In this century the Miami University of Ohio Western Team has won region titles four times, in 2006, 2007, 2019 and 2026. Prior to 2026 only the 2006 Red Hawks made it through the playoffs to field a full western team at IHSA Nationals (we say playoffs since Miami was second at 2006 Zones by only one point to the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes; Semifinals did not come into existence until 2007). But this season the Red Hawks were fourth at the Murray, Kentucky Semifinal to send a full team to Nationals on the 20th anniversary of their last visit. In 2006 Miami scored five points. Makenna Noon (pictured), a sophomore from Sarasota, Florida scored five points all by herself at 2026 Nationals with a fifth in team open horsemanship on May 3rd. The Red Hawks already had 18.5 points (and Noon had already earned a seventh in individual open reining) with Noon's ribbon raising the total to 23.5 and eighth place overall. Miami truly earned their way to Nationals, as Area 6.3 also contains Midway University (who had their streak of five consecutive western region titles snapped) and Wilmington College (who last season won a region title as a member of Zone 2). Just getting to Semifinals is akin to climbing a mountain in this geographic area!