It's a Friday night! Wonder where the teens are? They filled the stands at the PA National Horse Show, cheering on their regional teams in the prestigious $7,500 BET/AHSA Prix Des States Team Championship at the PA National Horse Show. It was full audience participation as everyone clucked encouragement, gasped with concern, oohed and aahhed with anticipation and collectively cheered for the 26 juniors competing.

It came down to the last horse, the final round, it had to be clean or fast, preferably both to win. Sixteen year old Paige Johnson, riding Dominique as anchor for her Zone 3 team, knew and came through. Zone 3 (MD, WV, VA, NC) won ! Four riders, six rounds counted, four faults-- one rail!!!

Second was the PA-NY-NJ, Zone 2, team with a total of 8 faults, well ahead of the third place, Zone 4 (FL, GA, SC, TN, AL, MS)whose cumulative score was 20. Last of the four teams to make the jump-off was the two-time defending champion Zone 1 team.

A three-year veteran from The Plains, VA, Paige Johnson was excited, but in a reserved way. Did she hear the announcer's hype before she entered the ring? " No, I just block that out, stay focused," she said. Her trainer had said she was a cool customer.

Team mate, Evan Coluccio, 13, was not. This was his first team competition. Only one rail down in the first round boosted the team into first. His second round, he admits to nerves. "I was nervous and I think I got into my horse's face. By the time I relaxed, my horse could not," he said.

As for celebrating, these four teens are headed back to their hotels and a good night's sleep. Up and at the barn by 6 am to school their horses today, they have a respite with pony classes filling the morning program as Junior Weekend at the Penn National Horse continues.

The Junior Jumpers return tomorrow evening for up the BET/AHSA Individual Championship Final. Five riders enter this final competition with clean rounds in phases one and two. They are: Michelle Pia, Inner Beauty; Maggie Jayne, Kinda Blue; Anna McKnight, Marina; Paige Johnson, Dominique; and, Morgan Fauth, Cohiba.

Results of the BET/AHSA Prix Des States:

First--- Zone 3 (DE, MD, NC, VA, WV): Accured faults: 4

Jonathan Phillips, on Jewel's Idiam

Evan Coluccio, on Diejasper

Anna McKnight, on Marina

Paige Johnson, on Dominque

Second--- Zone 2 (NY, PA, NJ): Accrued faults: 8

Danielle Goldstein, Hendrix

Michelle Pia, Inner Beauty

Meghan Moran, on ZMAX

Georgina Bloomberg, on Calgary

Third--- Zone 4 (AL, FL, GA, MS, SC, TN): Accrued faults: 20

Charlie Jayne, on Melbourne

Derek Braun, on Mandella

Jennifer Urioste, on Ricochet

Maggie Jayne, on Kinda Blue

Fourth--- Zone 1 (CT,MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

Cody Baird, on Orlandia

Lara Gay, on Rio's Riccarda

Alexa Weeks, on Amaral

Katelyn Denby, on Leonardo 223