Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Schoessow, Magnus, Verhalen, Hanna
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 10/20/2021
Two Equestrian Teams Headed to State (2021)
From (l-r), Abby Schoessow, Brook Magnus, Grace Verhalen and Charlotte Hanna competed in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Horse Association District 6 Regional. Magnus, representing Neillsville, won Division D. the other three young ladies representing Granton won Division C. Submitted photo
Young ladies from Neillsville and Granton will soon have the chance to represent their communities in a state-wide horse show after passing the first round of competition.
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Horsemanship Association (WIHA) District 6 regional competition was held at the Central Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in Marshfield Oct. 2 and 3. District 6 includes 21 counties. School equestrian teams from all across northeast Wisconsin came to compete in a series of standardized classes consisting of showmanship (showing in a pattern in hand), equitation (showing in a riding pattern), reinsman-ship (showing a pattern driving a cart) and speed events (such as barrels and poles).
Due to last year’s WIHA competition being cancelled, Brooke Magnus from Neillsville was able to compete as a “super senior.” Magnus, now a freshman at UW-Stevens Point, was proud to represent Neillsville. She competed in the Division D competition, which is the teams of one to two riders. The top two teams in each division advance to state. Magnus won her division to earn a spot at state.
Magnus rode both of her ponies: Zippos Classic Lad (“Jojo”) and Only Cowboys invited (“Mae”) and competed against teams from Marinette and Suring. The point totals were as follows: Neillsville 403, Marinette 327 and Suring 302. This is Brooke’s fourth year winning the Division D competition and representing Neillsville at the state WIHA competition.
The Granton Area School District’s equestrian team won Division C, which is for teams of three to five riders. Representing Granton were sophomores Abby Schoessow riding RU Ready for This (“Bubba), eighth-grader Grace Verhalen riding SSS You Wish You Would Have (“Emma”). Granton competed against three other teams, with point totals as follows: Granton 536, Peshtigo 508, D.C. Everest 411, and Coleman 350. The Granton Equestrian Team and Club was established in 2018 to promote horsemanship education for all students in grades six through 12. This is Granton’s third year to compete in the WIHA regional competition, winning reserve champion in 2018 and grand champion in 2019 and 2021.
Magnus, Schoessow, Hanna and Verhalen will represent their communities at the state WIHA competition in Madison from October 29-31. They will compete against grand champion and reserve champion teams from the other five WIHA districts.
