Campus Equestrian: Zone 6, Region 4

IHSA ZONE 6 - REGION 4

On January 22nd Lauren LaClair of Oakland University (pictured) won both of her open classes to pad her lead in the Region 4 open rider standings. With no one else getting two firsts the senior from Holly, Michigan took home high point rider honors. LaClair has played a big part in the Golden Grizzlies effort to stay close to region-leading Michigan State, scoring 67 open points to account for over a third of Oakland's team points through seven of Region 4's nine scheduled hunter seat shows.

The coach on the right deserves attention on a national level as one of her teams is striving for a sixth consecutive Region Title. She is Lauren Tucker, head coach of Michigan State University. In 2017 Tucker guided the Spartans to second place at Zone 6 Zones which remains the only time since Region 4 was formed in mid-2007 that this region sent a full hunter seat team to IHSA Nationals. On the left is Colette Bockrath, a Michigan State sophomore from Rochester, Michigan who qualified for Regionals in intermediate fences moments before this photo was taken on January 22nd. The Spartans lead the Golden Grizzlies by ten points headed into the final two regular season shows on February 4th and 5th.

The University of Michigan hosted the first two Region 4 shows of 2023 on January 21st and 22nd, and the Wolverines were high point team by a point over Oakland on the 21st. Michigan head coach Jennifer Blades (on right) has owned Willowbrooke Farm in Plymouth, Michigan for 17 years and has coached the Wolverines since the fall of 1997. On the left is Lydia Thomas, a University of Michigan senior from South Lyon, Michigan who is second in the Region 4 hunter seat open rider standings. Thomas and Blades are seen here in the 'holding ring' at Willowbrooke Farm, with the heated lounge in back of Thomas and the entrance to the main arena in back of Blades.

Western Michigan University is coached by the Father/Daughter tandem of Rob Stewart and Katie Siwicki, the latter of whom was an undergraduate with the Broncos less than a decade ago. Seen here with Siwicki is Avianna Jackson (on left), a senior from Corona, Michigan who is one of four Western Michigan riders qualified for Regionals through January 22nd. Jackson will compete at Regionals in novice equitation. The Broncos were high point team on January 22nd and find themselves only 15 points behind Michigan State headed into the February 4th/5th weekend.

From Birmingham, Michigan, Gillian Grubb (on right) was the only member of the Central Michigan University team to compete at the January 22nd University of Michigan show. And this writer would sware that Chippewas coach Leta Polzin (on left) was not as tall as Grubb during the Coaches' meeting earlier that day. A pre-novice rider, Grubb's best ribbon so far this season is a second earned during the November 19th Michigan State show.

From Centerburg, Ohio, Kyla Ozinga of Grand Valley State University is seen here in the spectator lounge at Willowbrooke Farm after winning the final class of the day on January 22nd, the only section of introductory equitation. Also coached by Lauren Tucker (not pictured) the Lakers were in first place through the first three shows of the season and sit 24 off the top spot through seven. It should be noted that Oakland led after one show, then the Lakers were ahead after the next two, and Michigan State has been ahead after shows four through seven in the always unpredictable Zone 6, Region 4.

Alyvia Zamora of Adrian College (on left, with hunter seat head coach Jody Prime) had a memorable weekend at Willowbrooke Farm. The senior from Tecumseh, Michigan qualified for Regionals in introductory equitation on January 21st and - having to canter in a show for the first time - won her debut in pre-novice on the 22nd. One of four Adrian riders qualified for Regionals, Zamora is so far the only Region 4 rider qualified in introductory. When Regionals takes place at Willowbrooke on February 25th the introductory class will take place even if Zamora is the only rider entered.

No rider from Wayne State University has ever appeared on Campus Equestrian, that is until now. Hyelin Shin (pictured) was one of three Warriors to compete at the January 22nd University of Michigan show. And Shin knew the area well, as she is junior from Plymouth, Michigan where the show was held. The only Wayne State rider to show twice that day, Shin earned a fourth in limit flat and a fifth in limit fences to account for all five of the points the Warriors earned that day.

And until now no Kalamazoo College rider had appeared on Campus Equestrian either. That changes thanks to Hornets senior Elizabeth Luhrs (on left) and freshman Cloe Johnson (on right). From Vicksburg, Michigan, Johnson earned her first IHSA points with a fifth in introductory equitation on January 21st. Luhrs, who refers to herself as a super-senior, is from Los Altos, California. Luhrs rides at the intermediate level (this photo was taken shortly before her over fences ride on January 22nd, which is why Johnson isn't yet dressed since she would compete 13 classes later) and is close to pointing out on the flat. Luhrs and Johnson were the only two Kalamazoo riders entered on the 22nd.

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The Zone 6, Region 4 Smorgasbord

Schools competing in Zone 6, Region 4 during the 2022-2023 school year: Adrian College, Central Michigan University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Hillsdale College, Kalamazoo College, Michigan State University, Oakland University, Saginaw Valley State University, University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Western Michigan University.

Winter/Spring 2023 Show Schedule for Zone 6, Region 4:

Saturday, January 21 University of Michigan (Host) at Willowbroke Farm, Plymouth, MI 10:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, January 22 University of Michigan (Host) at Willowbroke Farm, Plymouth, MI 10:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, January 29 Michigan State University (Host) on campus at the Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education, Lansing, MI 9:00AM 2 WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, February 4 Oakland University/Wayne State University (Co-Hosts) at Fox Pointe Equestrian Center, Ira Township, MI 10:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, February 5 Oakland University/Wayne State University (Co-Hosts) at Fox Pointe Equestrian Center, Ira Township, MI 10:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, February 25 Zone 6, Region 4 Hunter Seat Regionals at Willowbroke Farm, Plymouth, MI 10:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, March 4 Zone 6, Region 4 Western Regionals Hosted by Saginaw Valley State University at the Midland County Fairgrounds, Midland, MI 11:00AM WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, March 18 WESTERN SEMIFINALS - DAY 1 at the Grand Oaks Resort, Weirsdale, FL 9:00AM WESTERN ONLY

Sunday, March 19 WESTERN SEMIFINALS - DAY 2 at the Grand Oaks Resort, Weirsdale, FL 9:00AM WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, April 1 ZONE 6 ZONES at the Lake Erie College George M. Humphrey Equestrian Center, Concord, OH Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Thursday through Sunday, May 4 - 7 IHSA NATIONALS at Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, KY Time each day TBA ENGLISH AND WESTERN

Albion College, until this season a member of Zone 6, Region 4, remains in Region 4 for Western while showing hunter seat in Zone 6, Region 1. Show Schedule subject to change.

Recent Region 4 Team Champions (Region 4 formed from part of Zone 6, Region 3 prior to the 2007-08 season)

Hunter Seat:

2008 - University of Michigan
2009 - Michigan State University
2010 - Michigan State University
2011 - University of Michigan
2012 - Grand Valley State University
2013 - Albion College
2014 - Albion College
2015 - Western Michigan University
2016 - Western Michigan University
2017 - Michigan State University
2018 - Michigan State University
2019 - Michigan State University
2020 - Michigan State University
2022 - Michigan State University
2023 - Western Michigan University

Western:

2008 - Michigan State University
2009 - Michigan State University
2010 - Grand Valley State University
2011 - Grand Valley State University
2012 - Michigan State University
2013 - Grand Valley State University
2014 - Albion College
2015 - Grand Valley State University
2016 - Grand Valley State University
2017 - Grand Valley State University
2018 - Grand Valley State University
2019 - Albion College
2020 - Albion College
2022 - Albion College
2023 - Adrian College

Regional Qualifiers

Open Level Rider Standings

Alumni Standings

Team Standings

ZONE 6 NEIGHBORS

Region 1 Homepage

Region 2 Homepage

Region 3 Homepage