Campus Equestrian: Zone 2, Region 5 Home Page

IHSA ZONE 2 - REGION 5

Seton Hill University won a close, three-way race with West Virginia University and the University of Pittsburgh to claim their sixth hunter seat Region Title over the past seven seasons. Eight members of the Griffins qualified for Regionals including Hannah Wheaton (center, with her parents Kristin on left and Stu on right). A senior from Hamburg, New York, Wheaton showed in back-to-back classes at Zone 2 Zones in Reedsville, West Virginia on April 5th. Wheaton was seventh in individual open flat and fifth in team open flat to close out her four years at the Greensburg, Pennsylvania school. And according to her mother Hannah went from the novice level as a freshman to riding in the open flat her senior year!

Some think that the biggest story around the IHSA in 2024-25 was Wilmington College winning high point team honors for the year within what is properly known as Western Area 2.6 but was a combination of schools found in Zone 2, Region 5 and Zone 6, Region 2 for hunter seat. Wilmington outscored Ohio State University by a 220-202 margin, with both schools having been in Zone 6, Region 2 for western going back many years until this season. Ohio State had won 37 consecutive region titles and had made 36 consecutive trips with a full western team to IHSA Nationals. Wilmington snapped the Buckeye's streak and then had to navigate Semifinals to see if they would send a full team forward to Nationals themselves. Hattie Hobbs (pictured), a freshman from Cambridge City, Indiana who left the Wilmington track team to ride on their western team, is seen here after winning the team Level I Western class at the Logan Township, New Jersey Semifinal on March 16th. Hobbs was the only member of the Quakers to win a team class that day and it came in the fifth team class at a time when second through fifth places were very much up for grabs. When it was over Wilmington was officially fourth place and will in fact send a full Western Team to IHSA Nationals in Mill Spring, North Carolina May 2nd through 4th. With the various region realignments over the years it needs to be said that this was the first season Wilmington College won a Region Title of any kind.

Ohio State University may not have a full western team going to IHSA Nationals but Madison McCuen of the Buckeyes will be there. Seen here with her Father at the Dream Park in Logan Township, New Jersey on March 15th the sophomore from Wadsworth, Ohio was one of eight riders called back from two Level II Western Horsemanship heats and eventually placed third in the division at Semifinals on March 16th. By qualifying for Nationals Ohio State will have had at least one rider entered at each of the last 37 IHSA Nationals events. McCuen will compete in Level II at Tryon International Equestrian Center on the third day of the three-day event which is Sunday, May 4th.

Five West Virginia University riders qualified for Region 5 Hunter Seat Regionals and three of them advanced through to Zones. With the Mountaineers hosting Zones (the first time in over a decade that Region 5 hosted a Zones event) this meant one more ride for each in their home facility perhaps before graduating. Julia Suhadolnik (on right) and Gavra Goldie were both seniors while we are still trying to confirm if co-captain Sarah Weaver was also a senior. WVU coach Amy Miller (on left) saw Weaver place sixth in individual intermediate on the flat; Goldie place fifth in individual open over fences and Suhadolnik, from Rocky River, Ohio, tenth in individual limit flat. Suhadolnik was the only hunter seat Mountaineer to qualify for Regionals in two divisions, having also pointed out of limit fences.

The University of Pittsburgh stayed in the Region 5 hunter seat team race until the final day. Of the six Panthers who qualified for Regionals three of them pointed out twice including John Notaro (on left). A sophomore from Franklin Park, Pennsylvania, Notaro pointed out of both limit divisions. Pittsburgh head coach Jim Boyce (on right) saw all three of his double-qualifiers get through to Zones in one division each. Notaro closed out his sophomore year with a fifth in individual limit over fences at the J.W. Ruby Research Farm in Reedsville, West Virginia on April 5th.

Pennsylvania Western University or "PennWest" now has their name on a school that was previously known in IHSA circles as California University of Pennsylvania. This changeover took place prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, so Kyleigh Trecki of the Vulcans may have spent one year at the school before the name change. A senior from Clinton, Pennsylvania, Trecki (on right) is seen here with head coach Olivia DeCeser during the March 22nd University of Pittsburgh show. Trecki made it all the way to Zones in Reedsville on April 5th, closing out the season with a tenth in individual introductory equitation.

She needed one point to go to Regionals and she received seven! Elizabeth Brison of Slippery Rock University (on left, with head coach Amy Keefer) won her novice equitation class on March 22nd at Stonegate Farm when this photo was taken. A freshman from Washington, Pennsylvania, Brison would be the only Slippery Rock rider to qualify for Regionals in 2024-25.

While the former California University of Pennsylvania went through a name change earlier this decade the same cannot be said for Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Three members of the Crimson Hawks qualified for 2025 Regionals including Emily Simmons (on left). Seen here with her Mother at Stonegate Farm on March 10, 2024, the junior from Plum, Pennsylvania qualified in novice equitation.

Karlie Dennis of Seton Hill University (pictured) had quite a freshman season for the Griffins. Dennis pointed out of limit fences before the final two shows. Then she ran off two firsts and a second at Zones on April 5th. After placing second in team intermediate over fences Dennis won the individual limit over fences and team intermediate on the flat. Dennis was the only Region 5 rider to win a class at '25 Zones. No other rider in the region placed higher than third that day.

In 2024-25 three schools from Ohio - Ohio University, Ohio State University and Wilmington College - were moved into Area 2.6 joining Bethany College, Slippery Rock, PennWest-California Campus and West Virginia University. As it turned out the Ohio schools advanced the larger number of riders to Semifinals than the Pennsylvania and West Virginia schools. One of the riders with a history in the previous incarnation of the area is West Virginia University senior Halley Nau (on left). From Thompson, Ohio, Nau is seen here with Mountaineers western coach Kathy Marciak, who was previously the hunter seat coach at the University of Pittsburgh roughly 15 years ago. The runner-up to Wilmington's Maeghan Pearson in the area 2.6 western open rider standings, Nau qualified for Semifinals in both individual open western horsemanship and individual open reining.

Just as Slippery Rock had only one Regional Qualifier in 2024-25 the same can be said for Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. From Saegertown, Pennsylvania, the Scots' Aubree Dann (pictured) pointed out novice equitation prior to the March 22/23 weekend at Stonegate Farm where this photo was taken. Like Dennis, Dann pointed out quickly during her freshman year.

Bethany College sent two riders to Regionals with one of them being Kaydon Campbell (pictured). A sophomore from Wheeling, West Virginia, Campbell also pointed out of novice equitation. Bethany and West Virginia University are the only schools located in the state of West Virginia to compete within the IHSA during the 2024-25 season.

Penn State University in Erie - known as the Behrend campus or simply Penn State Behrend - did not have a rider at Regionals. In fact Gemma Shabella of Behrend (on right) was the school's only rider entered at the March 22nd Pittsburgh show. Seen here with coach Lindsay Filley (who was Lindsay Nolan when she rode for the University of Pittsburgh under Becki Bloom 20 seasons ago) Shabella was making her IHSA debut that day. A sophomore from Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Shabella was third in her novice equitation class which allowed PSU-Behrend to tie Edinboro with four team points on the 22nd.

After we took this photo of the University of Pittsburgh's Peyton Chen she proceeded to win her open flat class. This was on March 22nd, and the senior from Buffalo, New York was already qualified for Regionals in intermediate flat. We are still trying to clarify if the Panthers or West Virginia finished second to Seton Hill in the close hunter seat team race.

Abbie Noble (on left) is in her third season as the Ohio State University western co-coach. On the right is Kyle Anders of the Buckeyes, a senior coincidentally from Columbus, Ohio who survived the day one callbacks at Semifinals and closed out four years at the Columbus, Ohio school with a seventh in individual rookie western horsemanship on March 16th.

There were 13 classes held at Stonegate Farm on March 22nd and Aaron Reedy of West Virginia University (on right) won the 13th. Seen here with coach Miller the Mountaineer sophomore from Princeton, West Virginia won the individual introductory equitation class that closed the show. Reedy qualified for Regionals in the process while West Virginia finished the day with 24 points and reserve high point team honors.

The first rider to win a class at Stonegate on March 22nd was Kaitlyn Sheerahamed of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (on left). Seen here with Crimson Hawks head coach Samantha Krall the sophomore from Lake Worth, Florida was a blue ribbon winner in open fences. Sheerahamed placed second in open flat later in the day and took home reserve high point rider honors. On April 5th Sheerahamed closed out her sophomore year with a ninth in individual open flat at Zones in Reedsville, West Virginia.

This photo was taken in the lobby at Stonegate Farm following a big day for both Slippery Rock University and senior Ava Bruschi (on right, with coach Keefer). From Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, Bruschi (pronounced "Brew-ski") won both of her limit classes to take high point rider honors outright on March 22nd. Bruschi helped the Rock earn high point team honors with 31 points, seven more than West Virginia and eight more than IUP.

From Lisieux, France, Almandine Gand of Seton Hill University (pictured) was the Griffins' go-to open over fences rider in 2024-25. Gand closed out her senior year with fourths in both team open over fences and individual open over fences at Zones on April 5th. We are trying to confirm if Gand finished second to Goldie in the hunter seat open rider standings.

A big reason Wilmington College was able to win their first-ever Region Title was the points earned by open rider Maegan Pearson (on left). A junior from Laurel, Indiana, Pearson put 95 of a possible 112 points on the board in the combined western open levels for the Quakers. Head coach Stephanie McConnell (on right) saw Pearson win the High Point Western Open Rider class of seven riders at Semifinals (the top five go on to Nationals where the top Western rider of the season will be determined) while finishing second in individual open western horsemanship that weekend. And Pearson's second in team open western horsemanship in the final class on March 16th officially clinched a place for the entire team at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina May 2nd through 4th.

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The Zone 2, Region 5 Smorgasbord

Schools competing in Zone 2, Region 5 during the 2024-2025 school year: Allegheny College, Bethany College (WV), Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Mercyhurst College, Penn State Erie - The Behrend College, Pennsylvania Western University - California Campus, Seton Hill University, Slippery Rock University, University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University.

Winter/Spring 2025 Show Schedule for Zone 2, Region 5:

Saturday, February 22 Slippery Rock University (Host) at Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, Slippery Rock, PA 9:00AM 2 WESTERN ONLY

Sunday, February 23 Slippery Rock University (Host) at Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, Slippery Rock, PA 9:00AM 2 WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, March 1 Zone 2, Region 5 Western Regionals at the West Virginia University J.W. Ruby Research Farm, also known as Reedsville Farm, Reedsville, WV Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, March 15 Mercyhurst University (Host) at Fox Hollow Stables, Wampum, PA 10:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, March 15 WESTERN SEMIFINALS - DAY 1 Hosted by the schools of Zone 3 at the Dream Park, Logan Township, NJ 9:00AM WESTERN ONLY

Sunday, March 16 WESTERN SEMIFINALS - DAY 2 Hosted by the schools of Zone 3 at the Dream Park, Logan Township, NJ 8:00AM WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, March 22 University of Pittsburgh (Host) at Stonegate Farm, Coolville, OH 9:30AM ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, March 23 Penn State Erie - The Behrend Campus (Host) at Stonegate Farm, Coolville, OH 9:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, March 23 Zone 2, Region 5 Hunter Seat Regionals at Stonegate Farm, Coolville, OH HELD FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE FINAL REGULAR SEASON SHOW - ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, April 5 ZONE 2 ZONES at the West Virginia University J.W. Ruby Research Farm, also known as Reedsville Farm, Reedsville, WV Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Friday through Sunday, May 2 - 4 IHSA NATIONALS at Tryon International Equestrian Center, Mill Spring, NC Time each day TBA ENGLISH AND WESTERN

Starting in 2024-25 Ohio University, Ohio State University and Wilmington College from Zone 6, Region 2 will show Western in Zone 2, Region 5. Show Schedule subject to change.

Recent Region Champions (Most of the current Region 5 schools were in Zone 3, Region 3 prior to the 2010-11 season and known as Zone 6, Region 5 2010-14)

Hunter Seat:

1997 - Penn State University (State College)
1998 - Penn State University (State College)
1999 - Penn State University (State College)
2000 - Penn State University (State College)
2001 - Penn State University (State College)
2002 - Wilson College
2003 - Penn State University (State College)
2004 - Penn State University (State College)
2005 - Penn State University (State College)
2006 - West Virginia University
2007 - West Virginia University
2008 - West Virginia University
2009 - West Virginia University
2010 - West Virginia University
2011 - West Virginia University
2012 - West Virginia University
2013 - West Virginia University
2014 - West Virginia University
2015 - West Virginia University
2016 - West Virginia University
2017 - Seton Hill University
2018 - Seton Hill University
2019 - Seton Hill University
2020 - Seton Hill University
2022 - Seton Hill University
2023 - West Virginia University
2024 - Seton Hill University
2025 - Seton Hill University

Western (recognized as Zone 3, Region 2 1998-2001, then simply as Zone 3 2001-02, as Zone 3, Region 1/3/4 2002-10 and as Zone 6, Region 5 2010-14):

1999 - Kutztown University
2000 - Kutztown University
2001 - University of Delaware
2002 - Rutgers University
2003 - Kutztown University
2004 - Kutztown University
2005 - West Virginia University
2006 - West Virginia University
2007 - West Virginia University
2008 - West Virginia University
2009 - West Virginia University
2010 - West Virginia University
2011 - West Virginia University
2012 - West Virginia University
2013 - West Virginia University
2014 - West Virginia University
2015 - Slippery Rock University
2016 - West Virginia University
2017 - Clarion University
2018 - Slippery Rock University
2019 - Youngstown State University
2020 - Youngstown State University
2022 - West Virginia University
2023 - West Virginia University
2024 - West Virginia University
2025 - Wilmington College

Regional Qualifiers

Open Level Rider Standings

Team Standings

ZONE 2 NEIGHBORS

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