"I have been working like a dog trying to get the scoop straight from the horse's mouth!" Toby Steinmetz (pictured) receives praise for past IHSA coverage.

2012 ZONE 7 ZONES

This is your favorite “canine correspondent” Toby reporting in from the Zone 7 Championships. All my small four legged friends from Black Dog Farms (owned by Maggie Boyle) was the host of this year's event. Maggie and Krista Steinmetz (SMWC) provided the horses for the event. It all started Saturday evening with a dinner and bonfire. There were about 150 in attendance (before or after the bonfire? - Editor).

Sunday morning the event started with team open fences. LSU rider Gabrielle LeBoeuf put their team in the lead with a win. I’ll give you all the results later. Alumni fences was next and Kelley Mallery, Hollins University, secured the blue. After that class was the individual intermediate fences with Ali Mahloch, SMWC, snagging the top spot. Team novicee fences was next and Amy Reynolds, University of Wisconsin-Madison, garnered the top spot. Following that was the individual open fences with Haley Aydams from Texas Tech bringing home the blue. Team intermediate fences was the next class with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Michelle Piccione getting the seven points. Individual novice fences followed and Kristin Bonacum, Purdue University, earned the blue and a trip to Nationals. The last jumping class was Cacchione Cup but no places were given until they hacked on the flat (much later).

After jumping was finished the team scores were: Wisconsin 17, LSU 15, Purdue 13, Minnesota-Twin Cities 12 and Truman State 6.

Individual intermediate flat was the first class after the break. That class went to Courtney Zeigler of Indiana University. Team novice flat followed with the blue going to Truman State’s Annina McMillan. Individual open flat was next and the top prize went to Purdue’s Jenny Atkinson. Team WTC was up next and Baleigh Denham, Purdue, snagged the blue. Individual novice flat followed and Sage Hanner from West Texas A&M took the top honor. Individual WT was the next class in the ring and again West Texas A&M’s Lindsey McNeill was the best. LSU grabbed the top spot in the team intermediate flat with Kelsey Gore. Team WT was next and the blue went to Melissa Eischens of Wisconsin-Madison. The “older folks” were next (alumni flat) with Krista Steinmetz of Purdue capturing the blue. Yeah, she’s my dad’s two legged daughter. The individual WTC took the stage next and Truman State’s Aliy Abbenhaus took the top honor.

There was one more team class remaining. It was the team open flat. Up to this point the team totals were: Wisconsin 38, Purdue 34, LSU 32, Truman State 21 and Minnesota-Twin Cities 20. Purdue’s Jenny Atkinson again took the blue in the open flat. The last class was the Cacchione Cup rail phase. After that finished, the winner was Emily Walker of Minnesota-Twin Cities. The final team totals were Madison 41, Purdue 41, LSU 34, Truman State 26 and Twin Cities 24. Because Madison had one more blue than Purdue they won the tie-breaker. They were the champions and Purdue was reserve.

P.S. - Milo helped me with writing this but his paws were too big to type it.

---Toby Steinmetz

The Class-by-Class results of 2012 Zone 7 Zones, held in Marion, Indiana on April 1st, 2012, listed in the order in which they were held. The top two riders in each individual class and the top two hunter seat teams in the team competition advanced to IHSA Nationals May 3rd through 6th in Raleigh, North Carolina:

Team Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Gabrielle LeBouef, Louisiana State University. 2. Hayleigh Adams, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 3. Ashley Arend, Purdue University. 4. Haley Selch, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 5. Stephanie Crecelius, Truman State University.

Alumni Equitation Over Fences: 1. Kelley Douglas Mallery, Hollins University. 2. Krista Steinmetz, Purdue University. 3. Joanna Russell, Truman State University. 4. Kate Rothman, Washington University in St. Louis. 5. Tamara Johnson, Augustana College.

Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Ali Mahloch, St. Mary of the Woods College. 2. Kayla Reeves, West Texas A & M University. 3. Lauren Webb, University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse. 4. Marlee Runyon, Ball State University. 5. Elizabeth Simonis, University of Wisconsin at River Falls. 6. Stacy Lignoski, Northern Illinois University. 7. Kelly Connolly, Iowa State University.

Team Novice Equitation Over Fences: 1. Amy Reynolds, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 2. Molly Schlagel, Purdue University. 3. Christine Gremillion, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 4. Jessi Farestvedt, Louisiana State University. 5. Danielle Witt, Truman State University.

Individual Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Haley Aydams, Texas Tech University. 2. Analisa Elkjer, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 3. Amy Mitchem, West Texas A & M University. 4. Whitney Mahloch, St. Mary of the Woods College. 5. Deidre Cwian, Northern Illinois University. 6. Mia Genereux, University of Notre Dame/St. Mary's College (IN). 7. Emily Walker, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 8. Katie Walsh, University of Notre Dame/St. Mary's College (IN). 9. Rori Fiebert, Washington University in St. Louis.

Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Michelle Piccione, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 2. Kelsey Gore, Louisiana State University. 3. Kristin Bonacum, Purdue University. 4. Kerry Hansen, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 5. Emily Fahey, Truman State University.

Individual Novice Equitation Over Fences: 1. Kristin Bonacum, Purdue University. 2. Shannon Roska, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 3. Angela Peterson, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 4. Lija Siltumens, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 5. Sarah Bridge, North Dakota State University. 6. Katie Kaegi, West Texas A & M University. 7. Emily Hunt, Purdue University. 8. Jess Lucas, Northern Illinois University. 9. Madison Gay, Texas Tech University. 10. Emily Pointek, Washington University in St. Louis.

Individual Intermediate Equitation On The Flat: 1. Courtney Zeigler, Indiana University. 2. Shannon Roska, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 3. Stephanie Hearhos, University of Notre Dame/St. Mary's College (IN). 4. Elizabeth Miller, Truman State University. 5. Crystal Greyson, Tulane University. 6. Kelsey Conklin, Indiana University. 7. Courtney Millian, Washington University in St. Louis. 8. Megan Tervo, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 9. Kayla Reeves, West Texas A & M University.

Team Novice Equitation On The Flat: 1. Annina McMillan, Truman State University. 2. Alexandra Kuechel, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 3. Molly Schlagel, Purdue University. 4. Lark Draper, Louisiana State University. 5. Lesley Christianson, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

Individual Open Equitation On The Flat: 1. Jenny Atkinson, Purdue University. 2. Whitney Mahloch, St. Mary of the Woods College. 3. Stephanie Crecellius, Truman State University. 4. Keelin Funk, Illinois State University. 5. Emily Walker, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 6. Hayleigh Adams, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 7. Amy Mitchem, West Texas A & M University. 8. Haley Aydams, Texas Tech University. 9. Katie Walsh, University of Notre Dame/St. Mary's College (IN).

Team Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation On The Flat: 1. Baleigh Dunham, Purdue University. 2. Jane Ann Monson, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 3. Mary Kendrick, Louisiana State University. 4. Christine Schendel, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 5. Melissa Colby, Truman State University.

Individual Novice Equitation On The Flat: 1. Sage Hanner, West Texas A & M University. 2. Sara Walker, Truman State University. 3. Michelle Piccione, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 4. Emily Fahey, Truman State University. 5. Emily Hunt, Purdue University. 6. Julie Szinte, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. 7. Sarah Bridge, North Dakota State University. 8. Jordan Minish, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 9. Madison Gay, Texas Tech University. 10. Rachel Mark, Purdue University.

Individual Walk-Trot Equitation On The Flat: 1. Lindsey McNeill, West Texas A & M University. 2. Morgan Broussard, Louisiana State University. 3. Kellie Constantin, Southeast Missouri State University. 4. Annalee Sundin, University of Minnesota at Crookston. 5. Kristin Zabrecky, Purdue University. 6. Megan LaFollette, Truman State University. 7. Alyssa Reeves, University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse. 8. Samantha Kramer, University of Minnesota at Crookston. 9. Shelby Harber, St. Mary of the Woods College.

Team Intermediate Equitation On The Flat: 1. Kelsey Gore, Louisiana State University. 2. Rachel Mark, Purdue University. 3. Michelle Piccione, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 4. Kerry Hansen, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 5. Sara Walker, Truman State University.

Team Walk-Trot Equitation On The Flat: 1. Melissa Eischens, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 2. Annie Van Proyen, Purdue University. 3. Caitlin Schaefer, Truman State University. 4. Mindy Le, Louisiana State University.

Alumni Equitation On The Flat: 1. Krista Steinmenz, Purdue University. 2. Joanna Russell, Truman State University. 3. Tamara Johnson, Augustana College. 4. Jennifer Whitfield, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Individual Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation On The Flat: 1. Aliy Abbenhaus, Truman State University. 2. Devin Lintzenich, St. Mary of the Woods College. 3. Lena Gerber, Purdue University. 4. Jennifer Babcock, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 5. Alyssa Flemming, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 6. Caitlin Harris, University of Notre Dame/St. Mary's College (IN). 7. Katie Melton, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 8. Corinne Plough, Louisiana State University. 9. Kristi Benedict, West Texas A & M University. 10. Kristie Miller, Southeast Missouri State University.

Team Open Equitation On The Flat: 1. Jenny Atkinson, Purdue University. 2. Stephanie Crecelius, Truman State University. 3. Analisa Elkjer, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 4. Shannon Roska, University of Wisconsin at Madison. 5. Amy Strahan, Louisiana State University.

Cacchione Cup Class: 1. Emily Walker, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. 2. Whitney Mahloch, St. Mary of the Woods College. 3. Katie Walsh, University of Notre Dame/St. Mary's College (IN). 4. Rori Fiebert, Washington University in St. Louis. 5. Amy Mitchem, West Texas A & M University (Editor's Note: This class does not count towards IHSA Nationals. Fiebert, Mahloch, Mitchem, Walker and Walsh were all automatically qualified for Nationals as the riders from their respective regions with the most combined open flat and fences points during the regular season).

Final Hunter Seat Team Totals, with the top two teams advancing to IHSA Nationals: University of Wisconsin at Madison (2012 Zone Champion; Won Tie-Breaker which was most blue ribbons) 41; Purdue University (Reserve) 41; Louisiana State University 34; Truman State University 26 and University of Minnesota - Twin Cities 24.

(Special thanks to JaneAnn Monson, Melissa Eischens, Shannon Roska and Mark Aplin for keeping track of placings and forwarding the information to us. Also thanks to Toby and Milo for just being themselves - Editor)