PREP PHENOM STAYS ON COURSE

Maggie Wahlert might seem like any freshman at Culver City High School. But, the 15-year-old student is arguably the best athlete that nobody has heard about.

You don’t have to be a record setting quarterback, point guard or track star to letter in high school sports anymore. The United States Equestrian Federation is writing a new chapter in the recognition of student athletes — one that honors Equestrians.

The USEF has awarded Culver City High School student Maggie Wahlert an athletic letter through their High School Equestrian Athlete Program. To be awarded a letter, students in grades 9th to 12th must complete more than 100 hours of riding/training and participate in three competitions during school sessions. Wahlert has exceeded the requirements for lettering by completing more than 200 hours of riding/training, and participating in more than 15 riding competitions.

She also competes in the Interscholastic Equestrian League. IEL is a competitive equestrian league that allows its membership to ride not only as an individual, but also as a team member from the participating high schools in the County of Los Angeles. There are 562 riders from 35 public schools and 38 private schools competing at four separate competitions each school year.

Maggie rides for CCHS in the IEL Junior Varsity division. Competing against Equestrian powerhouse schools like Marlborough and La Reina High School, she ranked 2nd in the overall rider/team standings and 4th at year end JV Medal Finals. At the final IEL competition in May, Wahlert placed 2nd in the JV Hunter division competition.

While at Culver City Middle School, her 3rd-place finish in the 2013 Riding for Reading charity competition brought in a $500 donation for the school library.

Maggie’s riding resume is impressive. Her success doesn’t come easy, training six days a week with her trainer Joe Thorpe at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Competing outside of school, she is nationally ranked 24th in United States Equestrian Federation, and 2nd in the Pacific Coast Horseshow Association in the 14 and under age division.

Sidelined by her horse’s injury in 2015, Maggie was able to continue her training and success on other horses in the stable.

Since beginning her riding career at age 6, Maggie has racked up numerous Championships aboard her horses Columbus and Audacious. Highlights include an 8th place in the USEF National Stirrup Cup Championship and 2013 2014 Year End Championships in the Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association. Over the years Maggie has placed in the top ten in the Rosewood Medal, PCHA Medal and SFHJA Medal.

Graduating in 2019 doesn’t mean the end to Maggie’s competitive riding career. Her goal is to ride for one of the 15 NCAA Division 1 college Equestrian teams.