Middle Tennessee State open rider Jaclyn Cradduck (right, with her Mother Sue) made the top ten in the 2005 Cacchione Cup Competition, and for the first time ever the top ten contained eleven riders!

THE 2005 IHSA NATIONALS CACCHIONE CUP COMPETITION

SUNBURY, OH - There were at least eight seniors. There were at least three freshmen. There were six who had participated a year ago and two others who had a go two seasons back. There weren't any men this time. And for the third year in a row there were 29 of them in total.

They are the fortunate few who advanced to IHSA Nationals to compete for the Cacchione Cup. Each of the 29 open riders had led their respective regions in combined flat and fences points, though in two cases there had been a tie for high point open rider that had to be resolved in a ride-off at Regionals (Megan Cowen of Cazenovia College won her Zone 2, Region 2 ride-off versus Rachel Ragazzino of Saint Lawrence while Ashley Woodhouse of Skidmore College was chosen over Samara Ringer of Cornell in Zone 2, Region 3's winner-take-all class. Both of these ride-offs took place at separate sites on April 2nd).

This year's field included three riders from last season's top ten. Indiana University - Purdue University's Bradley Wolkoff had placed seventh in 2004 at Murfreesboro. Erika Jewell of Virginia Intermont was eighth last season while Lauren Flexon of Carleton College had been ninth. Not only had these three riders placed in consecutive order, each could claim to be in the same graduating class (all are juniors projected to be class of '06).

Jewell and Jordan Siegel of Savannah College of Art & Design were the only Cacchione Cup qualifiers who could claim to have competed for the cup three straight seasons. Though Jewell did not make the top ten as a freshman, Siegel had placed third in 2003. Another top ten rider from the 2003 National Show was Jamie Peddy, who placed ninth at Nationals that season but was second in Zone 1, Region 1 overall in 2004. The Brown University junior was back after a one-year absence as was Allison Woodworth of Kansas State. Woodworth and teammate Dehlia Burdan took turns finishing on top in Zone 7, Region 2. Neither Woodworth in '03 or Burdan (who rode in team open flat at '05 Nationals) had cracked the top ten. Rounding out the riders with previous IHSA Nationals Cacchione Cup appearances were Lydia Davies of Goucher College and Kelsey Amedeo of Stonehill College. Amedeo may not have reached the top ten last season, but in 2003 she was fourth in team open flat, helping Stonehill to become 2003 National Champion Hunter Seat Team.

The Cacchione Cup is divided into three phases: The flat phase (which is held as two separate classes of at least 14 riders), the fences phase and the callback or 'work-off' phase. Section 'A' of the flat phase was held seven classes into the first day of IHSA Nationals, with section 'B' held two classes later. Riders in each section were asked to walk, trot, canter and work without stirrups for a considerable amount of time. Following each of these flat classes the riders waited for their combined flat scores from Judges Sue Ashe and Linda Esau to be posted near the main entrance of the Eden Park Equestrian Complex. When the scores were posted it turned out that Peddy had the only score in the '90's, earning an even 90.

Nine riders had scored in the '80's, with Miami of Ohio sophomore Jennifer Hutson second overall with an 88. Kyla Makhloghi of Mount Holyoke had posted an 86, Amy Beavers of Berry an 85 and Jewell of Virginia Intermont an 84. Unlike those who scored above her, Skidmore sophomore Woodhouse had not ridden at IHSA Nationals in any 'official' capacity prior to the start of the day. Unlike anyone else in the entire class, Woodhouse was the only rider with a blue ribbon on opening day of 2005 Nationals, having won the individual open over fences in the day's third division.

After one day of competition, Virginia Intermont College junior Erika Jewell had the fifth highest flat score, an '84.'

Sacred Heart University senior Kate Janczak was next with an 82, followed by Dartmouth freshman Daisy Freund with an 81, Texas A & M senior Stephanie Glass with an 80.5 and Middle Tennessee State's Jaclyn Cradduck with an even 80. Nineteen other riders had generally hurt their chances at making the Sunday callback by virtue of placing below 80. Since 1997 the work-off class had been made up of as many as twelve (in 1998 and 2000) and as few as five (in 2004). It would take a spectacular trip over fences - or a complete collapse over fences for the majority of the flat riders with scores over 80 - for riders scoring in the 60's and 70's in the flat sections to secure rides all three days. Incredibly one rider would make the top five after having placed behind sixteen other riders on the flat!

Day one of IHSA Nationals was believed to be the fastest first day of the National show since the early 1980's, having started at 8:50AM and ended at 4:19PM (the move to a four-day format prior to 2004, with only hunter seat classes on day one had a lot to do with this). The second class of day two would be the second longest class of the entire show, as each of the 29 Cacchione riders would get their turn over the jumps.

The draw determined that Cradduck would go first, and her effort would result in a score of 78. Following a score of 70 for Jennifer Champagne of Hollins it was Peddy's turn. The Brown junior did not have as good a trip as she would like, earning only a 72 score to go with her 90 on the flat. Meghan Sederholm of the College of Southern Idaho then scored a 75, with what some thought was the finest Cacchione jumping ride for a Zone 8, Region 3 rider since the schools in Idaho, Utah and Montana broke away from the Pacific Northwest four seasons ago.

University of Oregon sophomore Kaitlyn Kleck went fifth and became the first rider of the day to break the 80 point barrier, scoring an 84. Kleck's average was now 79.5, better than Cradduck by half a point but a point and a half behind Peddy with 24 riders still to jump. New Mexico State freshman Krystal Mack followed with a 69, while Jennifer Betts of Penn State went seventh and was given a 66. Amedeo then turned in a performance worthy of 80. Glass earned a 79 and Flexon a 67. Many of the trips featured some good and some bad riding up to this point, with either a bad fence dragging the number down or simply added strides between fences making the journey look average.

The eleventh rider on course was Drew University junior Kristine Kennedy. Though having finished fourth in the Zone 2, Region 1 open rider standings as a freshman and Reserve in 2003-04, the 2005 Cacchione competition was the first time at Nationals for Kennedy, who earned the highest jumping score so far with an 86. Combined with her flat score of 77, Kennedy was currently at 81.5, ahead of Peddy by a half point. College of Wooster's Theresa Howell had more difficulty than most and scored a 55. Beavers, who had the distinction of having also qualified to ride in the AQHA Competition, followed Howell with a score of 73. Davies went fourteenth and scored a 60. The last ride before the ring was briefly groomed went to Delaware Valley College senior Melisa Voytershark. Though the ride was not likely to be worthy of a score above the 70's, announcer Keith Bradley apparently forgot to read the score. The score for each rider had been announced following the next rider completing the course. Since Davies' score was announced following Voytershark's ride, the delay may have led to some confusion as to when to announce the total.

After the ring had been raked, University of San Diego senior Victoria La Cagnina became the sixteenth rider on course. La Cagnina became the seventh rider to place in the '70's, earning a score of 77. Next up was Makhloghi, who garnered much attention both for her high flat score the day before not to mention a very large Mount Holyoke cheering section! Like La Cagnina, Makhloghi scored in the '70's, but came as close to the '80's as possible. Makhloghi scored a 79.5, which gave her a combined 83.25, best in the field to that point. Meghan Kaminski of Hillsdale College then scored a 75.5, while Freund landed in the 70's with a 76.

Jewell made the jumping portion two-thirds complete, going twentieth and earning an 80.5. This gave Jewell an overall score of 82.25, currently good enough for the top five and almost certainly a call-back. The twenty-first rider on course was Woodhouse, who turned in what Ashe and Esau thought was the finest jumping round. The Skidmore sophomore from Minneapolis scored an 87, which combined with her 83 on the flat made her a lock for the work-off and put her in first place for the moment with a combined 85. Wolkoff followed with a 74.5 and Cal Poly - San Luis Obispos' Renae Beggs scored a 70 after that.

Twenty-fourth on course was Hutson, who could take a big lead if she could match her score from yesterday. Though not as good as several others, Hutson still reached the 80's, earning an 81. Overall this gave Hutson a score of 84.5, only half a point behind Woodhouse. Janczak, the first Sacred Heart rider to compete for the Cup since current pioneer Head Coach Justin Gregory placed sixth in the 1998 competition, did Zone 3, Region 1 proud. Proving to be very consistant, Janczak scored an 83 to go with an 82 the day before. The final four scores would not affect the top ten, as Siegel scored a 74, Woodworth a 78.5 (the same exact score she earned on the flat), Cowen a 77 and Rutgers junior Erica Bello a 60.

Seen here with her Mother and her "Magic Stick," Kristine Kennedy of Drew offset her sixteenth-place '77' flat score with an '86' over fences. The Saturday morning work-off elevated Kennedy to third overall.

Several hours later the combined scores were posted (including Voytershark's missing score of 64 over fences). The judges decided to take riders with an average score of '80' or higher and invite them back for the work-off. This meant that Woodhouse (a combined 85), Hutson (84.5), Makhloghi (82.75), Janczak (82.5), Jewell (82.25), Kennedy (81.5) and Peddy (81) would compete one more time in 2005. Though places from one through seven would be a mystery until the work-off, eighth and ninth were known, as Glass (79.75) and Kleck (79.5) were next on the list. Tenth place remained a question mark, as both Beavers and Cradduck had a combined 79 average. Normally some system is used to break ties like this, but until the ribbons were actually given out, no one knew quite what to expect here.

Following the team open fences division which started the Saturday session (during which Woodhouse, Jewell, Glass, Makhloghi and Hutson all placed in the top six), the lucky seven mounted their draws and were instructed to ride over to the judges' stand to receive their test. For the first time in at least nine years the test was not announced over the loudspeakers, as Ashe and Esau explained to the riders up close and personal what they wanted each to do (at the last two IHSA National Shows, each judge was on a separate side of the arena, elevated many rows above the ring). Only those closest to the judge's box could have known the test, which involved a small course of fences and the ability to jump them without irons.

One by one the seven riders took their turn. During the testing the riders were gathered in one corner of the arena, facing away from the rider on course, so as not to know how each was doing. When the testing was complete, the riders who made the top ten were instructed to gather near the in-gate for the awarding of ribbons. When Bradley finally announced the top ten from tenth through first the first name mentioned was Jaclyn Cradduck of Middle Tennessee State. Though technically a junior, Cradduck, who had finished 22 points ahead of teammate Rachael Hunt and 24 points ahead of teammate Theresa Whitlow in the Zone 5, Region 1 open rider standings, said before the show that this season would be her last in the IHSA (as an undergraduate). Ninth place was awarded to Kleck, who became the first rider in Zone 8, Region 4 ever to make the top ten in the Cacchione Cup competition. Kleck's family has ties to the area, as Ohio State AQHA Competition participant Ashley Kovar is Kleck's cousin! Kleck's Father explained that he is Kovar's Mother's Brother. This perhaps marks the only time in IHSA history that first cousins placed inside the top ten of the Cacchione and AQHA competitions the same year, as Kovar was eighth in the AQHA Cup many hours later this day. Eighth went to Glass, who had been caught in the shadow of former Texas A & M teammate Meredith Houx at previous Nationals but who had the spotlight to herself this time. The senior from Spring, Texas earned top ten ribbons in each of her five rides, placing fifth in individual open over fences, fifth in team open flat, third in team open over fences and third in individual open flat to go with eighth here.

Seventh went to Hutson, who picked up eleven of Miami of Ohio's sixteen team points over the course of the show. Hutson had won the team open fences class immediately before the work-off. Sixth went to Janczak, who equaled the placing of Coach Gregory in 1998. Fifth went to Jewell, who placed second in team open flat and fourth in team open fences, becoming part of a second-consecutive Virginia Intermont National Championship hunter seat team. Fourth went to Peddy, who became the second Brown rider ever to finish inside the top five at Nationals in the Cacchione Cup Competition. Amanda Forte, who graduated the spring before Peddy arrived in Providence, made the top five three times between 2000 and 2002, winning it all in 2001. Peddy apparently did well in the work-off, moving from seventh to fourth for her effort.

Though she was in sixth place after the flat phase, Skidmore sophomore Ashley Woodhouse had the best overall average after the jumping phase and went on to win the 2005 Cacchione Cup.

Third went to Kennedy, who insisted that her magic stick (her lucky riding crop in plain english) be photographed! Drew had their best season in over a decade, earning reserve status to Centenary College in Zone 2, Region 1 as the junior from Middleton, New Jersey scored 98 open level points. Like Peddy, Kennedy tested well, as she moved up from sixth to third. Makhloghi, who had placed second in the team open fences earlier in the morning, earned the reserve ribbon. From Putney, Vermont, Makhloghi would win the individual open flat class two hours later.

The winner of the class endured quite an interesting season. Through the fall portion of the schedule, at least three riders were ahead of her in the Zone 2, Region 3 open rider standings. A series of blue ribbons early in the spring gave her the lead, but she saw an eight point lead going into the final show vanish in less than 90 minutes, as Samara Ringer of Cornell won a pair of classes to tie her with 78 points each. A ride-off at Regionals fortunately went her way. For only the second time in their storied history, Skidmore College can claim the Cacchione Cup Champion, and in 2005 that champion is Ashley Woodhouse.

With so many media people interested in speaking to Woodhouse, this writer headed for Skidmore Head Coach Cindy Ford, who said that though this was Woodhouse's first season competing at IHSA Nationals, the sophomore had gotten a feel for Nationals as more than a spectator last season.

"Ashley was one of the four major schoolers in 2004," said Ford, referring to the riders who are choosen to do a great deal of the schooling between classes at Nationals.

We are not sure if the seventh rider on the right is Kaitlyn Kleck of Oregon (who placed ninth) but we can tell you the others in this picture are the top ten Cacchione riders and some of their coaches at 2005 IHSA Nationals. From left are Jennifer Hutson of Miami University of Ohio, Texas A & M Hunter Seat Coach Linzy Woolf, Stephanie Glass of Texas A & M, Sacred Heart Assistant Coach Alysia Cantelmo, Kate Janczak of Sacred Heart, Erika Jewell of Virginia Intermont College, Brown Head Coach Michaela Scanlon, Jamie Peddy of Brown, Skidmore Head Coach Cindy Ford, Ashley Woodhouse of Skidmore College, Kristine Kennedy of Drew University, Drew Head Coach Karen Sykes, Kleck(?), Mount Holyoke Head Coach C.J. Law, Kyla Makhloghi of Mount Holyoke College, Middle Tennessee State Head Coach Anne Brzezicki, Jaclyn Cradduck of Middle Tennessee State, Cradduck's Mother Sue and IHSA Founder and Executive Director Bob Cacchione. Not pictured is Amy Beavers of Berry College, who was only officially announced as tied for tenth place later in the day.

Though Woodhouse certainly had a spectacular show (first in individual open fences on Friday, earned highest jumping score in Cacchione Competition Saturday, placed fifth in team open fences and first in the Cacchione Cup on Sunday) some might argue that Cacchione runner-up Makhloghi was even better, having placed ninth in individual open fences, first in team open flat, second in team open fences and first in individual open flat to go with reserve status in the Cacchione Cup. No matter how you look at it, Woodhouse and Makhloghi are the only english riders with two blue ribbons at Nationals to call their own. In spite of the large number of seniors in this season's Cacchione class, none of the top five will graduate in '05, so regardless of if they finished second through fifth the 2005-06 season awaits for another chance. Woodhouse, with two more seasons in Saratoga Springs ahead, will hope to become the first two-time Cacchione winner since Kelly Mullen of Stony Brook captured the honor in 1988 and 1991.

Eleventh rider gets twelfth hour top ten status: Many had noticed the tie for tenth place between Cradduck and Beavers, but likely assumed a tie-breaker had been used to give the ribbon to Cradduck. This turned out not to be so, as Bradley announced later in the afternoon that Beavers would receive a duplicate tenth place ribbon and that the tie would stay in effect. The more things change the more they stay the same, as seven hours later Beavers received another tenth-place ribbon. Beavers, who started the season as Amy Humble, graduated in December, married a man named Beavers, saw her Zone 5, Region 2 point totals in both english and western hold up through the spring, got to ride in the Cacchione and AQHA Cup Championships and placed tenth, was given the Versatility award. The Versatility award is presented to a rider who qualified and competed in three individual classes (including the Cacchione and AQHA) in both disciplines. The rider must be novice level or higher in hunter seat and advanced or higher in stock seat. It is not clear if the award was given out in 2004, but previous winners were Eric Hubbard of the College of Southern Idaho in 2000 and 2001 (Hubbard is now the Assistant Coach at University of the South) and Jill Humphrey of University of California at Davis in 2002 and, after transferring, of Fresno State in 2003.

---Steve Maxwell

Combined Flat Scores, followed by Combined Fences Scores: