Campus Equestrian: Zone 4, Region 2 Home Page

IHSA ZONE 4 - REGION 2

Seen here at the February 22nd Hollins show, Amaya Bellfield of the University of Lynchburg had a spectacular freshman year. The post-season was especially rewarding; At Zones Bellfield won the individual open over fences, the team open on the flat and the Cacchione Cup division. A month later at Nationals Bellfield again won the individual open fences, was third in team open on the flat, was second in team open over fences and placed fourth in the nation in the Cacchione Cup. Meanwhile the team points (including another second in team open fences at Zones) helped Lynchburg win Zone 4 Zones by a 43-37 score over host Goucher College and then finish fourth overall in the IHSA Nationals hunter seat team competition.

Virginia Tech advanced two Western riders to 2026 IHSA Nationals. The first of the two to compete was Chloeye Smith (on right, with Hokies western coach Katrina Johnson). Coincidentally from Blacksburg, Virginia, Smith was second in individual ranch riding at the Las Cruces, New Mexico Semifinal. Then at Nationals Smith closed out her junior year with a sixth in the same division on May 1st.

A day later it was Alexandra Edsall's turn. Seen here with her Mother, Edsall (on right) was fourth in individual reining at the Las Cruces Semifinal on March 21st. On May 2nd the sophomore from King, North Carolina closed out the season with a sixth in the same division at IHSA Nationals. Virginia Tech is in the most unusual IHSA western region or "Area" as the western regions are known. In 2025-26 this area (properly known as Area 4.0) contained five schools from five different IHSA hunter seat regions! There was Appalachian State University from Zone 4, Region 5; Liberty University from Zone 4, Region 4; North Carolina State from Zone 4, Region 3; Virginia Tech and Area 4.0 high point team Clemson University from a completely different Zone (Zone 5, Region 3)!

From Williamsburg, Virginia, Margaret Elliott of James Madison University had a nice final two shows of the 2025-26 season. Seen here at the February 22nd Hollins show, Elliott won the individual limit on the flat at Zones on April 4th and followed that up with a third in the same division at IHSA Nationals on May 1st to close out her junior year.

Through the fall eight University of Lynchburg riders had qualified for Regionals including Ava Hogan (pictured). A junior from Bedford, Virginia, Hogan pointed out of limit flat at the October 11th Hollins show. Lynchburg won five of the nine 2025-26 Region 2 regular season shows outright as well as tieing for high point team with host Virginia Tech on February 28th. The Hornets clinched a second-consecutive Region Title on the 28th as well.

A pair of Virginia Tech sophomores competed in the same open fences class at the November 22nd Hollins show. Claire Drahzal (on left, from Charlotte, North Carolina) was fifth while Alyssa Bledsoe (on right) won the section. From Virginia Beach, Virginia it was the open fences debut for Bledsoe, who had pointed out of intermediate fences the day before as Hollins hosted back-to-backs.

On either side of the entrance to the Hollins indoor you will find the logo for Hollins Athletics. So why not get a photo of one of the Hollins riders with that logo? From Washington, District of Columbia, Hollins University sophomore Freya Olson (pictured) qualified for Regionals in introductory equitation during the fall semester.

Both Bridgewater College and James Madison University have a new coach in 2025-26. And that one person who coaches both is Britni Cash (on right), who was Britni Johns when she rode for Virginia Tech slightly better than two decades ago. Seen here with Cash on the opposite side of the Hollins indoor entrance is Brieanne Carkhuff of Bridgewater, who was the lone member of the Eagles to qualify for Regionals during the fall. A sophomore from Sterling, Virginia, Carkhuff qualified in novice equitation.

Headed into the back-to-backs at Hollins three members of James Madison University had qualified for Regionals. One of them is Isabel Henick (on right), a sophomore from Cold Spring Harbor, New York who qualified for Regionals in intermediate flat during the fall. Her mother Jennifer (on left) was once an IHSA rider (and coach) as well. As Jennifer Hennessey she was class of '96 at C.W. Post College on Long Island, which is now known as Long Island University - Post. Under both her single and married names Isabel's mom coached her alma matter for over a decade, long enough to have coached the team under both the C.W. Post and LIU-Post names.

At the February 22nd Hollins show Washington & Lee University finished third for the day with 25 points. The lone member of the Generals to win a class that day was Kate Martin. A senior from Little Rock, Arkansas, Martin is seen here after winning the only section of introductory equitation that day. This kept alive hope that Martin could qualify for Regionals the following week when Virginia Tech hosted the Region 2 regular season finale on February 28th.

One of the few Region 2 riders to qualify for Regionals in two divisions during the fall was Carsyn Delph of the University of Virginia (pictured). A sophomore from Quinton, Virginia, Delph is seen here after winning her limit flat at the February 15, 2025 Virginia Tech show. This season Delph was already qualified for Regionals in both limit divisions prior to the Hollins back-to-backs.

One rider who qualified for Regionals at the February 22nd Hollins show was Julie Burnett of Ferrum College. Seen here between her parents that day, the sophomore from Franklin County, Virginia was second in her novice equitation class to point out of the division. This gave Ferrum at least two rides at Regionals, as teammate Abby McGuire (not pictured) pointed out of the same division during the fall.

Perhaps the rider with the most local ties to the area at the February 22nd Hollins show was Brooklyn Rivera of Roanoke College. The senior from Hollins, Virginia is seen here after placing second in limit flat. Rivera earned all five of the Maroon's team points with the ribbon.

Washington & Lee University outscored host Hollins 25-18 on 2/22 and gradually moved from fourth place to third overall over the second half of the 2025-26 season. A senior from Middleburg, Virginia, Lydia Bowersox of the Generals (pictured) was second in intermediate flat on the 22nd and had previously qualified for Regionals in limit fences.

The Reserve High Point hunter seat team in Region 2 for 2025-26 was Virginia Tech. Coached by Beth Sheely (on right, who herself is a former VT rider) the Hokies scored 292 points, six more than Washington & Lee and 22 more than Hollins. On February 22nd Charlotte Taylor of the Hokies (on left) earned her first blue ribbon in limit fences. During the fall the junior from Fork Union, Virginia qualified for Regionals in limit flat.

The University of Lynchburg earned their second consecutive Region 2 Region Title in 2025-26, finishing 45 points ahead of Virginia Tech with a total of 337 points. The Hornets have a deep roster, with many of their riders coming up big on any given day. Jessica McElhaney, a sophomore from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is seen here after placing second in limit flat at the December 7, 2024 Tournament of Champions invitational which was hosted by Virginia Tech. McElhaney qualified for Regionals in this division in the fall of 2025 to join Hogan and six other teammates in the post-season on an individual basis.

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The Zone 4, Region 2 Smorgasbord

Schools which competed in Zone 4, Region 2 during the 2025-2026 school year: Bridgewater College, Ferrum College, Hollins University, James Madison University, Roanoke College, University of Lynchburg, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and Washington & Lee University.

Fall 2026 Show Schedule for Zone 4, Region 2:

Saturday, September 26 Clemson University (Host) at T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, Pendleton, SC 10:30AM WESTERN ONLY

Sunday, September 27 Clemson University (Host) at T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena, Pendleton, SC 9:30AM WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, October 3 Hollins University (Host) at Hollins Riding Center, Roanoke, VA 10:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, October 4 Hollins University (Host) at Hollins Riding Center, Roanoke, VA 10:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, October 10 Virginia Tech (Host) at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena, Blacksburg, VA 11:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, October 11 Virginia Tech (Host) at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena, Blacksburg, VA 10:00AM ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, October 17 Washington & Lee University (Host) at Mane Gait Equestrian Center, Natural Bridge, VA Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, November 7 Virginia Tech (Host) at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena, Blacksburg, VA Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Sunday, November 8 University of Lynchburg (Host) at Lynchburg Equestrian at Patrick Henry Family Services Farm, Rustburg, VA Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, November 8 Virginia Tech (Host) at the Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena, Blacksburg, VA Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Western Show Dates to come. Virginia Tech shows Western with schools from other regions. Show Schedule subject to change.

Recent Region 2 Team Champions

1997 - Virginia Intermont College
1998 - Hollins College (1997-98
IHSA Hunter Seat National Champions)
1999 - Hollins University
2000 - Hollins University
2001 - Hollins University
2002 - Hollins University
2003 - Hollins University
2004 - Hollins University
2005 - Hollins University
2006 - Bridgewater College
2007 - Hollins University
2008 - Hollins University
2009 - Sweet Briar College
2010 - Hollins University
2011 - Bridgewater College
2012 - Bridgewater College
2013 - University of Virginia
2014 - Bridgewater College
2015 - University of Virginia
2016 - Bridgewater College
2017 - Randolph College
2018 - Randolph College
2019 - Randolph College
2020 - University of Virginia
2022 - Washington & Lee University
2023 - Hollins University
2024 - Hollins University
2025 - University of Lynchburg
2026 - University of Lynchburg

Regional Qualifiers

Open Level Rider Standings

Team Standings

Zone 4 NEIGHBORS

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Region 4 Homepage

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