Sisters equestrians head to state

Sisters OHSET is sending 11 athletes and their horses to the state meet at the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center on May 19-22. The team's strength is in the individual English events, namely Dressage and Hunt Seat Over Fences. Sisters has gold, silver, and bronze qualifiers in each of those events and Saddle Seat Equitation has a silver qualifier.

Driving has a gold qualifier, reining and steer daubing have bronze qualifiers.

Team events has the Sisters drill team competing in the Open Freestyle Drill, a fast and highly entertaining spectacle. Sisters performs at the end of the event, around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Sisters also has a team qualified in Team Canadian Flags.

The OHSET regular season consisted of three district meets. Sisters started with a team of 14 athletes, putting them into the large-team category (more than 12 members). Redmond, Mountain View and Bend also fielded teams in that category. Sisters finished the season in third place.

Throughout the season, OHSET depends on the cheerful work ethic of the athletes and their parents and team advisers. Ann Gates, Sisters co-adviser and drill team coach, said, "Ultimately, this is what OHSET is all about." Cooperation makes the events happen.

When the state meet rolls around, the schools compete as districts, putting aside individual rivalries and working together. Gates noted that Central District athletes and helpers have a friendly and hard-working reputation.

Highlights of the meet will be the opening ceremony on Friday at 4 p.m. and the Open Freestyle Drill on Saturday, at 5:30 p.m. The opening ceremony includes a parade to honor graduating seniors. The drill competition consists of 19 teams, performing at a gallop and executing precisely choreographed routines to music. Admission is free.