Chelsea Equestrian Team headed to the state finals

The Chelsea Equestrian Team is headed to Midland for the state finals next week for the third time in the last four years.

The team won its division in the districts and finished second in the regionals.

Head Coach Lucy Heimerdinger said she’d like to acknowledge the trail riders.

They are Ciara Lesko, Weston Barnes and Jordan Hirst. The riders placed in all six classes, taking two firsts, a second, two thirds and a fourth, finishing as the top three trail riders at regionals in their division.

At districts, they took home a first, second and fifth in one meet, a first, second and third in the second meet and a first, second and sixth in the third meet.

In addition to the trail riders, the team is comprised of Elsa Ford, Madalyn Allen, Grant Allen, Jacob Lahti, Annika Corazzol, Olivia Smyth, Taylor Schrock, Tony Nichol, and Michaela Maynard.

Heimerdinger credited assistant coaches Jane Barnes, Julie Agar, Lynn Lesko and Tayna Heimerdinger for the team’s continued success this season.

And, she thanked the riders’ parents who have food available and help the team with their horses. “The parents are great,” she said, “And the team gets along really well.”

“I’d also like to thank the (Chelsea Community) Fair Board,” Heimerdinger said, for allowing the team to train at the facility on Old Manchester Road.

The team travels to Midland on Oct. 10-13 for states.