Madrid And Wakeman Advance To IHSA National Champions To Lead Goucher Equestrian At Zone IV Championships

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Cherise Madrid (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) and Wren Wakeman (Addison, Maine/Washington Academy)  both advanced to the IHSA National Championships for Goucher College at the IHSA Zone IV Championships on Saturday.

Wakeman was the Zone Champion in the individual walk trot canter while Madrid was the Zone Reserve Champion in the individual walk trot. The duo will represent the Gophers at the national championships at the New York State Fairground Expo in Syracuse, N.Y., on May 2-5. Wakeman will be making her second trip to the national championships while Madrid will enjoy her first experience. Wakeman also placed fourth in team intermediate flat.

Irene Elise Powlick (Salt Lake City, Utah/Skyline) and Courtney Sloan (Annadale, Va./W.T. Woodson) were also judged as an individual and as a member of the team after qualifying along with Madrid and Wakeman for the individual portion at the Zone IV Region I Championships. Sloan finished third in individual novice flat and fourth in individual intermediate fences.

The team missed going to nationals by the tiniest of margins, but still had some great performances.

Powlick was the Zone Reserve Champion in team open fences. She also placed fourth in team open flat. Despite not advancing to nationals, Powlick will continue her standout freshman campaign at the Metropolitan Equitation Finals as an IHSA Showcase Class during The Longines Masters of New York on April 25-28, an invite only event that including once 24 IHSA open level riders.

Adeline Calihan (Keane, N.H./Making Community Connection Charter) was the Zone Champion in team walk trot canter. Havah Berg (Champaign-Urbana, Ill./University of Illinois Laboratory) was the Zone Reserve Champion in team walk trot and Emily Axel (Davenport, Ill./Davenport Central) was the Zone Reserve Champion in team intermediate fences. Nadia Langer (Chevy Chade, Md./Washington Waldorf) finished fourth in team novice flat. 

IHSA competition is broken up into five categories based on experience. The Open division has the most experienced rider, while intermediate is No. 2, novice is No. 3, walk trot canter is No. 4 and Walk trot is No. 5. The top three categories include two sub-sections; the "flat" which is a pattern that does not include jumping, and a fences section. In addition, when teams are on the road, like the Gophers were at Mary Washington, they are using the horses at the home stable. The riders are judged on their ability to adapt, communicate, and perform with an unfamiliar horse.

Axel, Powlick, Sloan and Rachel Stockslager (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) will represent Goucher in the ANRC Equitation Championships at the Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, Va., from Thursday-Saturday.

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