Representing the Wildcats this weekend were Brandi Vogel, Erin Peery, Bev Wilson and Rachel Pierson competing in open reining and open horsemanship, open reining, advanced horsemanship and intermediate horsemanship, respectively. Vogel placed first in open horsemanship and Peery finished second in open reining to qualify for the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Nationals competition in Murfreesboro, Tenn., May 7-9.

In order to qualify, each rider must place in the top two in their class. Pierson and Wilson did not place in the top two in their respective class at Zones, therefore will not compete at nationals.

Vogel, a junior who qualified for the third straight year, is no stranger to the nationals scene. She placed first in open horsemanship and will compete for the Wildcats at nationals. As a freshman she won advanced horsemanship and as a sophomore competed in both open horsemanship and open reining.

“I just hope to ride with the same consistency I’ve shown all year,” Vogel said.

Also qualifying for the Wildcats was Erin Peery in open reining with a second place finish. She also has national competition experience placing fourth in open horsemanship for the western team, which placed fifth last year at nationals.

“We should do very well at nationals,” said head coach Lindsay Briedenthal. “This is Erin’s (Peery) second trip to nationals and Brandi’s (Vogel) third. I have the utmost confidence in these riders and their abilities to place at nationals.”

WESTERN ZONE 9 SHOW RESULTS, April 3, 2004 Team Scoring- All teams competing, qualified for nationals Black Hawk College (Region 2) 34; University Wisconsin- Riverfalls (Region 3) 32; St. Mary of the Woods (Region 1) 30

Individual Scoring- To compete at nationals Open Reining 1st- Stefani Redding, Parkland; 2nd- Erin Peery, Kansas State Open Horsemanship 1st- Brandi Vogel, Kansas State; 2nd- Heather Reichery, Riverfalls Advanced Horsemanship 1st- Katy Green, Purdue; 2nd- Angela Garrett, Black Hawk College Novice Horsemanship 1st- Lacy Lausten, University of Minnesota-Crookston; 2nd- Tia Sampair, Riverfalls Intermediate Horsemanship 1st- Lindsey Salestron, Nebraska; 2nd- Shannon Brearton, St. Mary’s Beginner Horsemanship 1st- Amy Gillette, Black Hawk College; 2nd- Kristen Hess, Black Hawk College