After eight months of hard work by coaches and athletes, state events for local high school equestrian teams are here.

The equestrian teams of Montesano and Elma will both send student athletes to the Washington Association of High School Equestrian Teams state events taking place May 11 through May 14 in Moses Lake.

The Montesano Equestrian Team will participate in five events and Elma will participate in four.

Athletes participating in state events for Montesano are Ashlyn Peterson in team sorting, Shyla Flodstrom in figure eight and pole bending, Madison Schupbach, Addisyn Gage, Hallie Stub and, again, Shyla Flodstrom for the working fours drill team.

Alternates are Mykenzie Flink, Emily Endsley and Kate Holmes.

Athletes participating for Elma are Grace Potts in performance, Olivia Cain in gaming, Tessa Watson and Alexus Lesollen in working pairs and Kortney Bailey, Maleaha Smith , Kaya Aiken and Olivia Cain for the drill team.

The seven districts throughout Washington send their athletes to a total of 25 events, of which athletes are allowed to compete in five individual events and an unlimited amount of team events, according to Montesano coach Denise Schupbach.

The state schedule and performance patterns are posted online at www.wahset.org.

For more information on WAHSET, interested athletes and parents can contact their local high schools or a high school equestrian team coach.