Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home High School equestrian team opened its competitive season Jan. 10-13 in Albany by collecting several trophies, including one for first place.
Among 13 teams, Sweet Home placed second in drill and team versatility, fifth in in-hand obstacle relay and eighth in team penning.
In working pairs, junior Pippi Somatis and sophomore Caleb Gutierrez placed third, and freshman Summer Bradley and senior Winona Hagan placed ninth. In birangle, three Sweet Home teams placed third, fifth and 11th.
In individual events, Gutierrez was third in showmanship; Somatis was sixth; freshman Kendra Tyree 15th; and freshman Brett Caudill 16th.
Caudill won the top spot in western stock. Gutierrez was fourth; freshman Haley Nunes, seventh; and Bradley, eighth.
Somatis placed second in working rancher, and Hagan placed third.
Freshman Kailee Pepple placed third in steer daubing.
Somatis was fifth in reining.
Gutierrez was ninth in hunt seat.
Caudill finished 10th in in-hand trail and fourth in regular trail. Nunes was seventh and Bradley eighth in regular trail.
The team is coached by Ann Nunes with assistance from Cera (Kem) Hartness and Amanda Tyree. It is the group’s first year coaching the team. Hartness and Nunes are alumni of the Sweet Home equestrian team. Nunes is niece to longtime coach Chris Ross.
Nunes grew up competing in the Western Horse Association, while Hartness served as Sweet Home rodeo queen.
“A lot of these kids are in 4-H,” Hartness said, and they have varying levels of skills in different areas.
The team started practicing twice a week in November, Hartness said. “We practice all of the events we can get into. They all support each other. At all different skill levels, they all help each other.”
The team competes in the Willamette District of Oregon High School Equestrian Teams, and the team collectively received the high school athlete of the week award following its first competition. Hartness said that West Albany is probably the toughest of Sweet Home’s rivals.
“A lot of people don’t look at us because we’re so small,” Hartness said. “But these kids actually went in there and took top 10 in everything. These kids work hard and take it really seriously.”
The team competes in Albany again Feb. 7-10 and April 18-21. Competitors must qualify at regular events for the state championships, which will be held May 9-12 in Redmond.