By virtue of winning two of the three over fences classes Louisiana State wins the third tiebreaker and thus advances a full team to IHSA Nationals for the first time in program history (LSU team photo courtesy Leaf Boswell/Louisiana State University).

TIGERS WIN, 48-ALL!

Baton Rouge, LA - The IHSA system for tiebreakers at Zones is a simple one. The first tiebreaker is the number of blue ribbons. The second tiebreaker is the number of red ribbons. The third tiebreaker is points over fences. Thanks to wins by Margaret Covert (in team intermediate over fences) and Lauren Pontoppidan (in team novice fences) host Louisiana State emerged as High Point Team versus defending Zone 7 champion West Texas A & M University, earning the opportunity to take a full team to IHSA Nationals for the first time in program history.

In actuality both the host Tigers and the Buffaloes scored 48 points to tie. Had this show taken place two seasons ago, all eight class names would have been placed in a hat, a neutral party would then pick a class out of the hat, and that division would be staged a second time, with the same riders who competed in that division competing again in a winner-take-all tiebreaker class. The IHSA implemented the new tiebreaker system at the start of the 2006-07 season, in essence sparing the horses one more ride.

While Region 2 can claim the Zone 7 high point team in '08 Region 1 can claim more individual rides looming for themselves at Nationals. Nine of the 15 individual rides will come from Region 1, with six different schools represented. West Texas A & M will have three hunter seat riders showing individually in Burbank, as Laura Wilder (individual walk-trot-canter), Katie Sorensen (individual walk-trot) and Cacchione qualifier Whitney Fouts (individual open flat) all won their individual classes outright. Of the six rides at Nationals for Region 2 riders, four different schools will be represented, with LSU earning three rides including both Covert and Danielle Taylor in individual novice over fences.

It appears Mimi Williard is the first rider in Rice University history to qualify for Nationals. Willard was second to Fouts in individual open flat and will also compete for the Cacchione Cup May 8th through 11th at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

--Steve Maxwell

Class-By-Class Results from Zone 7 Zones, held April 5th, 2008 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with the top two riders in each individual class advancing to IHSA Nationals May 8th through 11th in Burbank, California:

Individual Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Kristina Harkin, University of Colorado at Boulder. 2. Dana Bronfman, Colorado College. 3. Mimi Willard, Rice University.

Team Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Whitney Fouts, West Texas A & M University. 2. Emily Taylor, Louisiana State University.

Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Dominique Delisle, Colorado College. 2. Corban Finkbeiner, Southern Nazarene University. 3. Julia Lindholm, Texas Tech University.

Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Margaret Covert, Louisiana State University. 2. Stephanie Hallgren, West Texas A & M University.

Individual Novice Equitation Over Fences: 1. Danielle Taylor, Louisiana State University. 2. Margaret Covert, Louisiana State University.

Team Novice Equitation Over Fences: 1. Lauren Pontoppidan, Louisiana State University. 2. Stefanie Gilbert, West Texas A & M University.

Individual Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation on the Flat: 1. Laura Wilder, West Texas A & M University. 2. Claire Leggett, Trinity University. 3. Lindsay Greenberg, Tulane University. 4. Kristen Erickson, University of Wyoming.

Team Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation on the Flat: 1. Josie Norwood, West Texas A & M University. 2. Elise Madara, Louisiana State University.

Individual Walk-Trot Equitation on the Flat: 1. Katie Sorensen, West Texas A & M University. 2. Leslie Kennedy, Laramie County Community College.

Team Walk-Trot Equitation on the Flat: 1. Shelli Danjean, Louisiana State University. 2. Brynna Baker, West Texas A & M University.

Individual Intermediate Equitation on the Flat: 1. Danielle Taylor, Louisiana State University. 2. Erin Downey, University of Wyoming.

Team Intermediate Equitation on the Flat: 1. Margaret Covert, Louisiana State University. 2. Stephanie Hallgren, West Texas A & M University.

Individual Novice Equitation on the Flat: 1. Laura Wynn, Texas Tech University.

Team Novice Equitation on the Flat: 1. Natalie Baker, West Texas A & M University. 2. Lauren Pontoppidan, Louisiana State University.

Individual Open Equitation on the Flat: 1. Whitney Fouts, West Texas A & M University. 2. Mimi Willard, Rice University. 3. Katie Williams, West Texas A & M University.

Team Open Equitation on the Flat: 1. Katie Williams, West Texas A & M University. 2. Emily Taylor, Louisiana State University.

Final Hunter Seat Team Totals, with the top team advancing to IHSA Nationals May 8th through 11th in Burbank, California: Louisiana State University 48 (Champion; Won third tiebreaker which is points over fences) and West Texas A & M University 48 (Reserve).

(Special Thanks to Leaf Boswell for her help in gathering these results - Editor)