Wilsonville Spokesman Online

Equestrian: Wilsonville finishes strong with five state-qualifiers

Wildcats take 13th at OHSET state meet in Central Point in May

• By: Alex Tam  
• Published: 6/23/2010 6:32:17 PM

While the Wilsonville equestrian team had tremendous individual talent, it was their contributions to the overall team success that made coach Cary Dovenberg proud.

Of the seven-member team, five qualified for the 2010 Oregon High School Equestrian Team state championships on May 13-16 in Central Point at the Jackson County Fair & Expo.

The Wildcats finished 13th out of 39 teams in the small-team division at the state meet with 27 points. South Medford won the small-team crown with 191.

“The meet went well,” Dovenberg said. “The kids competed very well down there. There was a lot of competition from all over the state. We had a few top-10 finishes so they did well. It was a good season.”

Wilsonville was led by its three seniors all season, including Anna Wolfston, Katie Dovenberg and Max Lintner. All three had played a big role in the program’s success in the past and finished their high school careers strong.

“All three of them had outstanding seasons,” Dovenberg said. “They were the majority of our scoring. They definitely represented the bulk of our team’s scoring. The three of them were very instrumental in not only their individual events but they were also very instrumental in all of our team events.”

The trio also had impressive seasons in the Tri-River Valley district meets.

Wolfston earned a bronze in saddle seat, Dovenberg took home a silver in reining and Lintner won a silver in driving.

Sophomore Mikala Staples also medaled individually, taking a bronze in showmanship.

In the team events, Wolfston and Dovenberg earned a bronze in working pairs.

Wolfston, Dovenberg, Lintner and junior Sydney Veenker earned a silver in drill; and Wolfston, Dovenberg and Staples took home silver in team penning.

At state, Wolfston tied for 21st overall in saddle seat with a score of 112 (55-57). It was her first season competing in the event.

“For the team’s sake, she tried saddle seat for the first time and did so well that she ended up medaling (at districts),” Dovenberg said. “It was an event that we needed somebody to do and she stepped up and did it for the team.

“Anna had a breakthrough season. The last three years, she’s had a horse situation that wasn’t ideal and she got a new horse this season and really had a good season. I was pleased for her.”

Dovenberg placed seventh in reining at state with a score of 135 (72-63).

“Katie has been a top performer almost all four years since she’s been involved,” Cary Dovenberg said. “She’s been right there with the top of the team the last four years and contributed heavily in the team events this year. I was very proud of her.”

Lintner finished eighth at state in driving, earning a total score of 125 (63-62) from the judges.

“Max just had a very good consistent strong year,” Dovenberg said. “His best year by far of the four years he’s been involved.”

In the team events, Wolfston and Dovenberg took 18th in the working pairs with a score of 126 (65-61).

In drill, Wilsonville was 20th with a score of 525; and in team penning, the Wildcats were 21st with a total time of 154.99 and five catches.

Staples had a strong season for the Wildcats, finishing in the top five overall in the district as a combination rider - combining timed and performance events.

Veenker also contributed in her first year out for the team, as part of the silver medal drill team at the district meet.

“She participated in a lot of team events and just had a real good first year,” Dovenberg said. “For somebody that’s never done this, she really had a good year for the team.”

Wilsonville’s other two riders were sophomore Dawn Meyers and Florence Schwiete, who is an exchange student from Berlin, Germany.

The Wildcats were also coached by Marni Dovenberg this season.

If anyone is interested in competing next season for the equestrian team, contact Cary Dovenberg by phone at 503-806-4545.

  (log in to rate)