North Clark County equestrian teams show talent at state meet

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Local finishers in the top 10 of each event listed below

 

From May 12 to 14, qualified equestrian riders from La Center, Woodland, Battle Ground, Prairie, Ridgefield and Hockinson high schools competed in the Washington High School Equestrian state meet at Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake. 

In each event, there were around 20 to 25 contestants. Top five finishers qualified to the Pacific Northwest Invitational Championship (PNWIC) between WAHSET and OHSET (Oregon’s high school equestrian league) June 2 -4 in Redmond, Oregon. 

“They all put their full heart into it,” Prairie Coach Sarah McKinzie said. “This was probably one of the best groups of kids I’ve had in my six years of coaching the team.”

McKinzie said she was especially proud of Reese Black, a freshman who won state in driving. 

“She and a lot of our kids did really great at state,” McKinzie said. “They all had a great time and were cheering hard for each other, and even the kids from the other local schools.”

A couple of those locals would have been Julia Sadewasser and Ashley Venneri, both of Battle Ground, a freshmen duo that placed fourth in two-man birangle.  

“Ashley and I have been riding together and competing against each other for years,” Sadewasser said. “This year we’ve had fun in WAHSET competing as a team in two-man birangle and did great all year and at state. We’ve been working hard and it’s paid off.”

Venneri added she can’t wait to go to PNWIC.

“It’s kind of cool that we are both freshman and going to regionals,” Venneri said.

 

Below is a look at the local athletes who finished in the top 10. An asterisk* means the rider qualified for PNWIC.

Dressage

Jessica Sayward (Woodland) — Tied 9th

Hunt Seat Equitation 

*Aysha Long (Prairie) — 4th

Lindsey Paul (Woodland) — 6th

Sarah Snyder (La Center) — 7th

Hunt Seat Over Fences 

Mackenzie Taylor (Hockinson) — 8th

In Hand Trail

*Klair Thomas (Prairie) — 1st

Jaiden Marshall (Woodland) — Tied 8th

Ellie Ballensky (Battle Ground) — Tied 10th

Trail Equitation

Aysha Long (Prairie) — 10th

Reining

*Janessa Long (Prairie) — 5th

Driving

*Reese Black (Prairie) — 1st

Klair Thomas (Prairie) — 6th

Taylor Adams (Prairie) — 9th

Saddle Seat Equitation 

*James Stone (Woodland) — Tied 4th



*Lisa Biscieglia (La Center) — Tied 4th

Showmanship

*Rachel Sherrell (La Center) — Tied 2nd

Madison Geil (La Center) — Tied 6th

Tiarie West (La Center) — 8th

Klair Thomas (Prairie) — Tied 10th

Lindsey Paul (Woodland) — Tied 10th

Stock Seat Equitation

Aysha Long (Prairie) — Tied 7th

Working Rancher

*Aysha Long (Prairie) — 4th

Break-away Roping

*Janessa Long (Prairie) — 3rd

Steer Daubing 

*Amelie Fraki (Hockinson) — 2nd

Janessa Long (Prairie) — 7th

Figure 8

*Ashley Venneri (Battle Ground) — 8th

Freestyle Fours

Battle Ground (Emma Massie, Dixie Anderson, Dana Waddell, Julia Sadewasser, Ashley Venneri) — 7th

In Hand Obstacle Relay

*Woodland (Jamie Stone, Megan Sheets, Ellie Newby, Jessica Sayward) — 3rd

La Center (Sarah Snyder, Rachel Sherrell, Lisa Biscieglia, Madison Geil) — 7th

Working Pairs

*La Center (Sarah Snyder, Rachel Sherrell) — 3rd

Canadian Flag Race

*Woodland (Michael Johnson, Jaiden Doyle, Sammi Ripp, Lilly Dunn) — 2nd

Hockinson (Mackenzie Taylor, Emma Watson, Emma Uusitalo, Amelie Fraki) — 10th

Two Man Birangle 

*Battle Ground (Julia Sadewasser, Ashley Venneri) — 4th

Freestyle 6+

*Prairie (Taylor Adams, Alaina Thomas, Rachael Matson, Josie Olson, Aysha Long, Janessa Long, Reese Black, Danielle Haner, Emma Haynie, Ariel Griffith) — 5th

Woodland (Addison Andrews, Lilly Dunn, Michael Johnson, Jaiden Marshall, Russia Maxson, Ellie Newby, Jessica Sayward, Megan Sheets, James Stone) — 9th