Campus Equestrian: Zone 2, Region 1 Home Page

IHSA ZONE 2 - REGION 1

From Columbiana, Ohio, Samantha Smit of Alfred University (on right) was entered in three classes at 2026 IHSA Nationals. Smit was ninth in the individual Western High Point Open Rider Competition; fifth in the individual reining and sixth in team open western horsemanship to close out her senior year. In his second season as head coach, Adam D'Agostino (on left) guided the Saxons to their first appearance with a full Western team at an IHSA Nationals event since 2018. Albion College also had a full team entered, and D'Agostino may have known a thing or two about any juniors and seniors riding for the Britons as he was the Albion head coach before taking over at Alfred.

In 2026 for the first time in program history Cornell University won a Western Region Title. Big Red Western coach Nicky Kurty (on left) saw Cornell outscore well-known programs Morrisville State College and the State University of New York at Oswego during the regular season to accomplish this. On the right is Ciera Wolff, who figured big in the Big Red sending a full team to Semifinals for the first time. From Hershey, Pennsylvania (a municipality known as 'the sweetest place on earth'), Wolff was the Area 2.3's high point Western rider and went on to finish her sophomore year by placing eighth in the individual Western High Point Rider competition at IHSA Nationals in Mill Spring, North Carolina on May 3rd (Editor's Note: Some will have noticed Smit was ninth and Wolff eighth in the individual high point open rider division which is reserved for the number one western open rider in each area. Because Zone 2 is divided up differently for Western and English Smit and Wolff did not ride against each other until the post season, which explains why both were in this division at Nationals).

Another rider to place eighth at 2026 Nationals was Keira Hanschman of Alfred University (pictured). A senior from Chicago, Illinois (a municipality known as 'the windy city'), Hanschman was eighth in team ranch riding on May 2nd to put two of the Saxon's 16 points on the scoreboard. Since the last time Alfred had a full western team at Nationals the scoring system changed for Nationals' events. Unlike regular season shows ten points are awarded for first, eight for second, seven for third all the way down to a half point for tenth. 16 points put Alfred in the top ten in ninth place which meant they were presented team ribbons during the awards ceremony at the end of the Nationals event on May 3rd.

Two Region 1 hunter seat riders survived Zone 2 Zones including Cecilia Wong of Rochester Institute of Technology. Riding at Lehman Farms (which is RIT's home facility), Wong won the individual limit over fences at Zones on April 4th to reach Nationals. The junior from Bedford, New Hampshire is seen here waiting for horse draw at IHSA Nationals on May 1st. Wong went on to place fourth in the nation in the individual limit fences later that day.

Seen here at the All-Ivy League invitational on April 19th with head coach Nicole Madonna Cerio, Alexa Carey of Cornell University (on left) was the other Region 1 hunter seat rider to compete at Nationals. From Los Altos Hills, California, Carey was second in individual introductory equitation at Zones on April 4th. On May 2nd Carey closed out her sophomore year with a third at Nationals in the same division, which turned out to be the best ribbon earned by any Zone 2, Region 1 rider be they English or Western during '26 Nationals. And back at the All-Ivy Carey was first in the pre-novice class to help the Big Red win by a 44-30 margin over Brown University (Another Editor's Note: The captions for the first five photos on this page were written following 2026 Nationals. The photos and captions for the remaining photos were written in December 2025 prior to any early 2026 shows).

Through six of the eight scheduled hunter seat shows the race to finish on top of the Region 1 open rider standings is as close as any within the IHSA's 37 regions. Five riders have between 51 and 57 points including Mary Penfield of Binghamton University (pictured). A senior from Vestal, New York, Penfield is at 51 points, needing one more on the flat and four more over fences to qualify for Regionals in these divisions. Penfield has a younger sister named Cecilia who is trying to qualify for Regionals within these same open divisions in Zone 3, Region 4 while competing for the University of Scranton.

At 52 points in the combined open levels is Adrianna Sydorowych of Alfred University (pictured). A sophomore from Fayetteville, New York, Sydorowych has qualified for Regionals in open flat but needs six more points to do the same in open fences. Sydorowych (pronounced "Sid-eer-oh-vitch") trails teammate Maggie Childs (not pictured) by one point in the close open rider race. The eventual winner of this race will automatically compete at Zone 2 Zones on April 4th in the Cacchione Cup competition. And if the Region 1 representative places in the top three then a similar class made up of 24 riders will take place at IHSA Nationals. The winner of that class is considered the best hunter seat open rider in all the IHSA for the season.

Erin Morera of Cornell University (pictured) competed in just about every show as a freshman last season specifically in the open over fences division. From Greenwich, Connecticut, Morera was seldom outside the top two when the open jumps were placed. As a sophomore Morera is actually having a better season in intermediate flat. With seven carry-over points Morera has added two firsts and three seconds to point out of the division. Four more over fences points this season and Morera will have two rides at Regionals on March 8th which the Big Red will host.

Arie Decker of the University at Buffalo (on right, with head coach Christine Hannon) entered the season needing four points to qualify for Regionals in limit fences. And in the season opener at Lehman Farms the junior from Middleport, New York won the class! Of the eleven schools to show hunter seat in Region 1 so far this season Buffalo sits in fifth place. However the Bulls are only two points behind Ithaca College and ten behind Binghamton.

Rochester Institute of Technology head coach Gail Miller (on left) operates Lehman Farm which was not only the site of four IHSA shows this fall but also will be the site of 2026 Zone 2 Zones on April 4th. Miller is seen here with Makenna Howe of the Tigers. A sophomore from Buffalo, New York, Howe pointed out of both limit divisions during RIT's October 12th home show and most recently won an intermediate flat class for the first time also at Lehman Farm with Nazareth hosting on November 16th.

When this photo was taken at the October 20, 2024 Cornell show Jessica Freese of the State University of New York at Brockport had just won her novice flat class. On October 12th of this season the sophomore from Livonia, New York won another novice class to qualify for Regionals in the division. And since then Freese has a blue ribbon in each of the limit divisions! So far in 2025-26 only four Brockport riders have competed. But three of the four have qualified for Regionals!

Hobart and William Smith Colleges head coach Sarah Donohue (on right) poses with Sasha Ardasheva after placing first in introductory equitation on October 12th. We forgot to write down the year and hometown but we can tell you the blue ribbon qualified Ardasheva (pronounced "Ard-ash-va") for Regionals in the division. So far Ardasheva is the only H & WS rider qualified for Regionals this season.

There are plenty of cases where sisters are riding in the IHSA at the same time. And in the cases of the Wick sisters they both ride for Nazareth University. On the left is Anna Wick and on the right is Nora Wick. Both are sophomores and both are from Cooperstown, Pennsylvania. However Nora had 35 carry-over points headed into the season while Anna is new to IHSA competition this season. A fourth in novice equitation on October 11th made Nora Wick a Regional Qualifier in the division. On that same day Anna Wick won her IHSA debut in limit fences. Now head coach Terese Bouchard (center) can say both Wick sisters show in the limit divisions.

From Colchester, Connecticut, Ithaca College junior Josie Thomson (on left) poses with Bombers head coach Audra Ravo after having won her intermediate over fences class on October 12th. Thomson was one of four Ithaca riders to win a class that day as the Bombers scored 32 points (just missing out on a tie for reserve high point team which Alfred and Binghamton claimed with 33).

Following Zones Cornell University hosts the All-Ivy League Invitational, which most recently took place last April 27th. The Big Red won with a perfect 49 score, including a first for Estelle Azurin (on left) in limit flat. Sharon Azurin (on right) can say three of her daughters have ridden in the IHSA, with Sophia Azurin previously on the S.U.N.Y. - Geneseo team and middle sister Clarissa on the Holy Cross team. A sophomore from Orchard Park, New York, Estelle Azurin has come up a winner in limit flat this season, taking the blue ribbon in the division on both October 12th and 19th.

William Utzman of Alfred University (on right, with head coach Theresa Lounsberry) was high point rider at the October 11th Region 1 season opener. The freshman from Fairport, New York won twice that day and was also a double-blue winner when Nazareth hosted on November 15th. Utzman has won five of his six limit flat classes (one second) and is already qualified in the division in his first IHSA semester. Alfred and Cornell have each won three shows, with the Saxons holding a five point lead 236-231. Perhaps the key is to score in the 40's, as Alfred has accomplished this four times to Cornell's three. Cornell will host the next Region 1 show on February 15th while Alfred will host the eighth and final regular season show on February 22nd.

Click on the map to get information and results from IHSA shows.

Contact Info
editor@campusequestrian.com

FEATURED LINKS

IHSAinc.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

The Zone 2, Region 1 Smorgasbord

Schools which competed in Zone 2, Region 1 during the 2025-2026 school year: Alfred State College, Alfred University, Binghamton University, Cornell University, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Ithaca College, Keuka College, Nazareth University, Rochester Institute of Technology, State University of New York at Brockport, University at Buffalo and University of Rochester.

Fall 2026 Show Schedule for Zone 2, Region 1:

Sunday, October 18 Alfred University (Host) at the Alfred University Equestrian Center, also known as the Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center at the Maris Cuneo Horse Park, Alfred Station, NY Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, October 24 Rochester Institute of Technology (Host) at Lehman Farms, Pittsford, NY Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, October 25 Rochester Institute of Technology (Host) at Lehman Farms, Pittsford, NY Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, October 31 Slippery Rock University (Host) at Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, Slippery Rock, PA Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Sunday, November 1 Cornell University (Host) at the John T. Oxley Equestrian Center, Ithaca, NY Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, November 1 Slippery Rock University (Host) at Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, Slippery Rock, PA Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, November 7 Alfred University (Host) at the Alfred University Equestrian Center, also known as the Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center at the Maris Cuneo Equine Park, Alfred Station, NY Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Sunday, November 8 Alfred University (Host) at the Alfred University Equestrian Center, also known as the Bromeley-Daggett Equestrian Center at the Maris Cuneo Equine Park, Alfred Station, NY Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Saturday, November 14 Nazareth College (Host) at Lehman Farms, Pittsford, NY Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Sunday, November 15 Nazareth College (Host) at Lehman Farms, Pittsford, NY Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Saturday, November 21 West Virginia University (Host) at the West Virginia University J.W. Ruby Research Farm, also known as Reedsville Farm, Reedsville, WV Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Sunday, November 22 West Virginia University (Host) at the West Virginia University J.W. Ruby Research Farm, also known as Reedsville Farm, Reedsville, WV Time TBA WESTERN ONLY

Additional Western Shows to come. Starting in 2025-26 Alfred State College and Alfred University show western with four schools located in Zone 2, Region 5 under the name Area 2.5. Cornell University continues to show Western with schools in Zone 2, Region 2 and Zone 2, Region 3 (S.U.N.Y. - Oswego, Morrisville State College, Syracuse University, Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Guelph) under the name Area 2.3. Show Schedule subject to change.

Recent Zone 2, Region 1 Team Champions (This version of Zone 2, Region 1 was formed prior to the start of the 2010-11 season and contains schools previously found in Zone 2, Region 2, Zone 2, Region 3 and Zone 3, Region 3):

Hunter Seat:

2011 - Cornell University
2012 - Cornell University
2013 - Alfred University
2014 - Cornell University
2015 - Cornell University
2016 - Cornell University
2017 - Cornell University
2018 - Cornell University
2019 - Cornell University
2020 - Binghamton University
2022 - Cornell University
2023 - Cornell University
2024 - Cornell University
2025 - Cornell University
2026 - Alfred University

Western:

2011 - Alfred University
2012 - Alfred University
2013 - Alfred University
2014 - Alfred University
2015 - Alfred University
2016 - Alfred University
2017 - Alfred University
2018 - Alfred University
2019 - Alfred University
2020 - Alfred University
2022 - Alfred University
2023 - Alfred University
2024 - Alfred University
2025 - S.U.N.Y. - Oswego (for Area 2.3)
2025 - Alfred University (for Area 2.5)
2026 - Cornell University (for Area 2.3)
2026 - Alfred University (for Area 2.5)

Regional Qualifiers

Open Level Rider Standings

Team Standings

ZONE 2 NEIGHBORS

Region 2 Homepage

Region 3 Homepage

Region 4 Homepage

Region 5 Homepage