LEXINGTON, Ky. -- After a month and a half off from competition, the Midway equestrian western team returned to action on May 5-7 when they competed in the IHSA National Championship Show at Alltech Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
After winning IHSA Semi-Finals for the first time in program history, Conner Smith’s squad continued their success by posting a third-place finish as a team.
The third-place finish marks the second consecutive season that the Eagles have finished inside the top 10 coming off their sixth-place finish last year.
“I am so incredibly proud of my team,” said Smith. Their determination to succeed is a force to be reckoned with; in my eyes, these student-athletes are winners in both the horse show arena and in life.”
Smith added, “We look forward to what is in store for Midway’s equestrian western team. This wouldn’t be possible without the continued support from Midway University, friends, and families. It’s a great time to be #MidwayProud.”
Team Results
Leading the way for the Eagles on the team side of the competition was true freshman Chase Summerville who was named Reserve National Champion in two events. The Albany, Pa. native took second in both Level II Horsemanship and Ranch Riding.
Collecting a pair of third-place finishes in their respective events was the duo of Daylon Stafford (Martin, Ky.) and Sofia Getty (Dayton, Pa.). Stafford’s came in Beginner Horsemanship, while Getty took third in Rookie Horsemanship.
Sadie Tullock (Cleveland, Tenn.) then took fourth in Level I Horsemanship, while Kaylee Tingle (New Castle, Ky.) took seventh and eighth in Open Horsemanship and Reining, respectively.
Individual Results
Becoming Midway’s first individual national champion since Smith took over the program in 2019 was Jordan Schauer. A native of Centerburg, Ohio, Schauer won the first national title of her career with a first-place finish in Ranch Riding. The sophomore then followed that up with a fourth-place finish in Level II Horsemanship.
Lakyn Wilson, a senior from Hanover, Ind., became Midway’s second Reserve National Champion at the show after claiming a second-place finish in Level I Horsemanship.
Tingle, the High Point Rider of the region, took ninth in the High Point Rider competition, while she was named a finalist in the Reining class.
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