Zone 4 Guides the Way in NAYC Children’s Team Competition
On Thursday of week five of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, the team from Zone 4, led by Kim Land, rode to victory in Team Competition for the Children’s category at the FEI North American Youth Championships, finishing on just 4.32 penalties overall.
Coming in on a strong score already, with the Individual Qualifier winner as part of their team, the Zone 4 athletes — Jesus Rigu, McKenzie Badley, Paisley Cramer, and Georgina Jewell — added nothing to their score, producing a clean slate over two rounds of jumping Thursday.
Teammates Jesus Rigu and Georgina Jewell, winner of the Individual Qualifier, both jumped double-clear rounds, undoubtedly solidifying the team’s win. Each of the other athletes produced a clear round as well, ultimately contributing to their final score of zero for the day.
Zone 4 celebrates its gold medal in the FEI North American Youth Championships Children’s Team Competition alongside silver medalists Zone 10 and bronze medalists Team Canada at Flintfields Horse Park. Photo: Traverse City Horse Shows
“I always like the team competitions best; we don’t get to do them as much,” Rigu commented following their awards presentation. “It’s nice when you have a good team that you trust. We all rode great, we didn’t add anything to the score we brought yesterday, and yesterday we did really well. It feels good to win as a team. I really like jumping here, it’s my third year and every year I like it even more.”
In the silver-medal position was Zone 10, with athletes Brianna Shannon, Taylor Morrow, Lillian Loftin, and Isabel Moment, led by team chef d’equipe Michael Endicott.
Loftin believed that seeing herself and her team as podium finishers really helped her deliver the results she needed. “I definitely manifested a lot,” she explained. “Riding as an individual you’re riding for yourself and you can really beat yourself up, but when you ride for a team you have to make sure you show up for your team. It’s definitely harder but it’s also more fun because you get to ride with friends and meet new people.”
Team Canada, led by Peter Gisborn, rallied with a completely clear second round to secure the bronze medal. As a team of only three athletes, all scores had to go towards the final team score, and team members Blake Che, Nya Ryan, and Laura Nosworthy made them count, even when things didn’t exactly go their way in round one.
“I have such an incredible horse who’s able to get me out of anything and she tries her heart out,” Ryan shared as she focused on round two and producing a clutch clear. “I was locked in and trying to make it through and keep the pressure off. I tried to ride like I usually do.”
After securing the team gold medal, Rigu is looking forward to the Individual Final but he feels what his team did Thursday will go down as the bigger accomplishment of the week. “We have two more courses to do on Saturday, and honestly that is the bonus,” he shared. “I’m already really happy we did this today. I’m going to try to keep it moving and try the best I can.”
Zone 2 Proves Unbeatable in NAYC Junior Team Competition
Capturing the team gold medal in the Junior section was Zone 2, led by Krista Freundlich. The winning team, made up of athletes Scarlett Samuels, Cecilia Chatterjee, Agatha Lignelli, and Rylynn Conway, rode to a score of just 4 faults over the two rounds, bringing their finishing score after days one and two to 8.47 penalties, carrying an impressive lead over second place.
“I think our zone is so special,” Lignelli said in the press conference following the prizegiving. “We have such a special chef d’equipe and we all have such an amazing relationship so to be successful together is really special.”
Conway and Samuels each put in double-clear performances, making them top contenders looking ahead to Saturday’s Individual Final. But for these athletes, the experience at NAYC is more about the team camaraderie and the friends they make along the way.
“It feels amazing, especially to be able to do this as a team,” Conway said about her team’s victory. “I’m so thankful to my horse and everyone who made this happen.”
Taking a second silver medal home to the West Coast was Michael Endicott’s Zone 10 team, this time with Junior athletes Allyn Marie Creel, Madison Weiner, Lauren Padilla, and Violet Tatum.
All athletes on the podium echoed how powerful it is to be part of a team.
“It can be very isolating sometimes when it doesn’t go your way,” Creel commented about the nature of an individual sport. “It’s nice when we are here having each other’s backs. We all had each other’s backs every step of the way today.”
Kim Land’s Zone 4 squad ended up on the podium once again Thursday, taking the bronze medal this time around. Athletes Alexa Curry, Collin Sweetnam, Sophia Ayers, and RJ Maya echoed the sentiment that competing as a team enriched their experience at NAYC. They created new memories they will cherish through the rest of their riding careers.
“For me [the highlight] was to get to ride on a team with three amazing athletes and also friends,” Ayers remarked. “We’ve seen each other grow. My first year [at NAYC] was not very good and it’s been fun to watch everyone and also get to meet up and see each other.”
Looking Ahead to Friday
Thursday’s action wrapped up with the $10,000 Young Rider Individual Qualifier, where Campbell Brown (USA) and Colina Z earned the win ahead of Kait Meggenhofen (USA) aboard Diva de Talma and Avery Griffin (USA) aboard Bodega Semilly. Their scores will carry forward as base scores into Friday’s Young Rider Team Competition.
The FEI North American Youth Championships continue Friday with Pre Junior Team Competition and Young Rider Team Competition in the Turtle Creek International Ring. In the Highstreet Arena Dressage Ring, the Junior Individual Test, Children’s Team Test, and U25 Grand Prix 18–25 take center stage. Friday also features the $31,100 CSI3* Speed. Fans and competitors can view full schedules, results, and live updates through the Traverse City Horse Shows Mobile App.
