SHS equestrian team ‘showcase’

What: Equestrian team’s exhibition, meet/greet, information

When: 3-4 p.m., Sunday, April 24

Where: Freedom Farms, 493 Spring Road, Agnew

Open to: Community at large, youths (grades 9-12 in public, private or homeschool) interested in joining team

Sequim Gazette staff

These high school student-athletes are bringing home some hardware.

Thanks to strong showings in the cattle events and Drill Team Freestyle Fours category, Sequim High School’s equestrian team took home the District Reserve Champion trophy for small schools for the 2016 season, following their third District 4 meet of the season in Spanaway, held April 8-10.

Kelly Anders, Sydney Balkan, Amanda Murphy and Abi Payseno highlighted the meet with a first-place finish in the Freestyle Fours, one of Sequim’s 18 top-10 finishes.

Balkan took first in Breakaway Roping and second in Steer Daubing while Payseno was second in Pole Bending and third in Individual Flags.

Anders also recently learned she is receiving a $500 Washington State High School Equestrian Team (WAHSET) District 4 scholarship.

Next up for the team is the state meet, set for May 12-15 in Moses Lake. There, Sequim competes against about 60 teams from across Washington.

Talents on display

On Sunday, April 24, the Sequim High School equestrian team hosts its annual team exhibition, set for 3-4 p.m. at Freedom Farms in Agnew. The event is open to friends, family and sponsors there, but particularly to teens who may be interested in joining the team next year. The Washington State High School Equestrian Team is open to students in grades 9-12, including those in public and private schools or who are homeschool students.

SHS equestrian results, Third district meet

(top 20 placings only)

• Individual events

Barrels: 11. Balkan, 13. Abi Payseno

Breakaway Roping: 1. Balkan

Dressage: 14. Balkan, 20. Haylie Newton

Figure Eight: 8. Payseno, 18. Yana Hoesel

Individual Flags: 3. Payseno, 13. Miranda Williams

Pole Bending: 2. Payseno

Reining: 6. Kelly Anders

Saddleseat: 6. Anders, 8. Amanda Murphy

Steer Daubing: 2. Balkan; 3. Newton, 4. Williams, 9. Murphy, 12. Anders

Stockseat: 15. Anders

Trail: 16. Murphy

Working Rancher: 8. Newton

• Team events

Birangle: 17. Balkan/Payseno, 18. Newton/Williams

Cattle Sorting: 4. Anders/Murphy, 9. Balkan/Hoesel

Drill Team Freestyle 4’s: 1. Anders/Balkan/Murphy/Payseno

In Hand Obstacle Relay: 8. Anders/Hoesel/Murphy/Newton

Team Canadian Flags: 3. Balkan/Hoesel/Newton/Williams

Working Pairs: 7. Anders/Balkan,12. Murphy/Williams

Sequim’s end-of-2016 season placings

(Medal winners, state qualifiers and alternates advance to state meet in May)

Scholarship winner — Anders

Small Team Reserve High Point Trophy (Silver): Sequim team

Gold medalists — Balkan (Breakaway Roping); Payseno (Pole Bending); Drill Team Freestyle Fours Team A (Anders/Balkan/Murphy/Payseno, Williams alternate)

Bronze medalists — Balkan (Steer Daubing)

State qualifiers — Payseno (Individual Flags)

State alternates — Anders (Reining, Saddleseat); Balkan (Individual Flags); Newton (Steer Daubing); Cattle Sorting Team (Anders/Murphy); Team Canadian Flags (Balkan, Hoesel/Newton/Williams).