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SCAD SETS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS SERIES RECORD WITH 56 OF A POSSIBLE 56 POINTS (Tournament of Champions series founder Jim Arrigon put together a press release following the 2026 Winter Touranment of Champions event hosted by Savannah College of Art & Design on January 31st. The following is an edited version of that press release - Editor.) Hardeeville, SC - We saw lots of never-happened-before's in this 35th Anniversary season of Tournament of Champions collegiate shows. We've had snowy shows in the past. We've had to cancel because of snow storms. But we've never cancelled a show for snow when it was 50 degrees, postponed a week, then ended up showing in the snow. And all this in Savannah, Georgia where everyone wants to go to get away from the northern Winter! Thirteen top collegiate teams were lined up to compete January 24th in the Winter Classic, the third of four shows in the Tournament of Champions Series. Since 2020 this event is hosted annually in late January at Savannah College of Art and Design. The weather was fine at the SCAD Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center in days leading up to the show, and the game-day forecast was for a sunny day in the 50's. The problem was Winter Storm "Fern" that was to deposit snow and ice everywhere else in the eastern half of the country. The Virginia teams wouldn't be able to get across the Blue Ridge Mountains. The New York teams would be completely snowed-in, and everything between New York and Virginia was to be coated with ice - at least that's what the Weather Channel was telling us. The Athletic Directors wouldn't let teams travel. The decision was made on Thursday morning (1/22) that the Saturday show couldn't happen. We postponed one week. Five teams couldn't come to the makeup date, either because the athletic departments wouldn't pay for it or some had other regular season IHSA competitions. We were able to add a couple other teams and ten teams eventually competed on January 31st. Savannah College of Art & Design coach Ashley Henry worried all week about competing in the Tournament of Champions without their top rider Alex Alston, who was committed to a competition in Florida on the makeup show day. As usual for SCAD it was next man up. Freshman Henry Hollis from Pennsylvania stepped into that spot in the roster, won both the Open Flat and Open Fences, and walked away with the High Medal Championship as well. SCAD Equestrian always seems to fall on their feet. In an unprecedented performance, SCAD Team Bee-Lieve (made up of Hollis, Alex Miller, Ella Luhn, Nathaniel Biery, Madison Poulin, and Kameron Riggs) pulled off the impossible. Or at least it had been impossible for 35 years. One of two SCAD teams entered, Bee-Lieve earned A PERFECT SCORE at Tournament of Champions, making their mark on the history of Tournament. Hollis and Biery won two team classes apiece, helping Bee-Lieve record the first perfect 56 score ever (the lowest score in a TOC series event is not dropped - Editor). SCAD's other team entered - Bee-Strong - had a perfect score through most of the day, with two blue ribbons from Kayla Bardgett in Open Flat and Fences, two blues from Peter Cavagnac in Intermediate Flat and Fences, and wins from Ariana Bowman in Limit Fences, and Mica Zandstra in Novice Equitation. Bee-Strong finished as Reserve Champions with 52 points. Reigning IHSA National Champion Purdue University finished as the Third Place Team. After having won team classes every time they were entered on January 24th Hollis and Bardgett placed first and second, respectively in the High Medal Division. Sewanee (also known as the University of the South) won their first ever Tournament Medal class, when Lily Carter won the Low Medal. Ani McIntyre of Skidmore College seems to always be within arm's reach of the trophy, once again finished as Reserve Champion in the Low Medal. The Equestrian Talent Search (ETS) Medal class was a special event at this Winter Classic, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of ETS Clinics. Fourteen different ETS clinic events around the country in 2025 had named an "SCAD Top Rider" and each was invited to compete in the 2025 ETS Medal Championship at the Winter Classic at SCAD. Each of the riders were invited to work with one of the college coaches for the event. When the show was postponed because of Winter Storm Fern, unfortunately some of the riders were unable to compete a week later because of prior commitments. By the time the decision was made to postpone, two of the riders had already traveled to Savannah to compete on the original January 24th date. Coach Henry was kind enough to give those riders a private lesson for their trouble. That included Kaleb Johnston from upstate New York, who had won the ETS Medal a month earlier at Centenary. On the 31st Ayla Finfrock, from Illinois, won Champion in the ETS, with help from Purdue Coach Kathryn Kraft. Julianne Bucsku, who had won the ETS Medal at the Preseason Classic show in September, finished 2nd Place, with help from Skidmore Coach Belinda Colgan. The judge was Megan Taylor of Hilton Head, South Carolina. A former IHSA rider and head coach, Taylor was actually the fourth judge hired as three others could not make their way to SCAD due to air traffic-related weather cancellations. As part of the 35th Anniversary festivities, four more inductees joined the inaugural class of the Tournament of Champions Hall of Fame. Eddie Federwisch is the winningest coach in Tournament history, having won 36 events and 20 Series Championships. Federwisch coached Virginia Intermont College (1996-2013) and later Savannah College of Art & Design (Federwisch was the Director of Riding at SCAD 2013-2025). Federwisch was on hand to receive his award as was SCAD's horse "Maverick," who became the second horse inducted into the Hall of Fame. Mount Holyoke College was one of the schools who missed the makeup tournament date. By chance Mount Holyoke had an ETS Clinic scheduled for February 7th and 8th. Mount Holyoke College head coach C.J. Law was presented with her award on February 7th. Law, who has coached Mount Holyoke College since the fall of 1984, and Federwisch are the first two inductees specifically as head coaches. 2025 SCAD graduate Celia Cram is the winningest rider in the history of Tournament of Champions, including having won a record eight High Medal Championships plus four straight years of Holiday Tournaments, Winter Classics, and Series Championships. From Aiken, South Carolina, Cram was also offically inducted. As of February 7th two head coaches, two riders and two horses are in the T of C Hall of Fame. The 2025-26 Tournament Series concludes this season with the Spring Classic on March 21, hosted annually at the University of Findlay. The standings for the Series Championship - the best average of each team's highest two scores at a series event, currently has SCAD with a big lead (averaging 49 points) followed by the University of Lynchburg (an even 36 average) and a tie for third between Purdue and Delaware Valley University with 33.5. Show Incidentals from the 2026 Winter Tournament of Champions invitational, held at the Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center in Hardeeville, South Carolina on January 31st, 2026: Overcast skies with snow falling late in the day and temperatures falling from the 40's into the 30's. Judge: Megan Taylor, Hilton Head, South Carolina. Stewards: Ciara Menkens Tjong, Delaware Valley University; Savannah Mannes, Sewanee (University of the South) and one unknown. This show was Hunter Seat or English Only. Class-by-class results, in the order in which they were placed: Open equitation over fences - Section A: 1. Henry Hollis, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Lieve. 2. Amaya Bellfield, University of Lynchburg - Black Team. 3. Isa Jensen, Skidmore College. 4. Nada Souiedan, Emory & Henry University. 5. Emma Sameth, University of the South (Sewanee). Open equitation over fences - Section B: 1. Kayla Bardgett, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Strong. 2. Abby Cole, Purdue University. 3. Grace Allen, Delaware Valley University. 4. Zoe Horn, University of Lynchburg - Red Team. 5. Eva Kennedy, University of South Carolina (Columbia). Intermediate equitation over fences - Section A: 1. Alex Miller, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Lieve. 2. McKenzie Burch, University of Lynchburg - Red Team. 3. Grace Simpson, Emory & Henry University. 4. Sophia Frisbee, Delaware Valley University. 5. Lily Carter, University of the South (Sewanee). Intermediate equitation over fences - Section B: 1. Peter Cavagnac, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Strong. 2. Ian Gaudio, Skidmore College. 3. Lauren Dunnett, Purdue University. 4. Ava Jackson, University of Lynchburg - Black Team. 5. Claire Rockacy, University of South Carolina (Columbia). Open equitation on the flat - Section A: 1. Henry Hollis, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Lieve. 2. Emma Sameth, University of the South (Sewanee). 3. Amaya Bellfield, University of Lynchburg - Black Team. 4. Isa Jensen, Skidmore College. 5. Olivia Edgington - Desmet, Emory & Henry University. Intermediate equitation on the flat - Section A: 1. Ella Luhn, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Lieve. 2. Jessica McElhaney, University of Lynchburg - Black Team. 3. Lauren Dunnett, Purdue University. 4. Ani McIntyre, Skidmore College. 5. Maggie Mitchell, Delaware Valley University. Open equitation on the flat - Section B: 1. Kayla Bardgett, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Strong. 2. Abby Talcott, Purdue University. 3. Grace Allen, Delaware Valley University. 4. McKenzie Burch, University of Lynchburg - Red Team. 5. Eva Kennedy, University of South Carolina (Columbia). Intermediate equitation on the flat - Section B: 1. Peter Cavagnac, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Strong. 2. Elise Gierhart, University of the South (Sewanee). 3. Ella Oglesby, Emory & Henry University. 4. Claire Rockacy, University of South Carolina (Columbia). 5. Ava Hogan, University of Lynchburg - Red Team. Limit equitation over fences - Section A: 1. Nate Biery, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Lieve. 2. Amelia Parsons, Delaware Valley University. 3. Curren English, University of South Carolina (Columbia). 4. Kriston Parr, University of Lynchburg - Red Team. 5. Elise Gierhart, University of the South (Sewanee). Limit equitation over fences - Section B: 1. Ariana Bowman, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Strong. 2. Ashby Watts, University of Lynchburg - Black Team. 3. Ani McIntyre, Skidmore College. 4. Caitlyn Ford, Purdue University. 5. Ella Oglesby, Emory & Henry University. Novice equitation on the flat - Section A: 1. Mica Zandstra, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Strong. 2. Isa Washburne, Skidmore College. 3. Abdul Maflahi, University of the South (Sewanee). 4. Elsa Heacock, Delaware Valley University. 5. Ashlyn Barksdale, University of Lynchburg - Red Team. Limit equitation on the flat - Section A: 1. Adam Matejko, University of Lynchburg - Black Team. 2. Grace Bowen, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Strong. 3. Ian Gaudio, Skidmore College. 4. Maggie Hamburg, University of South Carolina (Columbia). 5. Yasmin Pirbhai, Purdue University. Introductory equitation on the flat - Section A: 1. Colin Newton, Purdue University. 2. Sophia Inglesias, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Strong. 3. Haylie Dowell, Emory & Henry University. 4. Maura Campbell, University of South Carolina (Columbia) Introductory equitation on the flat - Section B: 1. Kameron Riggs, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Lieve. 2. Caroline Holland, University of the South (Sewanee). 3. Nila Rothman, Skidmore College. 4. Keira Larkin, Delaware Valley University. Limit equitation on the flat - Section B: 1. Nate Biery, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Lieve. 2. Lily Carter, University of the South (Sewanee). 3. Clair Humphreys, University of Lynchburg - Red Team. 4. Amelia Parsons, Delaware Valley University. 5. Bailey Shive, Emory & Henry University. Novice equitation on the flat - Section B: 1. Madison Poulin, Savannah College of Art & Design - Team BEE - Lieve. 2. Payton Gault, Purdue University. 3. Annabelle Shores, University of Lynchburg - Black Team. 4. Jordan Rumrill, University of South Carolina (Columbia). 5. Julia Seery, Emory & Henry University. Equestrian Talent Search Medal Results: 1. Ayla Finfrock, Mahomet, Illinois. 2. Makayla Petrovitch, Shawboro, North Carolina. 3. Aubrey Meints, Mahomet, Illinois. 4. Julianne Bucsku, Clinton, New Jersey. 5. Khloe Smith, Argyle, Texas. 6. Anni Foley, Clifton, Virginia. 7. Lindel Tucker, Duxbury, Massachusetts. 8. Emma Kaminski, Perry Hall, Maryland. Low Medal Division Results: 1. Lily Carter, University of the South (Sewanee). 2. Ani McIntyre, Skidmore College. 3. Kenzie Paul, Savannah College of Art & Design. 4. Haylie Johnson, Purdue University. 5. Lauren Simoneau, Savannah College of Art & Design. 6. Ian Gaudio, Skidmore College. 7. Audrey Hostrawser, Purdue University. 8. Maggie Mitchell, Delaware Valley University. High Medal Division Results: 1. Henry Hollis, Savannah College of Art & Design. 2. Kayla Bardgett, Savannah College of Art & Design. 3. Abby Talcott, Purdue University. 4. McKenzie Burch, University of Lynchburg. 5. Grace Allen, Delaware Valley University. 6. Ella Luhn, Savannah College of Art & Design. 7. Abby Shelchuk, Purdue University. 8. Jessica McElhaney, University of Lynchburg. Final 2026 Pre-Season Tournament of Champions Team Totals: Savannah College of Art & Design - Team Bee - Lieve 56 Savannah College of Art & Design - Team Bee - Strong 52 Purdue University - 35 University of Lynchburg - Black Team - 33 Skidmore College - 32 University of the South (Sewanee) - 30 Delaware Valley University - 27 Emory & Henry University - 23 University of Lynchburg - Red Team - 22 (won tiebreaker) University of South Carolina - 22 (For more info about the Tournament of Champions series please e-mail JimArrigon@hotmail.com or visit the Equestrian Talent Search page on Facebook)
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