A winning rider writes a thank you note to title sponsor NRHA. Photo by Joleen DeWitt
Gladys, Va.– March 25, 2026 – Three campuses. One weekend. The Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) held its Western Semi-Finals, sponsored by the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), March 21-22. The three events were hosted by the University of Findlay (Findlay, Ohio), Murray State University (Murray, Kentucky) and New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, New Mexico).
NRHA/IHSA Western Semi-Finals are the qualifying events to determine which Western teams and individuals will compete at the IHSA National Championship at Tryon International in North Carolina, May 1-3. The top five individuals from the two-phase Back On Track High-Point Western Rider division, the top four individuals from all other divisions and the top four teams from each Semi-Finals punched their tickets to the IHSA National Championship.
NRHA/IHSA Western Semi-Finals, Hosted by the University of Findlay
At the University of Findlay-hosted Semi-Finals, judges Brad Kearns (Dallas, Texas) and Alex Bryner (Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania) presided over the event.
The host team, led by coach Spencer Zimmerman, took the team championship with 45 points. Findlay has a Semi-Finals streak going with many consecutive championships. They have also been honored in the IHSA National Championship winner’s circle as the top team in 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2018 and 2019.
The champion University of Findlay team. Photo by Grace Scott
The 2022 and 2025 National Champion Western Team, Black Hawk College, coached by Rebekah Irish, took the second spot with 32 points. The Chris McElyea-led Penn State squad was third with 22 points and Alfred University, with coach Adam D’Agostino, was fourth with 17 points. All four top teams are IHSA National Championship-bound.
"Hosting comes with its own challenges," Coach Zimmerman said. "In and out of the show pen our students were working tirelessly to be prepared, have the horses prepared, have the facility prepared and welcome guests. They took that initiative themselves. It's a great group of students that we are blessed to work with. So I can't thank them enough and the faculty and staff here at the university that allow us to do this and support us and help along the way. It takes a whole army to do it. And we've got a pretty good one."
The University of Findlay provided all the horses for their hosted Semi-Finals, and Zimmerman shared that many were donated, a few were student-owned, and some had been raised in the program. "We're forever grateful for those donors that keep supplying us with horses, " he said. "Our students have produced horses as well. A lot of the horses we used were broke out here in our program. We use them as green horses, then freshman horses or specialty horses. But it's so cool. I watch as an instructor and say, 'I remember when that horse was being broke out and didn't know anything. And now he's out here showing with kids that have never ridden him before, and he's able to go around.' I think that says a lot about our program."
Zimmerman says he's looking forward to the IHSA National Championship for the camaraderie and the satisfaction of seeing the team demonstrate the skills they've learned.
Mount Holyoke College's Lili Evans earned the first-place slot in the Open Horsemanship. She will be joined by second-place finisher Cassidy Fritz from the University of Findlay at the National Championship. Third-place finisher Marissa Bartholomew from Morrisville State College and fourth-place rider Alicia Smoot from Delaware Valley University will also make the trip to Tryon.
IHSA member athletes spun into the spotlight in the NRHA Individual Open Reining, with the University of Findlay’s Hayley Mertz nabbing a first-place prize. Mount Holyoke’s Evans placed second. Sliding and spinning her way to third was Julie Warnick from Wilson College and Samantha Smit from Alfred University was fourth. All qualified for the IHSA National Championship.
Tianna Cooper made the home team proud by clinching the championship of the two-phase Back on Track High-Point Ride championship. Evans earned reserve champion honors for Mount Holyoke College.
In the popular NRHA Individual Ranch Riding, Jayci Halcema and Gabrielle Olson, both from Black Hawk College, were first and second, respectively. Findlay's John Price was third and Lauren Williams from Delaware Valley University rounded out the top four.
The University of Findlay's Tianna Cooper earned the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider and Lili Evans from Mount Holyoke College was reserve champion. Photo by Grace Scott
NRHA/IHSA Western Semi-Finals, Hosted by Murray State University
IHSA National Champion Western Team in 2023 and 2024, Middle Tennessee State University, coached by Ariel Higgins, took the overall team win with 44 points. The Albion College team, coached by Nicholle McColley, took the second spot with 26 points. The Ashley Glenn-led Mississippi State University squad was third with 24 points and Miami University Ohio, with coach Beth Fray, was fourth with 19 points. All top-four teams are National Championships-bound. David Denniston (Fort Collins, Colorado) and Lynda Danielson (Streator, Illinois) officiated the Murray State Semi-Finals.
Middle Tennessee State University was the top team at the Murray State University- hosted IHSA Western Semi-Finals. Photo by Morgan Short
According to Coach Higgins, the Middle Tennessee State team has a lot of newer members. "My Open rider was one of the Open riders last year, so everybody, but the open is new," she said. I do have a couple of seniors, but then also some younger riders that really stepped up this year."
Though they won the Region, Higgins describes the competition as tough. "Murray State University and Western Kentucky University are big contenders in our region," she said. "It was definitely a close battle throughout the season. I think that's what prepares us to be successful in postseason. We've already been pushed throughout the year and we have to be our best every weekend if we want to get enough points to be the region champion team.
"We also have wonderful relationships with everyone in our region. We are legitimately friends as a group, and our students are friends." Higgins feels the atmosphere of friendliness and support encourages riders to push themselves, especially during the postseason.
"I'd like to thank the NRHA and Back on Track for their support of Western Semi-Finals and for their great prizes and support," Higgins continued. "We're excited to move on to Nationals and thankful for all of the sponsors that help make that possible, too."
In NRHA Individual Reining, the judges' top pick was Middle Tennessee State University’s Marcie Leath. The second-place prize went to Makenna Noon from Miami University Ohio. Morgan Ekstrom, from the host school, Murray State, took the third-place finish and Megan Pearson of Wilmington College was fourth.
In Individual Open Horsemanship, Wilmington College's Pearson earned the top spot on the podium. Madison Weedon from Albion College was the second-place finisher. Natalie Ruha from Mississippi State University was third and Grace Walker from the University of Alabama took fourth. All are headed to Tryon International for the IHSA National Championship.
Meagan Pearson from Wilmington College earned the Back on Track High-Point Rider Championship, with Middle Tennessee State University’s Leath taking reserve honors.
In NRHA Individual Ranch Riding, Faith Dady from Middle Tennessee State University topped the class. Albion College's Weedon earned the red ribbon and Haley Clithero from Murray State University took home a yellow ribbon. Alexandra Beasley from Berry College was fourth.
Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Reserve Champion Marcie Heath from Middle Tennessee State University, IHSA Board Secretary Becky Huddleston and Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Champion Meagan Pearson from Wilmington College at the Murray State University- hosted NRHA Western Semi-Finals. Photo by Morgan Short
NRHA/IHSA Western Semi-Finals, Hosted by New Mexico State University
The IHSA 2004 and 2013 Western Team National Champions, West Texas A&M University, coached by Lori Jaixen, won the Semi-Finals hosted by New Mexico State University with 41 points. Coach Dawn Ross and the Oregon State University team were second, notching 30 points. Vicki Merck qualified her Clemson University team by earning 26 points and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, led by Coach Lena Luck, also earned 25 points and will progress to the IHSA National Championship Horse Show at Tryon International. Larry Sanchez (Stillwater, Oklahoma) and Sandra Curl (Vero Beach, Florida) judged the event.
The West Texas A&M University team won the championship at the New Mexico State University- hosted NRHA Western Semi-Finals. Photo by Truluck Photography
Jaixen began coaching the spirited West Texas A&M University team this season after many years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. On the move to West Texas A&M, she said, "It's just been phenomenal. It has just been a great experience. We have very good leadership. Our team captains and the other officers are amazing. It's just been a really pleasant and fun transition."
Jaixen said that the team spent a lot of time in the saddle and put in a lot of hard work. "It seemed to have paid off," she said. "The students were prepared for their draws and it a great experience. We're going to keep building off of what we've accomplished to continue moving forward."
The New Mexico State-hosted NRHA Western Semi-Finals were held in their new indoor facility. "It is beautiful," Jaixen said. "We were there when they hosted the last regular season show and then Regionals. It was a great event, a lot of fun, great horses, great people. Our team brought home four of the very beautiful belt buckles! Many thanks to NRHA and Back on Track!"
Kaitlyn Evans, from West Texas A&M University, topped the Individual Open Horsemanship division, finishing in front. Second place went to Madelyn Nevels from College of the Sequoias. Both Sophia Cheslock from Oregon State University and Colorado State University's Marisa Nelson, who finished third and fourth, will also compete in the NRHA Individual Open Reining at the IHSA National Championships.
In NRHA Individual Open Reining, West Texas A&M University’s Helene Keiser took the blue ribbon. North Carolina State University’s Cayden Lowe earned red ribbon honors. Eva Johnson, from the Oklahoma Panhandle State University, was third and Alexandra Edsall from Virginia Tech was fourth.
Peyton Podmolik from West Texas A&M University earned the Back on Track High-Point Western Rider championship with Clemson University’s Samantha Johnson as reserve.
In the NRHA Individual Ranch Riding, Texas Tech University’s Lexi Genn took the win. Chloeye Smith from Virginia Tech was second and Nicole Poussier from the University of Washington earned third. Colby Community College's Kairi Quinn took the fourth-place prize.
Peyton Podmolik from West Texas A&M University was the Back on Track Western High-Point Rider Champion, and Samantha Johnson from Clemson University was the reserve champion at the New Mexico State University-hosted NRHA Western Semi-Finals. Photo by Joleen DeWitt
Congratulations to all the NRHA Western Semi-Finals winners! A special thank you to title sponsor NRHA and all IHSA sponsors for their continued support of IHSA events. These talented riders — including the top five from the Back On Track High-Point Western Rider standings, the top-four from each division, and the top teams — will join the winners from the eight IHSA Zone Championships (taking place in March 28-29 and in early April) at Tryon International Equestrian Center on May 1–3 for the IHSA National Championship Horse Show.