Sequim Gazette staff
It’s on to Moses Lake.
Sequim High’s equestrian team saw all seven team members earn state berths after their third and final district meet of the season March 19-22 in Tacoma.
Haylie Newton leads the team with six state meet event qualifications, with Kaytee Gibeau qualifying in five events and Sydney Balkan in four.
Gibeau earned an overall district gold medal in Saddleseat and teamed with Balkan for a silver medal in Cattle Sorting.
Newton earned two district bronze medals, one for Steer Daubing and sharing one with teammate Amanda Murphy in Cattle Sorting.
At the district meet in late March, Murphy and Newton took top honors in Team Sorting while Gibeau had Sequim’s top individual finish, placing second in Saddle Seat Equitation.
The state meet is set for May 14-17 in Moses Lake.
Sequim state meet qualifiers:
Kelly Anders – Reining, Working Pairs
Sydney Balkan – Barrels, Birangle, Cattle Sorting, Freestyle Fours Drill
Kaytee Gibeau – Trail, Working Rancher, Saddleseat, Cattle Sorting, Freestyle Fours Drill
Amanda Murphy – Saddleseat, Cattle Sorting, Freestyle Fours Drill
Haylie Newton – Working Rancher, Saddleseat, Birangle, Steer Daubing, Cattle Sorting, Freestyle Fours Drill
Abi Payseno – Pole Bending, Working Pairs
Heidi Schleiger – Freestyle Fours Drill
Third district meet results (top 10 only):
• Individual events
Barrels — 9. Balkan
Figure Eight — 10. Payseno
Hunt Seat Equitation — 5. Gibeau
Individual Flags — 4. Payseno
Pole Bending — 6. Balkan
Reining — 6. Anders
Saddle Seat Equitation — 2. Gibeau, 4. Murphy
Steer Daubing — 3. Newton, 5. Balkan, 10. Murphy
Trail Equitation — 4. Gibeau
Stock Seat Equitation — 8. Gibeau
Working Rancher — 6. Gibeau, 7. Newton, 8. Murphy, 9. Anders
• Group events
Freestyle Fours — 3. Sequim A (Balkan, Gibeau, Newton, Schleiger)
In-Hand Obstacle Relay — 9. Sequim A (Balkan, Gibeau, Murphy, Newton)
Team Sorting — 1. Murphy/Newton, 10. Balkan/Gibeau
Two-Man Birangle — 6. Balkan/Newton
Working Pairs — 8. Balkan/Murphy, 10. Anders/Payseno.
