WEST TEXAS A & M HOSTS, WINS 2007 ZONE 7 ZONES

There is no doubt that Zone 7 has changed quite a lot since the Spring of 2005. Colorado State, which had won Zone 7, Region 1 every year since the region was created in the fall of 1989 announced that they would drop their IHSA team following the 2004-05 season.

During the 2005-06 season, New Mexico State from that same region and both Oklahoma State and Texas A & M in Zone 7, Region 2 announced that they would exit the IHSA after the conclusion of the season to compete strictly within NCAA/Varsity competitions. Several other teams from Region 2 would also step out for the same reason before the start of the 2006-07 season.

Considering that as recently as the 2004-05 season that all of the english riders to survive Zone 7 Zones were from Colorado State, New Mexico State, Oklahoma State and Texas A & M, one can only imagine how different things would be without any of these schools involved.

On March 31st the world at large got to see what life without these powerhouses would be like. With West Texas A & M hosting, six different teams from Region 1 advanced individual riders while Louisiana State, the Zone 7, Region 2 champion of the regular season advanced three riders in four divisions. Host West Texas A & M won the two-way team competition by a 50-41 margin. LSU was tied with West Texas 12-12 but then an off-course gave the Buffaloes the lead for good.

Region 1 had a better-than-average day individually, with eleven of the sixteen possible openings at Nationals coming from Zone 7, Region 1 schools. The University of Denver and West Texas A & M will have three riders each at IHSA Nationals while Colorado College will have both the walk-trot riders from the zone. Texas Tech, Laramie County Community College and the University of Colorado at Boulder will have one rider each competing in Springfield, Massachusetts May 3rd through 6th.

--Steve Maxwell

Class-by-Class Results from 2007 Zone 7 Zones in Canyon, Texas, with the top two riders in each individual class advancing to IHSA Nationals May 3rd through 6th in Springfield, Massachusetts:

Individual Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Jessica Stone, University of Denver.

Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Katie Garon, Louisiana State University. 2. Nicole Stern, University of Denver. 3. Kelsey Wright, Colorado College.

Individual Novice Equitation Over Fences: 1. Catherine Brown, West Texas A & M University. 2. Samantha Preslan, University of Colorado at Boulder. 3. Corban Finkbeiner, Southern Nazarene University.

Individual Open Equitation on the Flat: 1. Megan Burgess, Louisiana State University. 2. Whitney Fouts, West Texas A & M University. 3. Devan Nolan, Louisiana State University. 4. Jessica Stone, University of Denver.

Individual Novice Equitation on the Flat: 1. Whitney Stahl, University of Denver. 2. Margaret Covert, Louisiana State University. 3. Alex Miller, Texas Tech University. 4. Pam Shao, Louisiana State University.

Individual Intermediate Equitation on the Flat: 1. Katie Garon, Louisiana State University. 2. Julia Lindholm, Texas Tech University. 3. Melody Noles, Louisiana State University. 4. Kelsey Wright, Colorado College.

Individual Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation on the Flat: 1. Stephanie James, West Texas A & M University. 2. Leigh Ann Skurupey, Laramie County Community College. 3. Katharine Lau, Trinity University. 4. Evelyn Cashen, Trinity University.

Individual Walk-Trot Equitation on the Flat: 1. Byron Hurlbut, Colorado College. 2. Holly Millard, Colorado College.

Team Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Whitney Fouts, West Texas A & M University. 2. Megan Burgess, Louisiana State University.

Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Emily Taylor, Louisiana State University. 2. Catherine Brown, West Texas A & M University.

Team Novice Equitation Over Fences: 1. Courtney Douglas, West Texas A & M University.

Team Novice Equitation on the Flat: 1. Courtney Douglas, West Texas A & M University. 2. Mary Robert, Louisiana State University.

Team Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation on the Flat: 1. Elizabeth Fantenot, Louisiana State University. 2. Laura Wilder, West Texas A & M University.

Team Walk-Trot Equitation on the Flat: 1. Katie Sorenson, West Texas A & M University. 2. Jennifer Barr, Louisiana State University.

Team Intermediate Equitation on the Flat: 1. Margaret Covert, Louisiana State University. 2. Catherine Brown, West Texas A & M University.

Team Open Equitation on the Flat: 1. Whitney Fouts, West Texas A & M University. 2. Megan Burgess, Louisiana State University.

Final Hunter Seat Team Totals, with the top team advancing to IHSA Nationals May 3rd through 6th In Springfield, Massachusetts: West Texas A & M University 50 and Louisiana State University 41.

(Special Thanks to Amy Thompson for providing us with the results and details on the show)