. 6. Gopher Warwick, Adrian College. 7. Mackenzie Latimer, Middle Tennessee State University. 8. Marissa Bartholomew, State University of New York at Oswego. 9. Samantha Smit, Alfred University. 10. Emily Jessen, Black Hawk College.

Team Beginner Western Horsemanship: 1. Monica Braunwalder, Middle Tennessee State University. 2. Kira Maurer, Penn State University (State College). 3. Amber Cox, West Texas A & M University. 4. Abby Cash, Black Hawk College. 5. Starr Benton, St. Andrews University. 6. Aubryn Kaine, Mount Holyoke College. 7. Shelby Preston, University of Findlay. 8. Truman Sleuth, Midway University. 9. Cami McDonald, Ohio State University. 10. Olivia Paprstein, St. Mary of the Woods College.

Individual Rookie Western Horsemanship: 1. James Shrock, University of Findlay. 2. Regan Black, Middle Tennessee State University. 3. Mikayla Adkins, University of Findlay. 4. Catherine Thompson, Berry College. 5. Isabella Leddy, Rocky Mountain College. 6. Lauren Wiliams, Delaware Valley University. 7. Katie Wendorf, St. Mary of the Woods College. 8. Sarah Newman, Virginia Tech. 9. Keira Hanschman, Alfred University. 10. Lyndsey Hoskinson, West Virginia University.

Individual Open Reining: 1. Julie Warnick, Wilson College. 2. Madison Story, North Carolina State University. 3. Maggie Herbert, Morrisville State University. 4. Audrey Barnes, Michigan State University. 5. Jordan Schauer, Midway University. 6. Josie Spratt, Murray State University. 7. Ashlyn Montague, Utah State University. 8. Jordan Martin, Middle Tennessee State University. 9. Sidney Hawk, University of Findlay. 10. Emma Suplicki, Alfred University.

Sunday, May 5th:

Team Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Kylie Hwalek, Sacred Heart University. 2. Emma Pell, Emory & Henry College. 3. Celia Cram, Savannah College of Art & Design. 4. Mallory Francis, Hollins University. 5. Mary Roskins, Miami University of Ohio. 6. Ellie Kurtz, University of Southern California. 7. Isabella Karr, University of Vermont. 8. Rafi Wolf, Stanford University. 9. Maggie Lawrence, University of Delaware. 10. Elizabeth Orosz, Otterbein University.

Cacchione Cup Competition: 1. Delani Franklin, Lake Erie College. 2. Celia Cram, Savannah College of Art & Design. 3. Emma Eaton - Ayres, University of Rhode Island. 4. Kenya Sanders, Skidmore College. 5. Emma Pell, Emory & Henry College. 6. Benjamin Hoban, Centenary University. 7. Rafi Wolf, Stanford University. 8. Anna Perlow, Long Island University - Post. 9. Evan Bronfman, University of Southern California. 10. Jaden Perry, St. Mary of the Woods College.

Team Intermediate Equitation On The Flat: 1. Kendall Madison, Emory & Henry College. 2. Erin Phillips, Sacred Heart University. 3. Sophia Wirtz, St. Lawrence University. 4. Hattie Bradford, Savannah College of Art & Design. 5. Emma Herbruck, Otterbein University. 6. Isa Jensen, Skidmore College. 7. Marissa Jones, Hollins University. 8. Hope Gillaspie, St. Mary of the Woods College. 9. Emma Haman, University of Delaware. 10. Alexis Kern, University of Vermont.

Team Open Equitation On The Flat: 1. Alexander Alston, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Hudson Warren, St. Lawrence University. 3. Harper Sanford, Skidmore College. 4. Mallory Francis, Hollins University. 5. Isabella Karr, University of Vermont. 6. Carina Muratore, Sacred Heart University. 7. Izzy Baker, University of Southern California. 8. Lauren Marchetti, Penn State University (State College). 9. Elizabeth Orosz, Otterbein University. 10. Emma Pell, Emory & Henry College.

Alexander Alston (pictured) won both a team and an individual class at 2023 IHSA Nationals and a year later he duplicated that feat. Alston completed his third semester on the Savannah College of Art & Design team by winning the very first hunter seat class (individual open over fences) and the final hunter seat class (team open on the flat) held over three days at Tryon. The Bees were so dominant that Alston could have missed out on a ribbon in the final class and they still would have won by over seven points. Instead Alston lifted SCAD to what might be the largest margin of victory for any hunter seat team at an IHSA Nationals event.

Individual Level II Western Horsemanship: 1. Chase Summerville, Midway College. 2. Jaimieson Knode, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo. 3. Kurstin Walker, Black Hawk College. 4. Louann Braunwalder, Middle Tennessee State University. 5. Grace Strief, Black Hawk College. 6. Ryann Piperno, University of Findlay. 7. Norina Hawke, University of Findlay. 8. Kyley Pelfrey, St. Mary of the Woods College. 9. Maegan Pearson, Wilmington College. 10. Ella Rosloniec, Penn State University (State College).

Team Rookie Western Horsemanship: 1. Natalie Bailey, St. Andrews University. 2. Emma Rutledge, Ohio State University. 3. Clio Halpern, Mount Holyoke College. 4. Hana Craycraft, West Texas A & M University. 5. Sadio Barnes, Middle Tennessee State University. 6. Katerin Getty, Midway University. 7. Kassidy Temple, University of Findlay. 8. Carly Boers, University of Wisconsin - River Falls. 9. Courtney Hamrick, St. Mary of the Woods College. 10. Katelyn Proshek, Albion College.

Team Open Western Horsemanship: 1. Jordan Martin, Middle Tennessee State University. 2. Chase Summerville, Midway College. 3. Kaitlyn Howe, University of Findlay. 4. Carli Kerns, Albion College. 5. Erin Murray, Ohio State University. 6. Calen Braden, Black Hawk College. 7. Anna Wilhelm, West Texas A & M University. 8. Sydney Hill, University of Wisconsin - River Falls. 9. Megan Manlief, St. Mary of the Woods College. 10. Jerica Bozio, St. Andrews University.

Individual AQHA High Point Open Rider Competition: 1. Jordan Martin, Middle Tennessee State University. 2. Jordan Schauer, Midway University. 3. Erin Murray, Ohio State University. 4. Anna Wilhelm, West Texas A & M University. 5. Madison Austin, Adrian College. 6. Rachel Lexon, Penn State University (State College). 7. Megan Manlief, St. Mary of the Woods College. 8. Sidney Hawk, University of Findlay. 9. Calen Braden, Black Hawk College. 10. Taylor Stephens, College of the Sequoias.

2024 IHSA Nationals Hunter Seat Team Totals: