Campus Equestrian: Zone 6, Region 1 Home Page

IHSA ZONE 6 - REGION 1

One thing you can count on with the University of Findlay western team is that a few Oiler riders will find themselves competing at multiple IHSA Nationals events over the course of four years in college. One example is Hayley Mertz (pictured) who won the individual open reining class at 2026 IHSA Nationals in Mill Spring, North Carolina on May 2nd. Mertz was entered in the exact saem class at 2025 Nationals - and she won! The senior coincidentally from Findlay, Ohio is seen here with her spoils from the '26 reining win. Since the photo is only so big it should be noted that the bag on the right is not a carrying case for the trophy, but rather a Yeti product with the AQHA logo on it. But come to think of it the trophy might fit!

Victoria Panasiuk of Albion College (pictured) was second in individual intermediate over fences at Zone 6 Zones on March 28th to qualify for 2026 IHSA Nationals. But when May 1st arrived in Mill Spring Panasiuk was one of two riders tested in the division. After having had the second-best combined Judge's score of '84' prior to the test the senior from Barrington, Illinois who graduates in December emerged as the National Champion individual intermediate fences rider! Panasiuk is seen here in the area between the English ring (which would be on the left) and the Western ring (which would be on the right) within the Tryon International Equestrian Center indoor with the blue ribbon.

Can you name the active IHSA Western Head Coaches who have coached a team to National Championship Team Honors? They are Margaret Knight Ellington at Berry College, Dawn Ross at Oregon State University, Bekah Irish at Black Hawk College, Ariel Herrin Higgins at Middle Tennessee State University, Lori Jaixen at West Texas A & M University and Spencer Zimmerman (on left) at the University of Findlay. Zimmerman, who guided his alma mater to Western Team Championships in 2018 and 2019, is seen here with Tianna Cooper. From Grover Hill, Ohio, Cooper has something in common with Panasiuk in that both are class of '26 but are back for at least one more semester. The Zone 6, Region 1 (or Area 6.1) leading western open rider, Cooper put five of the Oiler's 48 points on the scoreboard with a fifth in team open reining on May 1st.

Seen here with her Mother and an unidentified horse, Sophie Miller of Lake Erie College is holding a red ribbon. And how did Miller receive that ribbon? By placing second at 2026 IHSA Nationals in the individual intermediate on the flat that's how! From Columbus, Ohio, Miller was the rider who won the individual intermediate over fences at Zone 6 Zones in Plymouth, Michigan on March 28th. Miller was second in the individual intermediate on the flat at Zones which she repeated on May 1st to close out her junior year.

From Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, John Price of the University of Findlay (on right, with coach Zimmerman) rode twice on May 1st at 2026 IHSA Nationals. Price started the day with a tenth in individual open reining and followed it up with a third in team level II western horsemanship in what was his final undergraduate ride. Price is another Oiler who rode at a previous IHSA Nationals, having won the individual level I western class one year ago. Findlay was the 2026 Reserve National Champion Western Team, trailing only West Texas A & M University while finishing ahead of the previous two IHSA champion western teams, Black Hawk College (third) and Middle Tennessee State University (fifth).

Lake Erie College sent three riders to 2026 IHSA Nationals (in four classes). Sahara Hinton (not pictured) won the introductory equitation class at Zones while Jensen Farrow (on left) won individual limit over fences on March 28th. Seen here with coach (and former Virginia Intermont College rider) Allie Pelz prior to horse draw at Nationals on May 1st, Farrow received a combined Judge's score of "78." From Chardon, Ohio, Farrow closed out her senior year with a ninth in the individual limit fences at the annual Nationals event.

If you read the cards Lauren Nielsen of the University of Findlay is holding you will see that the senior from Highlands Ranch, Colorado was destined to draw a horse named "Rupert" on the flat and "Cory" over fences when the Oilers hosted on October 26th. Nielsen knew a thing or two about Cory since Cory is her own horse! Nielsen won both of her intermediate classes on October 26th to earn high point rider honors. And the day before Nielsen qualfied for Regionals in limit flat.

The University of Findlay hosted the first two Region 1 shows of the 2025-26 season but it was Lake Erie College that received high point team honors each day. Storm first year head coach Allie Pelz (on right) is seen here with open rider Samantha Pierce, who won twice on October 25th and finished the weekend in first place in the Region 1 hunter seat open rider standings. A senior from Arvada, Colorado, Pierce was high point rider on the 25th. This meant that riders whose hometowns are in the state of Colorado took home both high point rider ribbons that weekend!

From Toledo, Ohio, Lucia Scouten of Albion College (pictured) told us on October 26th she was optimistic that she would point out of limit flat this season. And later that day Scouten won her limit flat class! Albion was technically reserve high point team each day at Findlay and might have won one of the two shows Lake Erie hosted on November 8th and 9th.

The University of Toledo emerged from the first weekend of showing in fourth place. Makenna Lenhardt (pictured), a Toledo senior from Haskins, Ohio, was second in limit flat on October 26th. Lenhardt told us she was halfway to pointing out.

Due to an editing error on our part the University of Akron team points were missing from our Region 1 team standings page for a large chuck of the season. So we appologize to head coach Alyssa Huffman (on left), limit rider Katelyn Messina (on right) and the rest of the Rockets team for that. A sophomore from Green, Ohio, Messina qualified for Regionals in novice equitation at the October 25th Findlay show.

If anyone other than Pierce or Nielsen had a spectacular opening weekend it would have to be Megan McGuigan of Kent State University (pictured). A freshman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, McGuigan was a winner both days in the pre-novice division. Another blue (or even a yellow ribbon) and McGuigan would be facing the novice equitation riders without the "pre" prefix!

Seen here with head coach Aubrey Fait, Lilly Fahey of Case Western Reserve University (on left) was third in limit fences on October 26th. The freshman from Memphis, Tennessee should be pleased as both sections of limit fences were made up of ten riders. In fact most of the 14 classes held that day were made up of at least eight riders, with up to eleven on occasion.

"Morty" (center) is an internet sensation, be it Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TickTok (or at least one of them). Morty IS the University of Findlay hunter seat equestrian team! And on October 26th Oilers head coach Brittany Friesner (on right) and blue ribbon-winner Elizabeth Schalick got to pose with the legendary mascot. From Cape May, New Jersey, Schalick was first in intermediate fences. Schalick was a December 2025 graduate which is why the photo is being used at this time (and to show that Morty was on hand).

Albion College finished the 2025-26 season as the reserve champion team within Region 1 hunter seat. The Britons had the top open rider in Phoebe Martin (on left). The senior from Algonquin, Illinois finished six points ahead of Pierce. Albion teammate Anna Huard (on right) finished fifth in the Region 1 hunter seat open rider standings.

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The Zone 6, Region 1 Smorgasbord

Schools which competed in Zone 6, Region 1 during the 2025-2026 school year: Albion College, Bowling Green State University, Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, Lake Erie College, Thiel College, University of Akron, University of Findlay and University of Toledo.

Fall 2026 Show Schedule for Zone 6, Region 1

Saturday, September 19 University of Findlay (Host) at the University of Findlay Equine Animal Science Center, Findlay, OH Time TBA 2 WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, October 17 Albion College (Host) at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center, Albion, MI Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, October 24 University of Findlay (Host) at the James L. Child Jr. Equestrian Center (on the East Campus), Findlay, OH Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, October 25 University of Findlay (Host) at the James L. Child Jr. Equestrian Center (on the East Campus), Findlay, OH Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, November 7 Lake Erie College (Host) at Lake Erie College George M. Humphrey Equestrian Center, Concord, OH Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, November 8 Lake Erie College (Host) at Lake Erie College George M. Humphrey Equestrian Center, Concord, OH Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, November 21 University of Findlay (Host) at the University of Findlay Equine Animal Science Center, Findlay, OH Time TBA 2 WESTERN ONLY

Sunday, November 22 University of Findlay (Host) at the University of Findlay Equine Animal Science Center, Findlay, OH Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, December 5 University of Findlay (Host) at the University of Findlay Equine Animal Science Center, Findlay, OH Time TBA 2 WESTERN ONLY

Albion College shows Western in Zone 6, Region 4. Show Schedule subject to change.

Recent Zone 6, Region 1 Team Champions (NOTE: Several schools from Zone 6, Region 3 were moved into Zone 6, Region 1 before the start of the 2010-11 season. Also several schools were moved from Zone 6, Region 1 into Zone 6, Region 2 before the start of the 2010-11 season. Please visit the Zone 6, Region 2 and Zone 6, Region 3 pages for other previous Region Champions)

Hunter Seat:

1997 - Miami University of Ohio
1998 - Miami University of Ohio
1999 - Miami University of Ohio
2000 - Miami University of Ohio
2001 - Miami University of Ohio
2002 - Ohio University (2001-02
IHSA Hunter Seat National Champions)
2003 - Ohio University
2004 - Ohio University
2005 - Ohio State University
2006 - Ohio State University
2007 - Ohio University
2008 - Ohio University
2009 - Ohio University
2010 - Ohio University
2011 - University of Findlay
2012 - University of Findlay
2013 - University of Findlay
2014 - University of Findlay
2015 - University of Findlay
2016 - University of Findlay
2017 - University of Findlay
2018 - University of Findlay
2019 - University of Findlay
2020 - Lake Erie College
2022 - University of Findlay
2023 - University of Findlay
2024 - University of Findlay
2025 - University of Findlay
2026 - University of Findlay

Western:

1997 - Ohio State University (1996-97
IHSA Western National Champions)
1998 - Ohio State University
1999 - Ohio State University (1998-99
IHSA Western National Champions)
2000 - Ohio State University
2001 - Ohio State University
2002 - Ohio State University (2001-02
IHSA Western National Co-Champions)
2003 - Ohio State University
2004 - Ohio State University
2005 - Ohio State University
2006 - Ohio State University (2005-06
IHSA Western National Champions)
2007 - Ohio State University
2008 - Ohio State University (2007-08
IHSA Western National Champions)
2009 - Ohio State University
2010 - Ohio State University
2011 - University of Findlay
2012 - University of Findlay
2013 - University of Findlay
2014 - University of Findlay
2015 - University of Findlay
2016 - University of Findlay
2017 - University of Findlay
2018 - University of Findlay (2017-18
IHSA Western National Champions)
2019 - University of Findlay (2018-19
IHSA Western National Champions)
2020 - University of Findlay
2022 - University of Findlay
2023 - University of Findlay
2024 - University of Findlay
2025 - University of Findlay
2026 - University of Findlay

Regional Qualifiers

Open Level Rider Standings

Team Standings

ZONE 6 NEIGHBORS

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Region 3 Homepage

Region 4 Homepage