Young Rider and Junior athletes stepped into the spotlight on Friday at the 2025 Gotham North/FEI North American Youth Jumping Championships (NAYC), presented by USHJA, held at Flintfields Horse Park during week five of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders. In the Young Rider category, Zone 10 rose to the top of the podium with a composed and consistent performance that secured the team gold medal.
Zone 10 Rides to Victory
With a carryover score of 6.92 penalties from Wednesday’s opening round, Zone 10 kept their faults to a minimum on Friday, adding just eight penalties across both rounds to take the win.
The gold-medal-winning team included:
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Emmeline Adamick (San Francisco, Calif.) riding Andy’sboy Bretoniere, a 15-year-old Selle Français gelding owned by Proper 12, LLC
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Talise Baker-Matsuoka (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) aboard Levisto Junior A Z, an 11-year-old gelding
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Ariana Marnell (Las Vegas, Nev.) with Jikke-Cara, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Alison Firestone
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Sylar Wireman (Bonsall, Calif.) on a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Wireman Investment Group
Chef d’Équipe Mike Endicott led the Zone 10 team to gold.
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Sylar Wireman, currently sitting at the top of the individual standings heading into Sunday’s final, produced clear rounds on Friday to help anchor the team.
“This is my third year at NAYC and my final year,” Wireman said. “I started as a junior, so it’s very special to finish with a team gold. Riding with this level of pressure is a great experience, and I’m looking forward to Sunday.”
Emmeline Adamick also reflected on the significance of the moment.
“The jumping pathway created through this program is amazing. This is my first NAYC since riding in the pre-juniors two years ago, and after time off due to my horse’s injury, it feels incredible to return and win. I’m excited for what comes next.”
Zone 2 Earns Silver, Zone 4 Takes Bronze
Zone 2 captured the silver medal, finishing just behind the leaders after dropping one rail in each of Friday’s rounds. The team included:
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Mia Bagnato (Fishkill, N.Y.) – Cordiamo, a 9-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Elan Farm
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James Leone (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) – Galliano LW, an 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Mark Leone
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Alexa Elle Lignelli (New York, N.Y.) – Xo Zadora, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare
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Clara Propp (New York, N.Y.) – Mistral van de Vogelzang, a 13-year-old Belgian gelding owned by Aquitaine Equine
The bronze medal went to a three-member Zone 4 team featuring:
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Mia Albelo (Coral Gables, Fla.) – Carriado, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding owned by Husain Horse Sales
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Olivia Sweetnam (Wellington, Fla.) – Epic, a 10-year-old Anglo European gelding owned by Sweet Oak Farm
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Lawson Whitaker (Ocala, Fla.) – Conlugo PS, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding she owns
The Young Rider competition concludes with the Individual Final on Sunday, where athletes will vie for podium finishes based on their cumulative scores from all rounds.
