Once again the annual Parade of Teams at IHSA Nationals took place as part of the Saturday night festivities at Tryon International Equestrian Center on May 3rd. Seen here on parade is the Wilmington College equestrian team, which ended Ohio State University's long run of Western region titles to advance a full team to Nationals for the first time.

DOWN TO THE WIRE: 2025 IHSA NATIONALS FEATURES NOT ONE BUT TWO SUPER-CLOSE TEAM RACES

MILL SPRING, NC - Before 2025 IHSA Nationals even started there was a lot to talk about, mainly due to the high number of schools advancing a full team to Nationals for the first time in program history. Also the field of teams was very different from one year ago, with several schools not even able to win their regions in 2025 after having done well at '24 Nationals.

On the hunter seat side the University of Lynchburg, Northeastern University and the University of Wisconsin at River Falls were at Tryon International will a full team for the first time. Lynchburg won seven of the nine Zone 4, Region 2 regular season shows to take the region title from a Hollins University team that placed sixth at 2024 Nationals. The Hornets had made NCEA noise by winning three consecutive single-discipline National Championships. That streak came to an end this season, but their IHSA team won Zone 4 Zones by 11 points to become a contender for a top ten spot at Nationals. Northeastern University came from behind to edge out a University of Vermont team with 15 Zone 1, Region 2 Region Titles since 2000 and three in a row starting in 2022. The Huskies then survived Zone 1 Zones by winning a tie-breaker for second over the University of Rhode Island. Both schools finished one point behind Mount Holyoke College in what was the closest Zones show of 2025. The University of Wisconsin at River Falls was the only school among these three with a prior hunter seat Region Title. However it had been a long time since the Falcons had earned one of those, as the previous Zone qualifiers were in 1998 and 2002, respectively (and both times River Falls was a member of the early version of Zone 6, Region 4). Until the Falcons placed second at Zone 7 Zones on March 29th no Zone 7, Region 3 hunter seat team had ever survived a Zones event to reach Nationals.

The University of Wisconsin at River Falls had previously sent a full Western Team to IHSA Nationals (including the 2019 team which was Reserve National Champion). This could not be said about Colby Community College or Wilmington College, both of which competed in a Semifinal event for the first time. And when those Semi's were over both were also National qualifiers for the first time. Colby CC won their first-ever Zone 8, Region 5 Region Title by beating out a University of Nebraska at Lincoln team which had won 15 consecutive Region Titles. As of 5/29/25 we do not have the results from the March 15/16 Canyon, Texas Semifinal but we do know Colby was either third or fourth to continue on to Tryon. Wilmington College has been in the IHSA since at least a year or two into the current century, and every year in that time the Quakers were blocked from a region title by the Ohio State University. Wilmington was not alone as the Buckeyes won every Western Region Title regardless of what that region was named since 1987. Ohio State had 37 consecutive Western Region Titles and 36 consecutive trips to IHSA Nationals with a full western team (no National show in 2020 due to covid-19). But in 2024-25 Wilmington outscored the Buckeyes by 18 points (both in their first - and perhaps only season as members of Area 2.6) to end the IHSA's longest streak Western or English of consecutive region titles and appearances at IHSA Nationals with a full team. The Quakers survived a close, three-way race for third and fourth places at the Logan Township, New Jersey Semifinal on March 16th, placing two points ahead of Mount Holyoke College to tie the State University of New York at Oswego with 24 points (and what turned out to be fourth place as the Lakers won the tie-breaker).

From left to right are Sacred Heart University assistant coach and former rider Hanna Lloyd, Megan Majkut of the Pioneers and head coach Tiffany Hajdasz. A sophomore from Levittown, New York, Majkut placed second in the team introductory division at IHSA Nationals on May 3rd to earn the top team ribbon for Sacred Heart at '25 Nationals. The Pioneers earned points in seven of the eight team classes to claim Reserve High Point Hunter Seat Team honors for the second year in a row.

Two other schools which had not fielded a full Western team at 2024 Nationals got through this time. One is the previously-mentioned State University of New York at Oswego. Last season the Lakers were beaten out by Morrisville State College in what was a re-alignment following the closure of Cazenovia College, which forced a merger between two Upstate New York regions. This time Oswego bested the Mustangs by 30 points to capture their 13th Region Title in 15 seasons. Delaware Valley University finished second ahead of Oswego and Wilmington at the New Jersey Semifinal as the Aggies put up 26 points. Del Val won the closest Western Team Race in the country, finishing ahead of Penn State 289-288 to keep the Nittany Lions from a second consecutive region title.

Eight of the 12 Western Teams were returnees while eight of the 16 hunter seat teams also survived the rigors of winning a Region Title and placing top-two at Zones as was the case in 2024. But to have that much turnover is a lot compared to most seasons, thus showing only so much is certain nowadays when trying to repeat at anything. The other five schools who were outside looking in last season but dressed and ready to go in the Tryon indoor were the previously-mentioned Mount Holyoke College, third at 2024 Zone 1 Zones but a narrow Zone Champion in '25; Berry College, the 2025 runner-up at Zone 5 Zones which had not sent a full hunter seat team to Nationals since 2013; both Centenary University and Delaware Valley University from Zone 3, the former of which hosted and won 2025 Zone 3 Zones by a 44-37 margin over Del Val while the University of Delaware scored 36 and Penn State University 35. A year earlier Penn State and UDel were the Zones survivors; and Purdue University, which had watched St. Mary of the Woods College overtake them for the Zone 7, Region 1 region title in 2024 but finished 139 points ahead of the Woodsies in 2025 while going undefeated during the regular season. The Boilermakers dominated Zone 7 Zones, earning a 50-34 win over Wisconsin - River Falls for the widest margin of victory at any of the eight Zones shows this season.

Though they are not official IHSA shows the four Tournament of Champions invitational series events featured wins by Otterbein University (in the pre-season Tournament, won by two points over Savannah College of Art & Design and three points over Mount Holyoke), Lynchburg (in the Spring Tournament, won by a point over one of two University of Findlay teams and three points over Purdue) and SCAD, which fielded two teams at the Holiday and Winter Tournaments and placed first and second in both. The runner-up SCAD team at the Holiday TOC won a tie-breaker with Sacred Heart University as both had scored 31 points. On that occasion Otterbein scored 28 and Lynchburg 27. At the Winter TOC both SCAD teams scored 50 points while Purdue was third with 36 and Sacred Heart fourth with 31. With SCAD, Sacred Heart, Otterbein, Lynchburg, Purdue, Mount Holyoke, Skidmore College, Miami University of Ohio and Delaware Valley all having competed in at least one Tournament series event this season these schools had seen each other at least that often, so some may or may not have been surprised by the eventual 2025 Nationals hunter seat outcome.

Everyone who places inside the top ten in any IHSA Nationals class gets escorted to the "Thank You Card Table" after the ribbons are awarded. Seen here at the table are Midway University teammates Alana Utlak (on left) and Tate Gill. A sophomore from Greenville, Pennsylvania, Utlak won the individual level II western horsemanship class on May 4th while Tate (a junior from Erie, Pennsylvania) was second. This marked the only time at '25 Nationals that teammates took home the top two ribbons in the same class.

The Western Team Race featured two storylines before the first class was held on May 2nd. One story was that Middle Tennessee State University had a chance to tie an IHSA record for consecutive Western Nationals Team Titles. Since the first Western champion team was crowned in 1979 (Miami of Ohio had that honor) only twice had any team won three consecutive titles. Ohio State did it in 1991-93 while Texas A & M University did it in 2002-04 (the '02 title was shared with Ohio State while the '03 title was shared with similarly-named West Texas A & M University). MTSU had won in '23 and '24. In attendence to present many of the Western awards over the weekend was Ollie Griffith, who with his wife Debbie had co-coached the Ohio State Western team to all of their IHSA Nationals team appearences through May of 2022. The Griffiths left IHSA Nationals with Western High Point Team Honors Ten Times, the most of any coaches Western or English in IHSA history. Would Ollie see MTSU tie the record he held with Texas A & M over the weekend?

But the other Western storyline was gut-wrenching. St. Andrews University, which won the Logan Township, New Jersey Semifinal 41-26 over Delaware Valley on March 16th, would be riding in their final IHSA show ever. On April 26th the board of trustees at Webber international University (of which St. Andrews is a 'Branch' campus) announced that due to "Persistent financial and enrollment challenges" St. Andrews University will close at the end of the current semester. An official 'last day' of Monday, May 5th (the day after the third and final day of 2025 IHSA Nationals) was also announced, with the school offically permanently closed the next day.

However the St. Andrews Athletics program was not to be disturbed, with all scheduled events being fulfilled. Though it was an awkward situation St. Andrews - often a threat to win an IHSA National Championship (as was the case in 2016 and 2017 when the trophy traveled to Laurinburg) - arrived at Tryon and it was business as usual for the Knights.

Every year the graduation ceremony for St. Andrews University overlaps with the Saturday classes at IHSA Nationals. And every year a separate graduation ceremony is held at Nationals for any St. Andrews students who cannot be on campus. With St. Andrews closing their doors at the end of day on May 5th the May 3rd ceremony at Nationals was a special event indeed. While this photo shows the graduating students along with the likes of western head coach Carla Wennberg (on far left) and Director of Riding Peggy McElveen (third from left) there was actually a very large turnout of former St. Andrews riders in the stands who took turns speaking over the public address system about their experiences at St. Andrews.

For the second year in a row two separate English and Western rings were used. As was the case in 2024 the English classes were in the larger part of the Indoor Complex with the permanent seating. There were some improvements to the area beside the Western arena when compared to last season. The elevated area for the team tables is now connected to the rest of the long aisle where many vendors set up shop while the restrooms in that same area have been finished (no longer does everyone have to walk way down the hall to use the facilities).

The holding area separating the two rings is so wide that Mississippi State University hunter seat coach Hannah Valligura sang the National Anthem twice every morning, doing so for the hunter seat arena and then for the western arena roughly 15 minutes later. Horse draw for the first hunter seat classes each day took place before the first western draw and therefore the first hunter seat rider was in the ring prior to the first western rider.

And on Friday, May 2nd the hunter seat arena featured seven of the eight individual classes, with the three over fences divisions getting things started. The first rider to win a class at '25 Nationals kept his undefeated streak going. Alexander Alston of Savannah College of Art & Design won the blue ribbon in individual open over fences, repeating the first place showing in the division one year ago. Previously Alston also won the individual open on the flat at 2023 Nationals, and in both '23 and '24 won team open on the flat. At this point Alston was five-for-five whenever he competed in an IHSA Nationals class. Other individual hunter seat class winners on May 2nd were Natalia Onisko of the University of Delaware (in intermediate fences), Charlotte Lyon of Skidmore College (in limit fences), Hope Gillaspie of St. Mary of the Woods College (in intermediate flat; Gillaspie would also place top ten in two Western classes), Reese Dorsey of Midway College (in limit flat), Elizabeth Bechtold of Randolph - Macon College (in novice equitation) and for a second time Alston in individual open flat. This marked the first time Alston had won two IHSA Nationals classes on the same day.

From Chrisman, Illinois, Hope Gillaspie of St. Mary of the Woods College (on left) receives an award from IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman on May 4th. Gillaspie was voted the winner of the Sportsmanship Award by coaches and riders present at 2025 Nationals and also received the IHSA Combined High Point Rider Award. Only riders who show both English and Western at the same IHSA Nationals event are eligible for the combined award, and Gillaspie placed top ten in two western classes while winning the individual intermediate on the flat outright.

The final hunter seat class on May 2nd was team limit on the flat. And again a SCAD rider prevailed in a division he or she had previously won. Peter Cavagnac, a sophomore from Amherst, Massachusetts, won team limit flat just as he had done to conclude day one of 2024 IHSA Nationals. Most importantly Cavagnac gave SCAD the early lead. In 2024 the Bees won early and often in scoring one of the two most lop-sided victories in IHSA Nationals history. Would the same be true in 2025?

Unlike the hunter seat schedule day one of the Western included three individual and three team classes. Individual ranch riding started off the morning with Savannah Lindsey of North Carolina State University the blue ribbon winner. A senior from Fayetteville, North Carolina, Lindsey would be the only individual western class winner from a school that did not also have a full western team entered. Individual open horsemanship followed, with Calen Braden of Black Hawk College coming out on top. A sophomore from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Braden would not be done with first place ribbons for the weekend. Team level I western horsemanship was won by Alice Kaufman of Delaware Valley University. We are checking the record books to see if the senior from Alexandria Township, New Jersey was able to give Delaware Valley their first-ever lead at an IHSA Nationals event. Team level II western horsemanship followed, with James Shrock of the University of Findlay the champion. With teammate Maggie Farley having placed third in level I the Oilers had a 17-15 lead on Delaware Valley. Black Hawk had 14 and Middle Tennessee State 13 at this early stage. Findlay riders claimed blue ribbons in consecutive classes, with Dylan Allison best in the field of 12 individual beginner western horsemanship riders. The sixth and final western class of May 2nd was team open reining. Chase Summerville of St. Andrews University prevailed to raise the Knights' total to 13 and a half. A junior from Albion, Pennsylvania, Summerville was competing in his third IHSA Nationals but his first after transfering from Midway University to St. Andrews over the previous summer. This would not be the final blue ribbon in IHSA competition for St. Andrews, nor would it be the only time Summerville would win over the three-day weekend. With Kenlee West of MTSU second the team standings were wildly close. MTSU 21, Black Hawk 20, Delaware Valley 18 and Findlay 17 and a half.

At all IHSA shows prior to Nationals the scoring system is the same, with seven points awarded for first, five for second, four for third all the way down to one point for sixth. However the team points scoring system for IHSA Nationals events is slightly different. Jerry Steinmetz, who was the Purdue University head coach from the early 1980's until his retirement in May of 2022, came up with an alternate point system for Nationals. Named the "Steinmetz Point System" the numbers are larger, with something awarded all the way to tenth place. First place equals ten points, second eight points, third seven, fourth six all the way down to a half point for tenth. IHSA Executive Director Peter Cashman was an early supporter of Jerry's idea and it was first used when Nationals took place in Syracuse, New York in May of 2019.

From Grand Gorge, New York, Centenary University sophomore Taylor Ernst (on horse) is seen here after winning the team intermediate over fences class on May 3rd with a combined judge's score of "87." The Cyclones had their best IHSA Nationals since placing second at the 2017 event in Lexington, Kentucky. Centenary finished with 34 points, tied for third with Savannah College of Art & Design only three points out of first.

After only one hunter seat class on day one there were four on day two (Saturday, May 3rd).

Team intermediate over fences kicked off the day with five riders earning the right to be tested. While the riders who were tested had received scores between an "82" and an '88" a rider with a "90" score was not asked to test. That rider was Emma Gurley of Emory & Henry College, a senior from nearby Rutherfordton, North Carolina who thus knew she would win when all 16 riders were asked to return to the ring for the awarding of ribbons. Olivia Wilson of Miami University of Ohio (the "88") was second, Isa Jensen of Skidmore (an "84") was third while Nicolas LaPlante of Purdue was fourth. LaPlante was the only rider to move up during the testing, going from a potential sixth place ("82") to fourth. LaPlante's well-received test would figure big much later on.

Team limit fences followed and again one rider produced a judge's score so much higher than the rest of the field that she was not tested. Madelyn Whitley of Emory & Henry (an "81"), Emi Graf of Mount Holyoke (an "82") and Ava Jackson of the University of Lynchburg ("83") were called back to test, with Whitley moving up over Graf while Jackson stayed put in second. Taylor Ernst, a Centenary University sophomore from Grand Gorge, New York received an "87" to claim the team limit flat without further testing.

Following the jumping phase and the flat phases of the Cacchione Cup Competition the final individual hunter seat class of 2025 Nationals was held. Bevin Dean, a Skidmore College junior from South Burlington, Vermont won the individual introductory equitation class which meant that (save for the Cacchione Cup work-off phase) the rest of the hunter seat classes would be team classes. Team introductory equitation followed, with Kelsey Olivadoti of Purdue University taking the blue ribbon. A sophomore from Fishers, Indiana, Olivadoti raised the Boilermaker's total to 21 points. This was more than Purdue had scored at '23 Nationals (15 points) or '22 Nationals (18) and four team classes still remained!

After a considerable amount of time without anyone having to canter, the team novice equitation division was the final hunter seat class on May 3rd. Tops in the field of 16 was Cara Sowa of Stanford University, a freshman from Newport Beach, California who raised the Cardinal team total to 13 and a half points with the win. Through five of the eight hunter seat team classes the field was still wide open. Thirteen of the 16 schools entered were in double figures, with each still mathematically alive for a National Title. Centenary had the lead with 26 followed by Purdue, Skidmore and Lynchburg with 21 each. From there Mount Holyoke and Sacred Heart had 20, Emory & Henry 19, Otterbein 15, SCAD 14, Stanford 13 and a half, Delaware Valley 13, Miami of University of Ohio 10 and the University of Southern California also with 10. Though SCAD would have to make up considerable ground to repeat as the champion the Bees knew that Alston would be entered in the eighth and final class, team open flat.

Gabrielle Wall (on left) is the North Carolina Quarter Horse Association Queen. During 2025 Nationals Wall was photographed with many of the Western riders including Calen Braden of Black Hawk College (on right). Braden was hands down the most decorated western rider of the long weekend, earning two firsts, two seconds and a fourth. The sophomore from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin was most successful on the rail, winning both the individual and team open horsemanship classes.

Meanwhile down the hall the Western team competition was just as entertaining. Team ranch riding kicked off the May 3rd slate, with Lily Roman of St. Andrews University the blue ribbon winner. A senior from Wake Forest, North Carolina, Roman finished one place ahead of Midway's Kayla Lawson and two above Gabrielle Olson of Black Hawk (Olson was fourth in team level II the previous day). Black Hawk, now with four placings of fourth or higher, took a 27 - 21 and a half lead on MTSU. However at the same time a fourth for Cassidy Fritz of the University of Findlay put the Oilers and St. Andrews into a tie for second place with 23 and a half points each. Midway had 18 and a half, Delaware Valley 18 and the State University of New York at Oswego 17 and Albion College 16 just over the halfway mark.

Following the horsemanship or rail phase of the individual High Point Open Rider division Black Hawk became the first school to reach 30 points. Alessandra Rivera was was fourth in the team beginner western class to raise their total to 33. However moments later Shelby Ford of MTSU won the team beginner to boost the Blue Raiders' total to 31 and a half. In between were Emily Watts of Midway with a third and Rose Stanton of Albion with the runner-up. Emma Weinberg's fifth for Findlay figured big, putting the Oilers in third place with 28 and a half. Others over 20 points were St. Andrews (27 and a half), Midway (25 and a half) and Albion (24). Eight of the 12 schools entered were still mathematically alive.

Three individual western classes took place, with individual level I horsemanship the first of the three (a year ago individual level I was held before team beginner western, with half of the individual high point open rider held in between. Otherwise the western schedule was the same as in '24). John Price of the University of Findlay was the winner, becoming the second Oiler after Allison to win an individual class. Price would not be the only Findlay rider to win an individual class on May 3rd. Individual rookie horsemanship followed, with Katelyn Clemens of Black Hawk the champion. A freshman from Paxinos, Pennsylvania, Clemens earned the Black Hawk's final individual blue ribbon of the weekend but not their final blue ribbon of any kind. The final western class of the day was individual reining. Haley Mertz of Findlay prevailed in the field of twelve to become the third and final Oiler to win an individual class at 2025 Nationals. A junior coincidentally from Findlay, Ohio, Mertz rode with former Findlay rider Katie Morehead from fifth through twelfth grade (Katie Morehead's mother Cindy was the Findlay head coach for the Oiler's first five IHSA Western National Championships). Furthermore Mertz rode a Findlay horse, "Andy" in the division. And if there were not already enough Findlay connections the individual open reining champion receives the Clark Bradley memorial trophy, named for the long-time member of the Findlay coaching staff who was almost a co-coach to Cindy Morehead.

He is proving to be a generational talent within IHSA circles. Alexander Alston of Savannah College of Art & Design (pictured) won twice at 2023 Nationals. Then in May of 2024 Alston won twice again. And at 2025 Nationals Alston won four times. Now having been on the SCAD team for five semesters Alston is undefeated in eight IHSA Nationals classes. Alston has been especially strong on the flat, having won the team open flat class at each of the past three Nationals. And in 2025 Alston added the Cacchione Cup blue ribbon to his extraordinary resume.

The final day of 2025 Nationals (Sunday, May 4th) kicked off on the hunter seat side of the building with team open over fences. Four riders would be tested, with Celia Cram of SCAD moving up from second to first after having received a score of "87." It was the final IHSA ride for the senior from Aiken, South Carolina who played a large role in SCAD's fortunes at four IHSA Nationals as well as numerous Tournament of Champions series invitationals won by the Bees. Centenary senior Caroline Mancini kept the Cyclones ahead, placing second after what she described as probably the best ride of her life (an "89" score) prior to testing. Fallyn Belcastro of Lynchburg, who was part of several NCEA Champion teams for the Hornets, placed third in her final IHSA ride. And yet another senior, Kenya Sanders of Skidmore, was fourth. All four of these riders kept their schools in mathematical contention for the title.

The Western arena started the day with the first of two sections which made up the reining phase of the individual high point open rider competition. The third class was the other section while the final individual class of any kind took place in between. The individual level II western horsemanship was won by Alana Utlak of Midway. A sophomore from Greenville, Pennsylvania, Utlak edged out teammate Tate Gill who was the runner-up in the division. With Dorsey having won individual limit on the flat on Friday Midway was the only school with a blue ribbon in both English and Western at 2025 Nationals.

Following the work-off phase of the Cacchione Cup Competition (more on this and the Western individual high point open rider coming up) team intermediate on the flat was the next-to-last English class of the event. Headed into the class the top eleven looked like this: Centenary 34, Lynchburg 28, Skidmore 27, SCAD 24, Sacred Heart 24, Purdue 21, Mount Holyoke 20, Emory & Henry 19, Otterbein 15 and a half, Miami of Ohio 15 and Delaware Valley 15. Though it would take some strange combinations to work out all ten of these schools were mathematically alive for a hunter seat National Championship. As was the case with most of the flat classes six riders were eventually excused while the top ten (those who would ribbon) remained for further testing. Riders were called into the middle of the ring one-by-one and eventually everyone was excused and invited back for the awards presentation. When it was over only six schools were still alive for either the championship or at least a share of it. Winning the class was Abby Talcott, a Purdue junior from Waldorf, Maryland who we are absolutely certain pushed the Boilermakers over 30 points at Nationals for the first time in program history. The top six with only one class to go: Centenary 34, Skidmore 33, Purdue 31, Sacred Heart 31, Lynchburg 29 and SCAD 24. And SCAD had Alston entered in that eighth and final team class.

SCAD and Purdue were the only hunter seat teams to win more than one team class. SCAD won three while Purdue won two, including a blue ribbon for Abby Talcott (on left, with head coach Kathryn Kraft) in the next-to-last hunter seat class, team intermediate flat. When it was over the Boilermakers had enough points spread out across the eight divisions that the '25 hunter seat title was theirs. With the championship the team hunter seat trophy will travel the furthest west it has ever been. Save for titles previously won by SCAD, Findlay, Ohio University and the University of Kentucky all the other hunter seat team champions were from the Northeastern United States or the state of Virginia.

Meanwhile it was time for the next-to-last Western team class less than 300 feet away. Alyssa Davis of Middle Tennessee State University won team rookie western horsemanship to put the Blue Raiders back into the lead. Starr Benton of St. Andrews was second which kept the Knights mathematically alive in their final season. Alyssa McPhersen of Albion was third which left the Britons 10 and a half points behind MTSU. Hannah Mullins of Midway was sixth which kept the Eagles in a position to tie for a title (exactly 10 behind MTSU). Olivia Schenning of Black Hawk was fifth to keep the 2022 western champions within four of MTSU. Findlay's Tessa SanFelippo was sixth to put the Oilers within nine points of the Blue Raiders. With one western team class to go MTSU lead Black Hawk 41 and a half to 38. St. Andrews (with 35 and a half), Findlay (with 32 and a half) and Midway (with 31 and a half) were still alive for at least a share of the championship.

And back to the other end of the building we go: Based on when people were called into the middle of the ring it became apparent that a few schools were not going to add enough points during the team open on the flat division to earn a National Championship. But three teams had riders that earned plenty of time in the seat while keeping their teams in contention. Kylie Hwalek of Sacred Heart, Anna Cahill of Purdue and Alston were among the last riders to be called in from the rail to line up with the others. When the placings were announced it was apparent that the longer either Hwalek or Cahill went without hearing their names the better off their teams became for moving into the lead. Eventually Hwalek, who was a big hero at 2024 Nationals when she won team open over fences to vault the Pioneers into second place, was fifth. Moments later Cahill was announced as fourth. At this moment it was official: Purdue University would not only have their best team ribbon ever at an IHSA Nationals event the Boilermakers would head back to West Lafayette, Indiana as the 2025 IHSA Hunter Seat National Champion Team! Alston went on to win the division, keeping his unbeaten streak at IHSA Nationals intact. After starting the day with only 14 Alston's ten points allowed the Bees to tie Centenary for third at 34 points each. Sacred Heart would finish with 36 which meant consecutive second place finishes at IHSA Nationals. Purdue was the new champion by one point with 37 (and Cahill would later learn she was tenth in the Cacchione Cup competition).

Whoever would win the Western team competition would not be doing so for the first time, as all the remaining hopefuls had at least one prior IHSA Western title. All but Midway had won a Western team championship at least once since 2016 and if Midway were to get everything to break in their favor they would be at least a co-champion for the first time since 1987. After everyone had completed their pattern it was time to place the final class at 2025 Nationals. As is the standard practice at IHSA Nationals all of the results are read in reverse order. With Midway out of the top ten and MTSU receiving eighth place there was the chance that either St. Andrews or Black Hawk could move into first place. As it turned out riders from these two schools were among the last three to hear their names called. When Roman of St. Andrews was announced as third it was official but it was worth finding out by how much Black Hawk had won. After Helene Keiser of West Texas A & M University was second Braden received her second blue ribbon of the weekend while two-year school Black Hawk prevailed as Western National Champion for the second time in four years. The top five turned out to be Black Hawk with 48, Middle Tennessee State with 43 and a half, St. Andrews with 42 and a half, Findlay with 38 and a half and both Albion and Midway with 31 and a half. At Nationals ties are not broken, so both the Britons and the Eagles can claim the fifth spot. Braden had come up as big as anyone on the Western side. With the results of the individual High Point Open Rider competition soon to come would Braden win one more class?

The individual High Point Western Open Rider division was the final class of the weekend where there was any mystery to the placings. This was the only Western division of the weekend to feature more than 12 entries, as 15 riders who led their western regions with the most combined open reining and rail points were automatically qualified for Nationals. Seven of the 15 riders were coincidentally from schools with a full western team entered, and it would turn out that five of these seven - each of whom competed in at least one team class - would make up the top five. Keiser, who earned 80 percent of the Buff's team points with one ride placed fifth. Gillaspie was fourth, the senior from Chrisman, Illinois placed for the final time but not done receiving accolades at 2025 Nationals. A short time later Gillaspie received both the IHSA Nationals Sportsmanship Award (which is voted on by riders and coaches present at the year-end event) and what was previously known as the Versatility Award but is now known as the IHSA Combined High Point Rider Award. This award goes to a rider who competes in both English and Western divisions at Nationals and has the best all-around ribbons at the conclusion. Faith followed Hope as Borbonus was third. A senior from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Borbonus competed at Nationals in at least one class each during her sophomore, junior and senior years. Braden come up just shy of three blue ribbons at '25 Nationals, earning her second red ribbon of the weekend.

It is only fitting that when Chase Summerville (on horse) won the individual Western High Point Open Rider competition that both of his head coaches through three years of college happened to be in the photo. For his freshman and sophomore years Summerville rode for Midway University and head coach Conner Smith (on left). Then Smith left Midway to take a similar but not identical position at St. Andrews and Summerville followed. Smith co-coached the Knights with Carla Wennberg (holding the blue ribbon) during the 2024-25 season. With the demise of St. Andrews it was unclear at the time what the future held for Summerville, Smith and Wennberg. But at the moment Summerville claimed the final St. Andrews blue ribbon in program history while winning the same class Smith won at 2018 Nationals.

And at this point came the very emotional moment. Summerville won the individual high point western open rider, becoming the final rider in St. Andrews University program history to win a class at an IHSA Nationals event. Summerville became the second Knight to win the individual Western High Point Open Rider award at Nationals, with the other being Conner Smith. After winning the honor in 2018 Smith went on to become western head coach at Midway, where Summerville rode for him for two seasons. Then Smith became part of the St. Andrews coaching staff this season, with Summerville transfering to become one of the Knights' open riders. During their time in the IHSA St. Andrews produced seven blue ribbons in individual Western classes at Nationals along with two Western team National Championships (one shared) along with Smith's and Summerville's achievements. On the hunter seat side the Knights produced two individual Nationals winners as well as 1994 Cacchoine Cup winner Daniel Geitner.

One of the 24 riders entered in the Cacchione Cup was Alston, who had the top flat phase score of '90' and the fourth-best over fences score with an '85.' This put Alston in the lead 175-171 lead on Emory & Henry's Emma Pell, who had earned the top over fences phase score of '87.' Also in the work-off were Emma Sameth of the University of the South (fifth place), Mary Roskins of Miami University of Ohio (fourth) and Isabella Karr of the University of Vermont, who was the second Zone 1 rider in two season to place third (2024 University of Rhode Island graduate Emma Eaton - Ayres claimed the yellow ribbon 12 months ago). After testing on the morning of May 4th Alston would prove to be the champion while Pell, who previously competed for Penn State University before transfering to a school in her native Virginia prior to the 2023-24 season, remained in the runner-up spot. From New Albany, Ohio Alston became the third SCAD rider to win the Cacchione following Kels Bonham (in 2012) and Adam Edgar (in 2019).

More Purdue: While Steinmetz coached the Boilermakers from day one until his 2022 retirement Kathryn Kraft is in her third year as Purdue's second-ever head coach. A 2021 graduate of St. Mary of the Woods College (where she showed in one of four IHSA regions that held official shows during the 2020-21 season and was even a shooting guard on their Basketball team her freshman year) it appears Kraft became the youngest head coach ever to win an IHSA hunter seat National Championship. From what we have been able to find out Kraft at 26 years of age is one year younger than Lori Cramer, who at age 27 coached the University of Findlay to a hunter seat National Title in 2001.

Kraft explained that the Purdue team trains out of Camp Tecumseh, a YMCA camp in Brookston, Indiana 25 minutes north of campus. During the school year the Purdue team has the camp all to themselves, which in Kraft's words has "...an indoor, large outdoor, lots of turnout, and grass/cross country fields to ride in." Also in contrast to some of the programs they competed against over the weekend the Boilermakers have to be creative to afford much of what goes on from September to May. "A high majority of expenses are paid out-of-pocket," says Kraft. "We do have some financial support through Purdue University's Animal Science Department that is allocated to horse care and use. We also receive a small amount of funding through our Club Sports status." Kraft said fundraisers such as Mock Horse Shows for the team along with Corporate Sponsor Partnerships have also been of help. Their association with Camp Tecumseh will come to an end after the 2025-26 season and they will be looking for a new barn in the Lafayette, Indiana area. Kraft also stated that "Purdue is in the initial planning phase to build an equine facility."

Eight days after winning it all Kraft made a post on her Facebook page about the experience, which beyond her hope of being within the top five included the following: "For me, a championship was not even conceptualized...I am a goal setter. But I am not unrealistic. This organization is FULL of the country's most talented and most educated coaches and riders and I continue to tip my hat to them, hoping to someday be in the same conversation. There are years of tradition, expertise and success that consumes this organization and I never imagined being part of that conversation - let alone being the coach of a National Championship team - especially in my third year of coaching, at 26 years old. To even consider myself in the same league felt, frankly, incomprehensible.

I am so thankful for the mentors I have. For the riders that have trusted me, and for everyone who has put energy into this team. Each of these kids is incredible in their own way, and I hope they feel my love and admiration for them every single day." Kraft concluded the post by saying, "...I promise to continue leading this team with the same love, grit, gratitude and hard work that has brought us here. There are no limits to what we can achieve. I can't wait to keep building upon one of the strongest programs in the country. Believe me now when I say, HOP ON BOARD! THE TRAIN IS MOVING! Boiler Up!"

No longer trying it on: According to a text from the recently-retired SCAD Director of Riding Eddie Federwisch, IHSA Nationals will be held at Tryon International Equestrian Center through 2029. When Nationals are held there in the Spring of 2026 it will mark the first time in IHSA history that Nationals have been held in the save venue three seasons in a row. There have been five previous occasions (not counting 2024 and 2025 at Tryon) where the IHSA hosted Nationals at the same site two seasons in a row but not three. With the latest agreement (an extention of the original three-year agreement) it appears Tryon will be the place for at least six consecutive Nationals events. If you are not yet familiar with such North Carolina communities as Hendersonville, Forest City, Ashville or even Mill Spring where Tryon is located hopefully a qualifying ride at an IHSA Nationals event is in your future and you will experience all that this region of the Tarheel state has to offer.

--Steve Maxwell

The 2025 IHSA Nationals Class-by-Class Results, held at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina May 2nd through 4th. The Hunter Seat Judges were Michael Tokaruk and Joyce Przebowski while the Western Judges were Tammy Braham and Rhonda Replogle.

Friday, May 2nd:

Individual Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Alexander Alston, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Rafi Wolf, Stanford University. 3. Amy Lewis, Virginia Tech. 4. Willow Vince, Amherst College. 5. Carolyn Mancini, Centenary University. 6. Isabella Karr, University of Vermont. 7. Jaden Perry, St. Mary of the Woods College. 8. Ellie Kurtz, University of Southern California. 9. Phoebe Martin, Albion College. 10. Jessie Claire Goodwin, Washington University in St. Louis.

Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Natalia Onisko, University of Delaware. 2. Kathleen Francione, University of New Hampshire. 3. Lexie Kern, Savannah College of Art & Design. 4. Ava Harry, Emory & Henry University. 5. Sadie Nesbitt, Skidmore College. 6. Aislinn Bermingham, Centenary University. 7. McKenzie Morgan, Duke University. 8. Sophie Schneider, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. 9. Emma Robins, University of Washington. 10. Morgan Seibert, Stanford University.

Individual Limit Equitation Over Fences: 1. Charlotte Lyon, Skidmore College. 2. Sydney Fish, Michigan State University. 3. Karma Redman, Savannah College of Art & Design. 4. Alexandra Ronningan, Louisiana State University. 5. Madison Couperthwait, Emory & Henry University. 6. Karlie Dennis, Seton Hill University. 7. Kevin Beall, Butler University. 8. Reese Dorsey, Midway University. 9. Alana Thalheimer, Sonoma State University. 10. Anna Birney, University of Delaware.

Individual Intermediate Equitation On The Flat: 1. Hope Gillaspie, St. Mary of the Woods College. 2. Nicole Imbeault, University of Georgia. 3. Ellie White, Ohio State University. 4. Emily Richardson, University of Rhode Island. 5. Abigail Shelchuk, Purdue University. 6. Claire Shioutakon, United States Military Academy. 7. Anna Szefc, Virginia Tech. 8. Lily Farley, University of California at Los Angeles. 9. Samantha Pierce, Lake Erie College. 10. Ava Harry, Emory & Henry University.

Individual Limit Equitation On The Flat: 1. Reese Dorsey, Midway University. 2. Grace Allen, Delaware Valley University. 3. Morgan Seibert, Stanford University. 4. Charlotte Lyon, Skidmore College. 5. Jianna Simcik, Cornell University. 6. Victoria Varella, Centenary University. 7. Emma Lowe, Indiana University. 8. Emma Gurley, Emory & Henry University. 9. Ella Luhn, Savannah College of Art & Design. 10. Maddy Falkowitz, Savannah College of Art & Design.

Individual Open Equitation On The Flat: 1. Alexander Alston, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Anna Huard, Albion College. 3. Cora Floyd, Hollins University. 4. Rafi Wolf, Stanford University. 5. Harper Sanford, Skidmore College. 6. Sofie Olson, Miami University of Ohio. 7. Celia Cram, Savannah College of Art & Design. 8. Caroline Mancini, Centenary University. 9. Madison Clayton, Christopher Newport University. 10. Madeline Ahern, Stonehill College.

Individual Novice Equitation: 1. Elizabeth Bechtold, Randolph - Macon College. 2. Ella Muschlitz, College of Charleston. 3. Natalie Nawa, Otterbein University. 4. Claire Healy, University of Colorado at Boulder. 5. Emily Glascock, Oregon State University. 6. Laura Puente, Centenary University. 7. Sunny Liu, Cornell University. 8. Reece O'Keefe, University of Central Florida. 9. Alexandria Woestman, West Texas A & M University. 10. Julie Anne Lynskey, University of Maryland (College Park).

Team Limit Equitation On The Flat: 1. Peter Cavagnac, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Kathryn Smith, Mount Holyoke College. 3. Jessica McElhaney, University of Lynchburg. 4. Isabella Ruisi, Sacred Heart University. 5. Haylie Johnson, Purdue University. 6. Natalie Nawa, Otterbein University. 7. Maggie Mitchell, Delaware Valley University. 8. Macy Longest, Berry College. 9. Ryan Elferink, Northeastern University. 10. Sophia Hasse Cox, Stanford University.

Individual Ranch Riding: 1. Savannah Lindsey, North Carolina State University. 2. Kyley Pelfrey, St. Mary of the Woods College. 3. Sophie Karney, Missouri State University. 4. Mitchell Ullom, Oklahoma Panhandle State University. 5. Sarah Costa, College of the Sequoias. 6. Hannah Strong, North Dakota State University. 7. Natalie Totten, Penn State University (State College). 8. Alice Dann, Alfred University. 9. Riley Pirkle, North Central Texas College. 10. Sophia Cheslock, Oregon State University.

Individual Open Western Horsemanship: 1. Calen Braden, Black Hawk College. 2. Chase Summerville, St. Andrews University. 3. Carli Kerns, Albion College. 4. Makenna Noon, Miami University of Ohio. 5. Helene Keiser, West Texas A & M University. 6. Lili Evans, Mount Holyoke College. 7. Maegan Pearson, Wilmington College. 8. Kyley Pelfrey, St. Mary of the Woods College. 9. Lexie LaLone, Ferris State University. 10. Hailey Hanson, University of Minnesota at Crookston.

Team Level 1 Western Horsemanship: 1. Alice Kaufman, Delaware Valley University. 2. Christina Francis, Black Hawk College. 3. Maggie Farley, University of Findlay. 4. Regan Black, Middle Tennessee State University. 5. Stacey Geissler, Midway University. 6. Stellamia Aerts, Albion College. 7. Kinsey Hall, St. Mary of the Woods College. 8. Lily Cannon, Colby Community College. 9. Mackenzie Lawrence, State University of New York at Oswego. 10. Savannah Hutto, St. Andrews University.

Team Level II Western Horsemanship: 1. James Shrock, University of Findlay. 2. Ainslie Schlagel, Albion College. 3. Simone Allen, Middle Tennessee State University. 4. Gabrielle Olson, Black Hawk College. 5. Alicia Smoot, Delaware Valley University. 6. Ella Blunt, State University of New York at Oswego. 7. Luke Rogers, St. Andrews University. 8. Kairi Quinn, Colby Community College. 9. Paige Kopiec, Wilmington College. 10. Kaylee Klein, Midway University.

Individual Beginner Western Horsemanship: 1. Dylan Allison, University of Findlay. 2. Brenda Yocom, College of the Sequoias. 3. Monica Braunwalder, Middle Tennessee State University. 4. Abby Cash, Black Hawk College. 5. Brooke Horton, Texas Tech University. 6. Morgan TerBush, Saginaw Valley State University. 7. Aubryn Kaine, Mount Holyoke College. 8. Kylie Beilke, University of Wisconsin at River Falls. 9. Trista Brown, Clemson University. 10. Jamie Batey, Penn State University (State College).

Team Open Reining: 1. Chase Summerville, St. Andrews University 2. Kenlee West, Middle Tennessee State University. 3. Ryan Stiles, State University of New York at Oswego. 4. Calen Braden, Black Hawk College. 5. Amelia Lee, Midway University. 6. Hope Gillaspie, St. Mary of the Woods College. 7. Brooke Wolfinger, Delaware Valley University. 8. Maegan Pearson, Wilmington College. 9. Sydney Black, West Texas A & M University. 10. Sidney Hawk, University of Findlay.

With all the ribbons one can barely tell the team banner belongs to Black Hawk College. This photo was taken after the Black Hawks (their nickname, honest) were awarded high point Western team honors at 2025 Nationals. Head coach Bekah Irish (third on right, holding trophy) was herself a rider for Black Hawk as well as riding for the University of Findlay her junior and senior years. Irish now has two titles as head coach, not an easy accomplishment for anyone let alone someone trying to accomplish this at a two-year school. Former Ohio State University co-head coach Ollie Griffith (on far right) presented the majority of Western awards over the weekend though IHSA founder and director emeritus Bob Cacchione (second on left) - who presented most of the awards in the hunter seat ring - is on hand for this Western presentation as well.

Saturday, May 3rd:

Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Emma Gurley, Emory & Henry College. 2. Olivia Wilson, Miami University of Ohio. 3. Isa Jensen, Skidmore College. 4. Nicolas LaPlante, Purdue University. 5. Alexandria Russell, University of Lynchburg. 6. Molly Sowa, Centenary University. 7. Alexander Miller, Savannah College of Art & Design. 8. Carly Bitler, Mount Holyoke College. 9. Kayla DeStephanis, Sacred Heart University. 10. Wynston Huckaby, Northeastern University.

Team Limit Equitation Over Fences: 1. Taylor Ernst, Centenary University. 2. Ava Jackson, University of Lynchburg. 3. Madelyn Whitley, Emory & Henry University. 4. Emi Graf, Mount Holyoke College. 5. Sophia Poling, Sacred Heart University. 6. Ani McIntyre, Skidmore College. 7. Fiona Barnett - Cross, Otterbein University. 8. Rebecca Rodriguez - Soto, Stanford University. 9. Isabella Lee, University of Southern California. 10. Jerzie Lerch, University of Wisconsin at River Falls.

Individual Introductory Equitation: 1. Bevin Dean, Skidmore College. 2. Ciarra Launzinger, Centenary University. 3. Grace Fowler, University of Central Florida. 4. Allison Miller, Purdue University. 5. Joanna Davis, Molloy University. 6. Alexis Carpenter, Tarleton State University. 7. Toril Morse, Northeastern University. 8. Cameron Fox, Sweet Briar College. 9. Nalleli Rollf, Colby Community College. 10. Abby McGuire, Ferrum College.

Team Introductory Equitation: 1. Kelsey Olivadoti, Purdue University. 2. Megan Majkut, Sacred Heart University. 3. Fiona Bukhman, Centenary University. 4. Alysse Quin, University of Southern California. 5. Dylan Hakim, Northeastern University. 6. Madison Heitman, Delaware Valley University. 7. Nila Rothman, Skidmore College. 8. Ambrose Tisdel, Emory & Henry University. 9. Laura Rovira Compta, Stanford University. 10. Kameron Riggs, Savannah College of Art & Design.

Team Novice Equitation: 1. Cara Sowa, Stanford University. 2. Maya Samlan, Otterbein University. 3. Stella Allen, Skidmore College. 4. Elsa Heacock, Delaware Valley University. 5. Samantha Oakes, Centenary University. 6. Elizabeth Huggins, Mount Holyoke College. 7. Hudson Gauthier, University of Southern California. 8. Carly Akins, Miami University of Ohio. 9. Clair Humphreys, University of Lynchburg. 10. Madison Poulin, Savannah College of Art & Design.

Team Ranch Riding: 1. Lily Roman, St. Andrews University. 2. Kayla Lawson, Midway University. 3. Gabrielle Olson, Black Hawk College. 4. Cassidy Fritz, University of Findlay. 5. Ella Blunt, State University of New York at Oswego. 6. Jenna Smith, Albion College. 7. Kairi Quinn, Colby Community College. 8. Olivia Chase, Wilmington College. 9. Carmen Creech, St. Mary of the Woods College. 10. Simone Allen, Middle Tennessee State University.

Team Beginner Western Horsemanship: 1. Shelby Ford, Middle Tennessee State University. 2. Rose Stanton, Albion College. 3. Emily Watts, Midway University. 4. Alessandra Rivers, Black Hawk College. 5. Emma Weinberg, University of Findlay. 6. Savannah Pressley, St. Andrews University. 7. Ashley Haraway, St. Mary of the Woods College. 8. Elizabeth Wright, Colby Community College. 9. Cassidy Ball, State University of New York at Oswego. 10. Kara Bishop, Delaware Valley University.

Individual Level 1 Western Horsemanship: 1. John Price, University of Findlay. 2. Luke Rogers, St. Andrews University. 3. Mia Polozola, Rocky Mountain College. 4. Paige Kopiec, Wilmington College. 5. London Gall, University of Oregon. 6. Kyla Walsh, Murray State University. 7. Baeya Kardokus, Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo. 8. Cady Ninnemann, University of Wisconsin at River Falls. 9. Ella Blunt, State University of New York at Oswego. 10. Taylor Rolan, New Mexico State University.

Individual Rookie Western Horsemanship: 1. Katelyn Clemens, Black Hawk College. 2. Alexis Caneff, University of Findlay. 3. Faith Fraker, Middle Tennessee State University. 4. Clio Halpern, Mount Holyoke College. 5. Grace Gerberry, St. Andrews University. 6. Katerin Getty, Midway University. 7. Courtney Hamrick, St. Mary of the Woods College. 8. Skyler Dunn, North Carolina State University. 9. Sofia Reisinger, Missouri State University. 10. Mackenzie Andrews, University of Findlay.

Individual Open Reining: 1. Hayley Mertz, University of Findlay. 2. Calen Braden, Black Hawk College. 3. Chase Summerville, St. Andrews University. 4. Brooke Wolfinger, Delaware Valley University. 5. Eva Johnson, Oklahoma Panhandle State University. 6. Haley Maro, North Dakota State University. 7. Anna Landing, Purdue University. 8. Kenlee West, Middle Tennessee State University. 9. Sidney Hawk, University of Findlay. 10. Ryan Stiles, State University of New York at Oswego.

Sunday, May 4th:

Team Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Celia Cram, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Caroline Mancini, Centenary University. 3. Fallyn Belcastro, University of Lynchburg. 4. Kenya Sanders, Skidmore College. 5. Mary Roskins, Miami University of Ohio. 6. Kylie Hwalek, Sacred Heart University. 7. Ellie Kurtz, University of Southern California. 8. Evan Holt, Delaware Valley University. 9. Meaghan Kursman, Berry College. 10. Emma Linton, Otterbein University.

Cacchione Cup Competition: 1. Alexander Alston, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Emma Pell, Emory & Henry College. 3. Isabella Karr, University of Vermont. 4. Mary Roskens, Miami University of Ohio. 5. Emma Sameth, University of the South. 6. Willow Vince, Amherst College. 7. Delani Franklin, Lake Erie College. 8. Harper Eskey, St. Lawrence University. 9. Ellie Kurtz, University of Southern California. 10. Anna Cahill, Purdue University.

Team Intermediate Equitation On The Flat: 1. Abby Talcott, Purdue University. 2. Grace Allen, Delaware Valley University. 3. Erin Phillips, Sacred Heart University. 4. Isa Jensen, Skidmore College. 5. Talise Baker - Matsuoka, University of Southern California. 6. Kamryn Auguste, Northeastern University. 7. Emma Gurley, Emory & Henry University. 8. Clara D'Amico, Miami University of Ohio. 9. Alexandria Russell, University of Lynchburg. 10. Corinne Hause, Otterbein University.

Team Open Equitation On The Flat: 1. Alexander Alston, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Philine Weisbeek, Northeastern University. 3. Rafi Wolf, Stanford University. 4. Anna Cahill, Purdue University. 5. Kylie Hwalek, Sacred Heart University. 6. Emma Pell, Emory & Henry University. 7. Lili Evans, Mount Holyoke College. 8. Evan Holt, Delaware Valley University. 9. Emma Linton, Otterbein University. 10. Lucy Metzler, University of Lynchburg.

Head coach Kraft (on far left) holds the trophy as the Purdue team poses for photos after winning the 2025 IHSA Nationals hunter seat team competition. Centenary University co-coach Michael Dowling said afterwards that when riders were being called into the middle during the final team class he thought that "(Purdue is) probably going to win this thing!" According to former Purdue head coach Jerry Steinmetz (who was judging a non-IHSA show the same day when he received word that Purdue won) the Nationals scoring system he invented did not change the outcome for the Boilermakers as the regular season scoring system would still have put Purdue on top.

Individual Level II Western Horsemanship: 1. Alana Utlak, Midway University. 2. Tate Gill, Midway University. 3. Carly Studt, Rutgers University. 4. Isabella O'Daniel, Bowling Green State University. 5. Peyton Podmolik, Black Hawk College. 6. Kaitlyn Evans, West Texas A & M University. 7. Amelia Otten, Albion College. 8. Gopher Warwick, Adrian College. 9. Lily Roman, St. Andrews University. 10. Madison McCuen, Ohio State University.

Team Rookie Western Horsemanship: 1. Alyssa Davis, Middle Tennessee State University. 2. Starr Benton, St. Andrews University. 3. Alyssa McPhersen, Albion College. 4. Hannah Mullins, Midway University. 5. Olivia Schenning, Black Hawk College. 6. Tessa SanFelippo, University of Findlay. 7. Isabella Monnett, St. Mary of the Woods College. 8. Mia Rieder, Wilmington College. 9. Ashlynn Albaugh, West Texas A & M University. 10. Nalleli Rollf, Colby Community College.

Team Open Western Horsemanship: 1. Calen Braden, Black Hawk College. 2. Helene Keiser, West Texas A & M University. 3. Lily Roman, St. Andrews University. 4. Faith Borbonus, University of Findlay. 5. Ryan Stiles, State University of New York at Oswego. 6. Brooke Wolfinger, Delaware Valley University. 7. Kyley Pelfrey, St. Mary of the Woods University. 8. Marci Leath, Middle Tennessee State University. 9. Maegan Pearson, Wilmington College. 10. Carli Kerns, Albion College.

Individual AQHA High Point Open Rider Competition: 1. Chase Summerville, St. Andrews University. 2. Calen Braden, Black Hawk College. 3. Faith Borbonus, University of Findlay. 4. Hope Gillaspie, St. Mary of the Woods University. 5. Helene Keiser, West Texas A & M University. 6. Camryn Johnson, Mississippi State University. 7. Jenna Tyson, Morrisville State College. 8. Maegan Pearson, Wilmington College. 9. Madison Wojcek, University of Minnesota at Crookston. 10. Kaitlyn Praisler, Morehead State University.

2025 IHSA Nationals Hunter Seat Team Totals: