RIVER FALLS, Wis. The Kansas State equestrian team ended the weekend with huge success at the IHSA Zone Championships and will send both the English and Western teams to Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, on May 5-8.  In addition, the Western team secured the Zone 9 Championship by placing first with 36 points.  The English team finished in second place with 45 points, behind the University of Wisconsin at Madison, who finished with 51 points.

Each level at the Zone Championships allowed riders to compete in an individual class and a team class.  The top two riders in the individual classes earned the right to compete at Nationals, while the top two overall English teams and the top three overall Western teams qualified for Nationals. 

In individual competition, English riders junior Summer Hamil, senior Natalie Bennett, and senior Jenae Grossart qualified for Nationals, while Western riders junior Lindsey Hicks, sophomore Valerie Meyer, and senior Melissa Becking also qualified to ride at Nationals. 

English Team Results

First Place University of Wisconsin at Madison; 51 points

Second Place Kansas State; 45 points

Third Place Notre Dame; 34 points

Equitation Over Fences; Individual

Allison Woodworth 6^th

Equitation Over Fences; Team

Allison Woodworth 1^st

Intermediate Equitation Over Fences; Individual

Natalie Bennett 3^rd

Intermediate Equitation Over Fences; Team

Lauren Demmel 3^rd

Novice Over Fences; Individual

Summer Hamil 1^st

Jenae Grossart 5^th

Novice Over Fences; Team

Megan Westberg 2^nd

Equitation On the Flat; Individual

Dehlia Burdan 6^th

Equitation On the Flat; Team

Dehlia Burdan 2^nd

Intermediate Equitation on the Flat; Individual

Natalie Bennett 1^st

Sara Zurliene 5^th

Intermediate Equitation on the Flat; Team

Jenae Grossart 2^nd

Novice Equitation on the Flat; Individual

Jenae Grossart 2^nd

Summer Hamil 4^th

Novice Equitation on the Flat; Team

Natalie Poholsky 2^nd

Novice Equitation on the Flat; Individual

Natalie Poholsky 4^th

Walk/Trot/Canter; Individual

Natalie Poholsky 4^th

Walk/Trot/Canter; Team

Macie Ayers 1^st

Walk/Trot; Team

Lianna Bodlack 2^nd

Western Team Results

First Place Kansas State; 36 points

Second Place - St. Mary’s of the Woods; 33 points

Third Place University of Nebraska at Lincoln; 27 points

Reining; Team

Brandi Vogel 1st

Open Horsemanship; Individual

Lindsey Hicks 2nd

Nicole Ruff 6th

Open Horsemanship; Team

Nicole Ruff 2nd

Advanced Horsemanship; Individual

Melissa Becking - 2nd

Dennon Zimbelman 3rd

Advanced Horsemanship; Team

Samantha Titus -2nd

Novice Horsemanship; Team

Rachel Pierson 1st

Intermediate Horsemanship; Individual

Valerie Meyer 1st

Intermediate Horsemanship; Team

Sarah Coomes 1st

Beginner Horsemanship; Team

Jessica Spalding 2nd