By Liz Shepard

Special to the Leader

Not many teams can boast of 17 straight district championships, but the Oxford High School Equestrian Team has done it.

Over three days of showing in everything from showmanship to jumping to timed events, the Wildcats took home the Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association District 2 Championship once again.

The final day of showing was Saturday at the Armada Fairgrounds, with the OHS riders earning 612 points. The second place team and reserve district champions Imlay City earned 429 points.

“Our team worked very hard and we felt confident with our strengths going into the district meet,” said Reagan Holloway, team co-captain. “Being District champions 17 years in a row is an amazing accomplishment. As a captain, I’m very proud of the team for all of their hard work.

“Going into regionals we know we have things to work on and need to stay focused. Regionals will be a challenge but our goal has always been to go to states.”

The eight Wildcat riders showed against five teams in the B division, which consists of teams with five to 10 riders.

“The girls came together as a team and each girl was able to show their talents. With some sudden changes with horses, we pulled together and supported each other,” said Jennifer Fifield, 2012 OHS graduate and assistant coach. “The teamwork portrayed will benefit (us) at regionals and states, and Oxford has the potential to bring home another win!”

They move on to the MIHA Region E Championship, which will be held Oct. 1-2 at the Ingham County Fairgrounds.

The Wildcats are looking to continue their streak and move on to the MIHA State Championship, which will be held Oct. 13 – 16 at the Midland County Fairgrounds.

If the OHS riders are champion or reserve champion at the regional event, they’ll mark their 17th straight trip to the state championship.

Throughout the three days of district competition, all of the Wildcat riders earned points toward the win, with junior Katie Main the high point rider with 119.

Dee Shepard has been head coach of the team for the past 17 years.

While the team won the championship by nearly 200 points, Shepard said this year didn’t start off quite as certain as some prior seasons, as some horses had to be pulled from competition due to injuries and some riders rode through injuries.

“The team has been working very hard practicing five to six days a week all summer, just before the meets started, we had injured horses and riders,” Shepard said. “We were a little shaky going into the first meet, but everyone pulled together riding through injuries with untried horses and still managed to pull off the win. I’m very proud of the girls and coaches for all of the hard work they’ve put in.”

The team consists of riders Hannah Buday, Jessica Garrett, Makayla Haywood, Reagan Holloway, Emerson Lantz, Katie Main, Tristin Mederiros and Hannah Suddeth.