The last time the FHC Equestrian Team made the state final, was in 2019.

Since then, the team has gone through walls to keep the program afloat as COVID ravaged the entire school, including their program. Many of them weren’t even sure if they would have a season. Going into 2022, many of their players had graduated and the whole team was a loose collection of students who wanted to ride. Senior Masyn Cole, who was on that 2019 team and had remained with the team during this whole process shared this experience.

“We didn’t really know each other that well, me and Abby looked down on most of the younger girls, we didn’t really have any connection with them and weren’t all friends.”

Despite starting at square one to start the season, the team was able to gradually bond. As they were able to train more and more, and have meetups at Culver’s, the team became very close to each other, which showed in their performance on the track. The team was able to make it through the district finals and make it to the state finals which will take place in Berrien Springs, happening over four days, starting on October 13, and ending on October 16.

“I’m excited,” Masyn said. “It’s been a tough ride, it kinda went downhill a little bit but we were able to build it back up, I believe that team bonding really helped us this season, and I believe that it gave the younger girls a lot of confidence.”

This will be not only Masyn’s last ride as a senior, but it will also be her last ride on her horse, Isaac, who was leased to her for the equestrian team, and whom she has ridden every time she has been on the track. FHC will surely be rooting for them as the team’s inspirational story of highs and lows is one that we remember for a long time.