SCAD Equestrian wins sixth straight zones championship
Over the weekend, SCAD’s Equestrian Team hosted and won the Interscholastic Horse Show Association Zone 5 Finals. Zone Finals is the final step before the IHSA National Championships and determines which teams and individuals from each region will be in attendance. The competition was comprised of the top riders and teams from 30 schools within the 5 regions in Zone 5. Some riders and teams traveled over 1100 miles in the hopes that they could win an opportunity to compete for the National title in May.
SCAD’s riders procured a massive victory on Saturday. Their score of 52 points, 20 points ahead of the Reserve Champion Louisiana State University, secured the team’s place at Nationals. This will be their sixth year in attendance but their first year as defending Champions.
Eight riders will be making the journey to the Kentucky Horse Park in May; and for the Senior riders, Ryan Genn, Devon Walther and Jessica Amsberry, this will be their last year in attendance. Despite the pressures of graduation and defending a Championship title, the mood is anything but bittersweet or nervous. Instead, there is a greater buzz of excitement in the barn aisles and out in the arenas. Those who are competing, ride daily under Coach Ashley Henry’s experienced eye and work to maintain their focus and level-headed confidence. Meanwhile, the rest of the team works diligently to prepare for next year’s season and are excited to support their teammates going to Nationals. Some will even travel to Kentucky to cheer from the sidelines and provide helping a hand. Upon speaking to Captain Devon Walther on the subject of defending a National Title, she says, “There is a lot of pressure returning to Nationals…but as Saturday showed, our team is incredibly strong again this year.”
SCAD Riders Results from the Zone 5 Finals
Champion team open over-fences- Ryan Genn
Champion individual open over fences- Ryan Genn
Reserve Champion Individual open over- fences- Devon Walther
Champion team intermediate over fences- Meredith Denny
Champion team novice over fences- Tess Mroczka
Champion individual novice over fences- Quinn Lowsky
Reserve Champion team intermediate flat- Maddie Albano
4th individual intermediate flat- Kelsey Fey
Champion team novice flat- Quinn Lowsky
Reserve Champion individual novice flat- Meredith Denny
Champion team walk-trot- Mikayla Colson
Reserve Champion team walk-trot-canter- Jessica Amsberry
3rd individual walk-trot- Heather Dearman
Champion team open flat- Ryan Genn
