Creswell’s Freestyle Fours drill team (from left), Ashley Anderson, Grace Haga, Jane Marquess and Levi Bones precision-ride their way to third place during the regional Pacific Northwest Invitational Championship. Gini Davis/The Creswell Chronicle
Creswell equestrians performed like old hands at high-level competition during the Pacific Northwest Invitational Championship (PNWIC), a regional Washington/Oregon invitational meet held June 14-16 at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center in Redmond.
Creswell’s Freestyle Fours drill team of Ashley Anderson, Levi Bones, Jane Marquess and Grace Haga placed third; Bones placed fifth in Breakaway Roping; and Haga placed fifth in Barrels.
”We had a busy but successful weekend,” said Head Coach Lauri Thomas.
The Freestyle Fours team received scores of 508 from Judge 1, 462 from Judge 2, 497 from Judge 3 and 553 from Judge 4 for a total of 2020.
Creswell’s was ”the only team from Oregon to place in either of the two drill events,” Thomas noted.
On his first Breakaway Roping run, Bones roped a calf in just 4.863 – the fastest catch of the day. Unfortunately, he was unable to make a catch on his second run.
For Bones, it was state championships déjà vu: he had the fastest catch of the day at 5.163 on his first state run but was unable to catch on his second.
Haga’s time was 15.031 in Barrels.
Thomas said it was just the second time CHS equestrians have competed at the regional level. Bones placed second at regionals last year in Steer Daubing.
Athletes qualified for regionals by placing in the top five in their events at state.
Creswell’s Freestyle Fours team placed second with a score of 1983 during the OHSET State Championships, held May 9-10 in Redmond.
Bones placed second at state in Breakaway Roping; Haga placed fourth at state in Barrels in 15.004.
”I am so very proud of our athletes; they represented Creswell High School and the community of Creswell quite well,” Thomas said, extending special thanks to her assistant coaches, Drill Coach Katy Bichsel, Hannah Thomas and Devan Work.
