MANHATTAN, Kan. The Kansas State english equestrian team joined its western counterpart by earning a bid to the Zone Championships on Sunday with its regular season victory at its home show at Fox Creek Stables.

The competition began with the last regular season show, as Kansas State tallied 38 points to again out-distance the six-team field.  Washington (Mo.) University finished second with 25 points.  With the victory, the Wildcats finished with 303 points in the season standings to earn High Point Hunt Seat Team honors and advance their entire squad to the Zone Championships, which will be held Sunday, April 17 in River Falls, Wis.  The top two teams at zones will then advance to the IHSA National Championships to be held in Columbus, Ohio May 5-8.

“It was nice to have our english team join our western team in advancing to zones,” said head coach Teresa Slough.  “It was a really successful year with both squads advancing to zones.  We look forward to get our riders prepared for both zone and national individual and team competition.”

Kansas State had nine first-place winners in the morning competition, with sophomore Gentry Horigan earning Reserve High Point Rider honors.  Horigan won Intermediate Flat Section A, while she was second in Intermediate Fences.  Other first-place winners included senior Sarah Waxman in Open Fences Section A, senior Sara Zurliene in Open Fences Section B, junior Jenae Grossart in Intermediate Fences, sophomore Stephanie Bell in Novice Fences, junior Lauren Demmel in Open Flat Section B, freshman Lindsay Cook in Walk-Trot-Canter Section A, senior Christy Conforti in Intermediate Flat Section B and junior Kristen Morrell in Walk-Trot.  The Wildcats also had six riders finish second and seven claim third place finishes.

In the afternoon, the teams competed in the Regional Championship, where the top two individuals from each category advances to the Zone Championships.  There was no team scoring in this competition.  Senior Allison Woodworth was named the Region’s High Point Rider with 86 points, while senior Dehlia Burdan was selected as the Reserve High Point Rider with 78 points.  Woodworth advances to the IHSA National Championships, where she was compete for the organization’s Cacchione Cup.  Kansas State had 10 individuals qualify for Zones, including five first-place winners.   These winners included Woodworth in Open Over Fences, junior Summer Hamil in Novice Over Fences, Sara Zurliene in Intermediate Flat, Jenae Grossart in Novice Flat and senior Natalie Poholsky in Walk-Trot-Canter.   

Kansas State will return to action on Friday, April 15 when the Wildcats travel to Santa Fe, N.M., to participate in the two-day Varsity Championships.  

Kansas State Show Results - Kansas State Results Only
High Point Team: Kansas State - 38 points
Reserve High Point Rider: Gentry Horigan

Open Fences Section A: 1st - Sarah Waxman; 2nd - Sheena Linders
Open Fences Section B: 1st - Sara Zurliene; 2nd - Allison Woodworth; 5th - Dehlia Burdan
Intermediate Fences: 1st - Jenea Grossart; 2nd - Gentry Horigan; 4th - Lauren Demmel; 5th - Summer Hamil
Novice Fences: 1st - Stephanie Bell; 3rd - Christy Conforti; 4th - Natalie Bennett
Open Flat Section A: 3rd - Sarah Waxman; 4th - Sheena Linders; 5th - Natalie Bennett
Novice Flat Section A: 2nd - Stephanie Bell; 3rd - Julianne Tood
Open Flat Section B: 1st - Lauren Demmel; 2nd - Dehlia Burdan; 3rd - Allison Woodworth; 4th - Sara Zurliene
Walk-Trot-Canter Section A: 1st - Lindsey Cook
Intermediate Flat Section A: 1st - Gentry Horigan; 3rd - Jenea Grosshart
Intermediate Flat Section B: 1st - Christy Conforti; 3rd - Summer Hamil
Walk-Trot: 1st - Kristen Morrell; 2nd - Lindsay Morford; 3rd - Elizabeth Dick
Novice Flat Section B: 4th - Bridget Fleming

Regional Competition

High Point Rider: Allison Woodworth (86)
Reserve High Point Rider: Dehlia Burdan (78)

Open Over Fences: 1st - Allison Woodworth; 3rd - Dehlia Burdan
Intermediate Over Fences: 2nd - Natalie Bennett
Novice Over Fences: 1st - Summer Hamil; 2nd - Jenae Grossart
Open Flat: 2nd - Dehlia Burdan; 3rd - Allison Woodworth
Intermediate Flat: 1st - Sara Zurliene; 2nd - Natalie Bennett
Novice Flat: 1st - Jenae Grossart; 2nd - Summer Hamil; 6th - Christy Conforti
Walk-Trot-Canter: 1st - Natalie Poholsky