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The four Eagle riders combined to score 407 points and trotted away with the MIHA ÔC' Division Regional championship at Midland County Fairgrounds. It was the school's third straight Regional title. Sanford-Meridian was Reserve Champion in ÔC' with 355.

Meanwhile, Cros-Lex and Brown City will also represent Sanilac County and District #14 at the MIHA State Finals this week after earning Reserve Champion honors in ÔA' and ÔD' Division, respectively.

It was a very balanced, high quality effort by the Deckerville riders, who put together 25 first place scores and another 11 second place finishes in the three-day competition.

"They all did wonderful," expressed Deann Asher, Deckerville coach. Asher now hopes it all continues this week in Midland in the quest for an elusive State championship. The Eagle riders have been Reserve Champions the past two years. Last season, they were just one point away from a ÔD' Division title.

"It might as well been 1,000," said Asher on the disappointment a year ago. The team, she says, is ready to give it another try.

"The girls are excited. They want to be competitive and put everything else in that they have." She continued, "This is a determined bunch of girls. Thy work very hard."

The finals are back at the Midland County Fairgrounds, running from Thursday through Sunday.

Senior Kristen Asher was one point away from a perfect show at Regionals to lead the Deckerville squad. In her events, she tallied 11 first place scores and one second from the two judges.

"She really only lost one point out of 120. The most points she could get was 120," said Coach Asher, who is also Kristen's mother.

Freshman Rose Pierson, with nine firsts, scored 115 points for The Eagles while senior Nicole York had 86 and Julia Grell, an exchange student from Germany had 87.

There was another story to Grell's performance. Her horse was injured the night before the start of Regionals and she had to find a last minute replacement.

Coach Asher explained, "(That replacement horse) hadn't run in two months. It's been out running in the pasture and looked like heck." She then added that Grell went out "and practiced and practiced with thee horse until she couldn't practice anymore." The end result was worth it. "That's incredible," added Asher.

Cros-Lex survived some controversy to earn its trip to State. Hartland was easily the champion in Ô'A' with 802 points. The Pioneers were next with 494, edging out Midland-Bullock Creek with 488.

However, Bullock Creek had lodged a protest concerning the results of one event performed by a Cros-Lex rider early on Sunday. If the protest was upheld, Cros-Lex points earned in the event would have been erased, giving Bullock Creek the Reserve title. However, MIHA executives denied the protest on Monday afternoon.

Coach Lynn Koppel, who, along with her team, endured the wait on the final decision, was elated on her team's performance at Regionals.

"The kids did an excellent job. I'm proud of everyone on the team. All of them scored points at the meet," said Koppel.

Junior Amber Burch led the 11-rider Pioneer squad with three firsts and three seconds, all in Saddle Seat competition. Ashley Lee and Eugene Ludington each had one first place score. Katie Scheeres, Katie Miller, and Kelly Burge all garnered, at least, one second place from the judges.

Brown City, with two riders, will make its first appearance at the MIHA State Finals in eight years. The Green Devils totaled 267 points, finishing a close second to champion Perry with 283.

"(The girls) are very excited. They were happy, glad, excited for states," said Coach Amanda Smith. "They want to do better, though. We had some problems (at Regionals)..... but, we'll work on those."

Sophomore Lisa Young finished with 149 points in her events, including four firsts in Hunt Seat classes. Junior Alecia Martus also had four firsts and scored 118 points.