Harrisburg, P.A. In the final competition of the 2005-2006 season, the Kansas State women’s equestrian team wrapped up competition of the IHSA National Championship today.

Three Wildcats earned national championships in their classes. Junior Heather Culwell was the Reserve National Champion and finished in second place in the Beginner Western Horsemanship Team event. Sophomore Sarah Coomes finished in first place and is the National Champion in Intermediate Western Horsemanship Team event. Junior Sara Weller takes home the National Championship in the Open Reining Horsemanship Team category.

As a team on the English side K-State finished the weekend as the 10th place team in the nation. In Western, Kansas State finished in second place just behind the winning school Ohio State. This is the eighth Western National Championship for the Buckeyes.

In the English team category, K-State had three top ten finishers, Macie Ayers and Gentry Horigan and Leslie Yates. Individually K-State had three top ten finishers, Lindsay Cook, Stephanie Bell and Lianna Bodlack.

In the Western team classes, the Cats had five top ten finishers, Claire Leet, Heather Culwell, Sarah Coomes, Lindsey Salsbury and Sara Weller. Individually the Wildcats had three top ten finishers, Gina Remus and Sara Weller in two classes.

Sophomore Lindsey Salsbury competed in the AQHA High Point Western Rider competition. In Phase one Lindsey scored 21 points. In Phase two Lindsey scored six points for a total of 27 points and a 14th place finish.

Junior Casey Finnell competed in the USEF/Cacchione Cup for top English honors. In Phase one of the competition Casey finished with a score of 79.5. In phase two she finished with 71.5 points for a total of 151 points and a 20th place finish.

“On Thursday in the Western show things were not going so well and it was a little discouraging and we had to play catch up to Ohio State the entire weekend,” head coach Teresa Slough said. “After the performances of girls like Sara Coomes and Sarah Weller we starting performing better. We ended up placing as the second best Western team in the nation. Ohio State has won this championship eight times. We are very happy with what we did this weekend.”

English Results

Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation (Individual): 6th- Lindsay Cook

Novice Equitation Over Fences (Team): 8th- Macie Ayers

Novice Equitation Over Fences (Individual): 5th- Stephanie Bell

Walk-Trot Equitation (Individual): 7th- Lianna Bodlack

Intermediate Equitation Over Fences (Team): 6th- Gentry Horigan

Open Equitation Over Fences (Team): 4th- Leslie Yates.

Western Results

Advanced Western Horsemanship (Team): 7th- Claire Leet

Beginner Western Horsemanship (Team): 2nd- Heather Culwell

Beginner Western Horsemanship (Individual): 4th- Gina Remus

Intermediate Western Horsemanship (Team): 1st- Sara Coomes

Open Western Horsemanship (Team): 7th- Lindsey Salsbury

Open Western Horsemanship (Individual): 8th- Sara Weller

Open Reining Horsemanship (Team): 1st- Sara Weller

Open Reining Horsemanship (Individual): 5th- Sara Weller

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