University of Findlay sophomore Raffi Kechejian (on horse) competed in both the english and western team competitions, earning a blue ribbon in the latter.

FINDLAY TWICE AS GOOD AT 2007 IHSA NATIONALS

West Springfield, MA - Since 2004 there have been six western divisions for IHSA competition: Beginner, intermediate, novice, advanced, open western horsemanship (also known as open rail) and open reining. If a team were to win all six classes the most that team could earn is 42 points.

The University of Findlay enterred 2007 Nationals having won the western team competition twice previously, claiming the top spot in 2001 (with only 16 points out of a possible 35) and 2005 (when they snapped Texas A & M's three-year win streak by a 24-21 margin). What the Oilers accomplished in 2007 would be nothing short of extraordinary, re-writing the record books for western team competitions at an IHSA National show. If you were not the Findlay windshield between May 4th and 6th you most certainly were the bug.

The Oilers had in fact won their Semifinal show in impressive fashion on March 24th, eventually ending up with a 40-22 win over both St. Mary of the Woods College and Morrisville State College. Findlay had in fact won every team class save for open western horsemanship, in which St. Mary of the Woods senior Christina Ecker bested Findlay freshman Trevor Dare, who was relegated to a red ribbon on that occasion. The same riders who had been so successful at Zones would again ride at Nationals, with Ryan Sims again the first Oiler to compete in the team classes.

A sophomore from Pella, Iowa, Ryan Sims of the University of Findlay was the first western rider competing in a team class or otherwise to win a blue ribbon at 2007 Nationals. As he had done at Semifinals, Sims won the team novice western horsemanship division on May 4th.

With Judges Dawn Clason and Mike Jennings seated on one side of the ring within the Big E Coliseum in Springfield, Massachusetts, Sims and eight others entered between 4:00 and 5:00PM on Friday, May 4th to compete in the team novice western division. Riders walked, jogged and loped until they were asked to line up and go through the pattern one-by-one. Once all nine riders had complete their pattern, everyone inside the coliseum waited for the scores to be combined and computed. Finally announcer Ken Marash read off the placings from sixth up to the champion.

Sixth went to Deborah Simmers-Shahadey of St. Mary of the Woods while fifth went to Rebecca Smith of Black Hawk College. West Texas A & M had come within a point of tieing Middle Tennesse State for first at a Semifinal hosted by the Blue Raiders on March 24th in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and it must have seemed like more of the same for the Buffs at the moment. West Texas A & M senior Kristine Thompson was awarded fourth place while MTSU senior Sarah McKee received third. Ohio State had won the 2006 Nationals Western Team Competition. Hilary Bedford got the Buckeyes off on the right foot in '07, earning the reserve ribbon.

Though four riders remained in the ring, western aficionados felt strongly that, based upon his pattern, Sims was going to receive the blue ribbon. And the experts were in fact correct. The Findlay sophomore from Pella, Iowa was in fact the team novice western champion.

Following two english classes and individual intermediate western (which McKee won in her final undergraduate IHSA ride), the second and final team class of the Friday session took place. Half of the top six riders in team advanced western would improve on their placings from Semifinals, two would drop slightly while one would remain unchanged. After the usual walk-jog-lope-line up-do the pattern routine, the judges confired and the placings were announced. Sixth went to Whitney Herron of Middle Tennessee State, who had placed fifth in Murfreesboro at Semifinals. Fifth went to Brooke Sproull of Oregon State, who moved up to fifth from her sixth-place ribbon at the Semifinal show in Pomona, California in March. Fourth went to Natalie Norval of Ohio State, who had won the division in California that Sproull had placed sixth in. Third went to Courtney Douglas of West Texas A & M, who had been fourth in Murfreesboro in the division (None of the three riders who finished ahead of Douglas on March 24th would place in this division at Nationals). Dana Grupe of St. Mary of the Woods had placed third in team advanced at the Findlay Semifinal. However Grupe would move up a place to reserve honors this time around.

The Nationals program lists his first name as 'James.' However the official Findlay web site refers to him as 'Jimmy.' Regardless of his name, Jimmy Frebes was able to repeat his Semifinal team advanced placing, the junior from Trenton, Michigan remaining undefeated in the postseason. Frebes had kept Findlay undefeated through two team classes. It would be another day before the rest of the field would have a shot to break the Oilers' win streak.

He won the individual AQHA Trophy at 2006 Nationals, and he had won a hunter seat team class on the first day of '07 Nationals. After spending the day two proceedings as a spectator, Findlay senior Travis Womer was on his game when team open reining rolled around on Saturday afternoon.

The third day of IHSA Nationals was the second day of western competition, owing to the first day being exclusively english. With ceremonies to award the english team ribbons and trophies, followed by the Parade of teams, presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award and an appearence by USEF President and Olympic medalist David O'Connor, the western portion of the schedule resumed very late on Saturday, with the first rider into the ring at 3:43PM for the team open reining division. This was the second of four reining classes to take place at 2007 IHSA Nationals, with the individual alumni reining having concluded the Friday schedule a day earlier. Some in attendance were not happy with the footing, as the stone dust made slide stops very abrupt, taking away the sliding element for all intensive purposes. Still, everyone was in the same boat, and each of the nine riders took their turns. Unlike the horsemanship classes, a combined judges' score was read aloud by Marash following each ride. With no testing involved, this meant that anyone writing down the scores could figure out the placings ahead of time. With no one going off their pattern or over-(or under-)spining, the scores were nearly self-explanatory. Two riders received scores of '139,' assuring that third and fourth place would be unknown until Marash let everyone in on the secret.

Two of the nine schools competing had yet to earn team points entering the reining division. The first of these schools to get on the scoreboard was the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, as Alicia Wittwer was sixth. Keith Ceddia of Ohio State, who would go on to place second in the nation in the individual AQHA Trophy class later in the evening, was fifth while Whitney Agee of West Texas A & M was fourth. This solved the mystery of third place, which went to Charlie Goetz of Morrisville State College. Both Goetz and Agee had the '139' scores, and with Goetz in the ribbons the Mustangs became the final western team to earn actual points.

Ecker earned her first ribbon of 2007 Nationals, as the senior from Warsaw, Indiana earned the reserve ribbon with a score of '140.5.' However the team competition was essentially a foregone conclusion at this point. Having scored a '143.5,' University of Findlay senior Travis Womer had kept Findlay undefeated. From Camarillo, California, Womer remained undefeated at three separate IHSA National shows, having won individual intermediate over fences two days earlier, the individual AQHA Trophy last season and the individual novice western at 2005 Nationals (Womer never competed in a post-season IHSA show at the advanced western level).

The Oilers were halfway to a perfect score, holding a 21-11 lead over St. Mary of the Woods while Ohio State and West Texas A & M both had 10 points as the team beginner western division got underway between 6:00 and 7:00PM. Though there was no loping each rider walked and jogged until they were asked to line up and perform the pattern. When the placings were announced Morrisville State had again earned points as Corey Oldroyd was sixth. Ohio State's chances of repeating as National Champion became very slim as Danielle Nichters' fine ride was only good enough for fifth. However the Buckeyes at least avoided mathematical elimination as Aubrey Kuczerepa was fourth, snapping the Findlay undefeated streak but still increasing the Oilers' total to 24. Third went to Middle Tennessee State's Crystal Hall, raising the Blue Raiders' total to eight while Sarah Joy of Nebraska at Lincoln was reserve. The senior from Dunbar, Nebraska made it six points for the Cornhuskers, who would actually fair well in spite of finishing out of the ribbons in the first two team classes.

Oregon State Head Coach Carrie Kolstad (left) poses with Beavers freshman Jessica Kraemer after the latter won the team beginner western division. Kraemers' blue ribbon kept Findlay from earning a perfect team score.

Oregon State had only two points through three divisions. However freshman Jessica Kraemer improved things in a hurry. From Rancho Santa Margarita, California, Kraemer became the first non-Findlay rider to win a team class, suddenly putting the Beavers into the race for second place at nine points. But would Kraemer be the only rider not from Findlay to win a western team class at 2007 Nationals?

The Sunday session, or all-western day of Nationals started at 8:09AM, which was impressive in that fewer than ten people were in the Big E Coliseum at 6:30AM! The first class of the final day of 2007 IHSA Nationals was the individual advanced western division, which was won by Adam Smith of Findlay (two seasons earlier Smith finished second to Womer at Nationals in the individual novice western). The day would in fact start and end with Findlay earning a blue ribbon.

Team intermediate western followed individual advanced, with Findlay needing only a third or better from Raffi Kechejian to clinch their second National title in two seasons. When the class was completed sixth place was awarded to Vanessa Reed of St. Mary of the Woods College while Corey Hayes of Morrisville State was one placing higher. Nebraska at Lincoln senior Chelsea Leatherwood put the Cornhuskers into double digits with a fourth while Ohio State freshman Kayla Feltz was third, moving Ohio State into the teens with 16. Middle Tennessee State freshman Matthew McMurtrey made the race for second a close one, as the Orlando, Florida resident increased the Blue Raiders' team total to 14 with the reserve ribbon.

Some may have thought that if Kechejian won then he would in fact clinch the title for Findlay. However even before the winner of the division was announced the title was already theirs. With Ohio State in second at 16 points, a first for the Buckeyes in team open rail would only make the score 24-23, so there was no real pressure other than to see if Kechejian would help Findlay set a new team record for points at an IHSA National show. Though there were four riders still waiting to be pinned, it was in fact Kechejian earning the blue ribbon. The sophomore from Fresno, California had given Findlay 31 points, the most points scored by a Findlay western team at an IHSA National show. Since 1997 the highest score for a western team had belonged to New Mexico State in 1998, when the Aggies scored 30 of a possible 35 points. Many believe that New Mexico State had the record for most points but documention is not readily available to prove this. However if Findlay were to earn five or more points in the open division later in the day a new record for western team points would be set.

Three classes took place before the team open western horsemanship division, with one of them featuring Womer and Dare earning the top two scores and ribbons in the NRHA-sponsored individual open reining. Though Womer had edged out Dare for the blue ribbon to finish his IHSA undergraduate career undefeated, Dare was the Findlay entry in the team open western. Considering how good Dare had looked in winning the AQHA Trophy the night before - and even in a losing effort to Womer in the NRHA individual open reining - the odds of Findlay getting to 38 points seemed a distinct possibility.

It was nearly 1:00PM on Sunday afternoon when riders started entering the ring for the final IHSA class of the 2006-07 season. The team open western horsemanship division was made up mostly of upperclassmen, with Dare a noteworthy exception. Following the usual routine, the class was completed in a remarkably short time considering it was an open division. As had been the case throughout the four-day show Marash announced the results in reverse order, with West Texas A & M junior Whitney Fouts earning sixth place. Fouts, who had competed the day before in team open fences, raised the final West Texas A & M point total to 11. Ohio State senior Ashley Kovar, who had competed at each of the two previous IHSA Nationals shows, earned fifth place, giving Ohio State 18 points for the moment and the Reserve National Championship if things broke the right way. Kovar's ability to receive points meant that only Ohio State and Findlay were in line to place in the ribbons within all six team classes. Eckers' final undergraduate ride resulted in a fourth, giving St. Mary of the Woods 15 points and a shot at third. University of Nebraska at Lincoln senior Lindsey Salestrom earned third place, giving the Cornhuskers 13 points after a slow start.

Trevor Dare of Findlay (on horse) poses in the winner's circle at 2007 IHSA Nationals following a blue ribbon in team open western horsemanship. Findlay not only won five western team classes to easily claim a third National Championship, the Oilers also won two of the six individual western divisions while Dare himself was the individual AQHA Trophy champion.

It was truly a feast/famine effort outing for Oregon State, as sophomore Sara Gibson took the reserve ribbon. Oregon State finished tied for fourth with Middle Tennessee State at 14 points, though the Beavers did not receive any points in three of the six divisions. Oregon State Coach Carrie Kolstad could still be happy that her Beavers had more than doubled their point total from 2006 IHSA Nationals and that her team was one of only two to win a team class.

To no one's surprise Dare won the division. The freshman from Hilliard, Ohio looked superior when performing the pattern and thus increased the Oilers' point total to 38, a new record for a Findlay western team at Nationals but more importantly a new record for a western team from any school at an IHSA National show. Because some of the hunter seat team totals prior to 1992 are not necessarily available, Findlays' 38 points are the highest known total for any team - english or western - at an IHSA National show, this in spite of the fact there are two more divisions for english riders in which to earn points. Even more impressive was their record-setting margin of victory. Findlay finished 20 points ahead of Ohio State for the grand prize, earning better than double the Buckeyes' total and nearly tripleing the score of fifth-place Nebraska at Lincoln. Dares' win dotted the 'I's and crossed the 'T's to complete the IHSA's 40th season. No one wants to tempt fate, but Findlay may have put on a performance that could stand for another 40 years.

---Steve Maxwell

The 2007 IHSA Nationals Western Team Class-by-Class Results. The first two classes listed were held Friday, May 4th, the next two were held Saturday, May 5th and the final two were held Sunday, May 6th. The judges for all western classes were Dawn Clason and Mike Jennings:

Team novice western horsemanship: 1. Ryan Sims, University of Findlay. 2. Hilary Bedford, Ohio State University. 3. Sarah McKee, Middle Tennessee State University. 4. Kristine Thompson, West Texas A & M University. 5. Rebecca Smith, Black Hawk College. 6. Deborah Simmers-Shahadey, St. Mary of the Woods College.

Team advanced western horsemanship: 1. James Frebes, University of Findlay. 2. Dana Grupe, St. Mary of the Woods College. 3. Courtney Douglas, West Texas A & M University. 4. Natalie Norval, Ohio State University. 5. Brooke Sproull, Oregon State University. 6. Whitney Herron, Middle Tennessee State University.

Team open reining: 1. Travis Womer, University of Findlay. 2. Christina Ecker, St. Mary of the Woods College. 3. Charlie Goetz, Morrisville State College. 4. Whitney Agee, West Texas A & M University. 5. Keith Ceddia, Ohio State University. 6. Alicia Wittwer, University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

Team beginner western horsemanship: 1. Jessica Kraemer, Oregon State University. 2. Sarah Joy, University of Nebraska at Lincoln. 3. Crystal Hall, Middle Tennessee State University. 4. Aubrey Kuczerepa, University of Findlay. 5. Danielle Nichter, Ohio State University. 6. Corey Oldroyd, Morrisville State College.

Team intermediate western horsemanship: 1. Raffi Kechejian, University of Findlay. 2. Matthew McMurtrey, Middle Tennessee State University. 3. Kayla Feltz, Ohio State University. 4. Chelsea Leatherwood, University of Nebraska at Lincoln. 5. Corey Hayes, Morrisville State College. 6. Vanessa Reed, St. Mary of the Woods College.

Team open western horsemanship: 1. Trevor Dare, University of Findlay. 2. Sara Gibson, Oregon State University. 3. Lindsey Salestrom, University of Nebraska at Lincoln. 4. Christina Ecker, St. Mary of the Woods College. 5. Ashley Kovar, Ohio State University. 6. Whitney Fouts, West Texas A & M University.

2007 IHSA Nationals Western Team Totals: