WESTERN SEMIFINALS RESULTS MARCH 23RD AND 24TH IN FINDLAY, OH

Here are the Class-by-Class Results, in the order in which they were held, from 2026 IHSA Western Semifinals held at the James L. Child Jr. Equestrian Center on the East Campus of the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio. The Judges were Brad Keams, Dallas, Texas and Alex Bryner, Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania.

Riders who placed first through fourth in individual classes at IHSA Western Semifinals advanced to IHSA Nationals in Tryon, North Carolina May 1st through 3rd. The top four teams at Western Semifinals also advanced to IHSA Nationals. And the top five riders in the Individual High Point Open Rider Competition also qualified for IHSA Nationals.

Individual Open Reining: 1. Hayley Mertz, University of Findlay. 2. Lili Evans, Mount Holyoke College. 3. Julie Warnick, Wilson College. 4. Samantha Smit, Alfred University. 5. Hannah Ellinger, Bowling Green State University. 6. Kathryn Smith, Mount Holyoke College. 7. Ciera Wolff, Cornell University. 8. Ella Rosloniec, Penn State University (State College).

Team Ranch Riding: 1. Elizabeth Ellis, Black Hawk College. 2. Cassidy Fritz, University of Findlay. 3. Keira Hanschman, Alfred University. 4. Blu Bailey Langford, University of Florida. 5. Lucy Farmer, Cornell University. 6. Brianna Clayton, Penn State University (State College). 7. Clay Halpern, Mount Holyoke College.

Individual Rookie Western Horsemanship: 1. Madison Becker, Penn State University (State College). 2. Tessa SanFelippo, University of Findlay. 3. Fernando Cabral Gutierrez, Black Hawk College. 4. Baylee Runyon, Black Hawk College. 5. Arianthe Mastakouris, University of Connecticut. 6. Catherine Wroge, University of Connecticut. 7. Madelina Casanova, Alfred State University. 8. Nadiya Champigny University of Findlay.

Individual Level II Western Horsemanship: 1. Gabrielle Olson, Black Hawk College. 2. Grace Heintschel, University of Findlay. 3. Addison Schiesser, University of Findlay. 4. Lucinda Naples, Penn State University (State College). 5. Lyndsey Hoskinson, West Virginia University. 6. Jacob VanDyke, Black Hawk College. 7. Shannon Caponigro, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. 8. Brooke Boyko, Alfred University.

Team Level II Western Horsemanship: 1. Elizabeth Ellis, Black Hawk College. 2. John Price, University of Findlay. 3. Nina Stevenson, Penn State University (State College). 4. Clay Halpern, Mount Holyoke College. 5. Emily Peluso, Alfred University. 6. Kendall Umberger, University of Florida. 7. Molly Mazza, Cornell University.

Team Rookie Western Horsemanship: 1. Savannah Bishop, University of Findlay. 2. Emily Yeager, Black Hawk College. 3. Jade Waddell, Cornell University. 4. Mitsuki Ito, Mount Holyoke College. 5. Sofiya Idiyatullina, University of Florida. 6. Erin Auclair, Alfred University. 7. Hannah Rybak, Penn State University (State College).

Team Beginner Western Horsemanship: 1. Emma Weinberg, University of Findlay. 2. Brooke Gochnour, Penn State University (State College). 3. Aryanne Encarnacion - Cox, Black Hawk College. 4. Elliot, Hendrix, Cornell University. 5. Madison Smith, Alfred University. 6. Ashley Weiss, University of Florida. 7. Helen Sheeran, Mount Holyoke College.

Individual Open Western Horsemanship: 1. Lili Evans, Mount Holyoke College. 2. Cassidy Fritz, University of Findlay. 3. Marissa Bartholomew, Morrisville State College. 4. Alicia Smoot, Delaware Valley University. 5. Natalie Totten, Penn State University (State College). 6. Samantha Smit, Alfred University. 7. Ciera Wolff, Cornell University. 8. Sidney Hawk, University of Findlay.

(end day one)

Team Open Reining: 1. Tiana Cooper, University of Findlay. 2. Lili Evans, Mount Holyoke College. 3. Ella Rosloniec, Penn State University (State College). 4. Brooke Boyko, Alfred University. 5. Ciera Wolff, Cornell University. 6. Gabrielle Olson, Black Hawk College. 7. Maggie Nelson, University of Florida.

Team Level I Western Horsemanship: 1. Adrianna Weygandt, University of Findlay. 2. Katelyn Clemens, Black Hawk College. 3. Madison Becker, Penn State University (State College). 4. Maddie Bradley Burns, Mount Holyoke College. 5. Eliana Eats, Cornell University. 6. Adrianna Loper, University of Florida. 7. Lauren Mandel, Alfred University.

Individual Ranch Riding: 1. Jayci Halsema, Black Hawk College. 2. Gabrielle Olson, Black Hawk College. 3. John Price, University of Findlay. 4. Lauren Williams, Delaware Valley University. 5. Grace Heintschel, University of Findlay. 6. Lyndsey Hoskinson, West Virginia University. 7. Brennan Donnelly, Colgate University. 8. Hannah Anderson, Penn State University (State College). 9. Cecilia Wong, Rochester Institute of Technology. 10. Emma Bogue, University of Florida. 11. Carlie Griffin, University of Florida. 12. Lauren Farry, West Virginia University. 13. Shannon Caponigro, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Individual Level I Western Horsemanship: 1. Hannah Wasik, University of Findlay. 2. Talia Pierard, Black Hawk College. 3. Rachel Bardsley, Wilson College. 4. Julieann Christopher, West Virginia University. 5. Olivia Bourdeau, Delaware Valley University. 6. Kayla Brickus, University of Guelph. 7. Keira Hanschman, Alfred University. 8. Mikayla Tobey, University of Connecticut.

Team Open Western Horsemanship: 1. Hayley Mertz, University of Findlay. 2. Samantha Smit, Alfred University. 3. Natalie Totten, Penn State University (State College). 4. Gabrielle Olson, Black Hawk College. 5. Maggie Nelson, University of Florida. 6. Lili Evans, Mount Holyoke College. 7. Ciera Wolff, Cornell University.

Individual Beginner Western Horsemanship: 1. Alessandra Rivera, Black Hawk College. 2. Zoe Roeher, University of Findlay. 3. Connor Hitchcock, University of Findlay. 4. Emmanuel Bazile, Syracuse University. 5. Nicholas Waldron, Black Hawk College. 6. Diya Shah, University of Connecticut. 7. Hannah Rybak, Penn State University (State College). 8. Paige Stiger, Slippery Rock University.

Individual High Point Open Rider: 1. Tianna Cooper, University of Findlay. 2. Lili Evans, Mount Holyoke College. 3. Alicia Smoot, Delaware Valley University. 4. Samantha Smit, Alfred University. 5. Ciera Wolff, Cornell University. 6. Maggie Nelson, University of Florida. 7. Jayci Halsema, Black Hawk College.

Final Team Totals: University of Findlay (High Point Team) 45; Black Hawk College (Reserve) 32; Penn State University (State College) 22; Alfred University 17; Mount Holyoke College 15; Cornell University 13 and University of Florida 10.

(Special Thanks to Kathryn Smith for her help in gathering these results - Editor)