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CENTENARY WINS EARLY AND OFTEN, SCORES 42, LOOKS LIKE THE TEAM TO BEAT Long Valley, NJ - There was an obvious trend in place by the time novice fences was underway. The trend was that a specific school was winning nearly every blue ribbon. And that same school was earning better than 50 percent of the red ribbons. The school in question is 19-time Zone 2, Region 1 Regional Champion Centenary College, and as the day progressed things did not change much. Out of the 38 undergraduate classes, Centenary won 28 blue, first-place ribbons and 21 red, second-place ribbons. Five Centenary riders won two firsts. Six Centenary riders won a first and a second. Centenary won 12 consecutive fences classes. They also won 11 consecutive flat classes. No other team besides Centenary won an intermediate or a novice class of any kind. On only two occasions over the first 32 classes did Centenary fail to place a rider in the top two and over the first 29 classes of any kind the Cyclones were winners in 26 of them. This writer has attended IHSA shows on a regular basis since 1997 and the statistics don't lie in any way: This is one of the five most dominating regular-season performances I have seen at an IHSA show in that timespan.
It seemed during the jumping divisions that if someone missed a spot or changed speeds you could look down at the program and say, "Nope. Not a Centenary rider." However in the overwhelming majority of cases where the riders were consistant and dead-on the number on their back matched a Centenary name in the book. The Cyclone flat riders were equally gifted, picking up the canter as if they were using telekinesis with their draws. The longest paragraph in this story will undoubtedly be this one, as it is the role call of Cyclones with blue ribbons. The winners were Jessica Anselmo (open flat and intermediate fences), Molly Brown (intermediate flat and fences), Charlene Benson (novice flat and fences), Amber Reiser (same), Candice Schober (same), Jenn Elrod (open flat; also second in open fences), Kim Kalosy (intermediate fences; also second in intermediate flat), Anna Mantell (intermediate flat; also second in intermediate fences), Randi Cashman (intermediate flat; also second in novice fences), Krissie Ledyard (novice fences; also second in novice flat; We hope we are spelling her name correctly as Ledyard was a late add replacing another rider), Ellen Rauchbach (novice flat; also second in novice fences), Lindsay Clark (open fences; her first blue ribbon in open fences since transfering from Bridgewater College), Genna Centolanza (open fences), Angela Fiori (intermediate fences), Emily Stangroom (novice fences), Victoria Eckert (novice fences), Kim Schultz (novice fences), Mya Dee (novice flat), Ali Krecker (novice flat), Abby Revior (advanced walk-trot-canter), Annie Coolbaugh (advanced walk-trot-canter), Jenni Mass (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Maureen Fenimore (beginner walk-trot-canter). As one may have guessed from the number of divisions the show was unlimited. Novice fences in fact went out to a section 4G, with seven or more riders in each section. Perhaps the only shocker is that none of the three sections of walk-trot went the Cyclones' way (though Sara Tirch was second in the final class of the day). Also some would glance at the team totals and say that 42 points seems low for such a pounding. However one must remember that with up to four in a class Centenary had ample opportunity to 'beat themselves.' In other words, the Cyclones who were not pointed could have frequently beaten their teammates whose names were on the point sheets. To the coachs' credit, the majority of the pointed riders were blue ribbon winners. Regardless of how the points are interpreted, this writer wants to go on record that, so far, after having visited seven regions and a Tournament of Champions show the school that rode the best I have seen is this Centenary unit. Coaches Michael Dowling and Heather Clark (who coached Lafayette College in Zone 3, Region 4 for five seasons prior to this season) have an incredibly talented group of riders and as much depth as any IHSA program could hope for. Former Coach Andrea Wells, who (to the best of our knowledge) is now working for Savannah College of Art & Design, deserves a lot of credit for helping to shape the upperclassmen. The Centenary program is hoping to claim a 20th consecutive Region Championship, and if they do, those at Zones and Nationals may face the strongest Centenary team the program has fielded to date.
Although this writer has spent the first third of this story raving about Centenary being the best he has ever seen them, Drew University (which defeated Centenary on opening day) could possibly be fielding their best team in program history. The Rangers are led by the 2008 Cacchione Cup winner James Fairclough II. A senior from Newton, New Jersey, Fairclough was first in open fences and third in open flat at today's show, and now has 37 of a possible 42 points in the combined open divisions through three shows (Fairclough's win in open fences was also the only time an undergraduate jumping class did not go Centenary's way). Annie Daniels, a freshman from Chestertown, Maryland, won her section of advanced walk-trot-canter to earn the Rangers a second blue ribbon. Though Drew scored only 23 points at today's show don't count out a Rangers comeback. Several riders who did particularly well at the first show could produce similar results throughout the remainder of the season. The last time Centenary had a close race for the Region Championship was in 2000-01, when USMA led at the winter break and trailed the Cyclones by only nine points headed into the final show. That particular Centenary team did well in the post-season, eventually finishing only a point out of the Reserve Champion position at '01 Nationals in Conyers, Georgia. If Drew can make it a single-digit race going into the final Region 1 regular season show it should be a good omen for both programs. While Drew maintained second place overall, the Reserve High Point Team at today's show was the State University of New York at New Paltz. The Hawks scored 28 points, with walk-trot rider Brooke Bulogna winning the final class of the day for their lone blue ribbon. New Paltz did win four red ribbons, including two for open rider Carolyn Smith. Ashley Zeruto (second in open flat) and Smith are now tied with Centenary's Clark for third in the Region 1 open rider standings, as each now has 21 points. The Hawks' Amanda Bender was second to Mantell in intermediate flat, becoming the only rider not from Centenary to place inside the top two in an intermediate flat class on this day. New Paltz remains in third overall trailing Drew for second by an 87-83 margin. Despite lacking an intermediate flat rider, host United States Military Academy was third for the day with 24 points. If the show had started with the final eight classes held then the Black Knights would have won! Stephanie Whitaker provided USMA with their first blue ribbon in the fourth section of advanced walk-trot-canter while teammates Sabrina Szabo and Kalen Larsen won consecutive sections of beginner walk-trot-canter. All nine of USMA's riders over the final eight classes placed third or higher. Red ribbons went to Sean Flynn (walk-trot), Julia Schemel (beginner walk-trot-canter), Kimberly Cowan (same) and Regina "Reggie" Woronowicz, who was second to Anselmo earlier in the day in what may have been her first intermediate fences class. After his Black Knights won two of their three blue ribbons, USMA Coach Peter Cashman claimed "We own the lower levels." One would have to agree with Cashman, whose team is clearly deep in talent below the novice level.
While USMA was one rider shy of a full card, Bard College lacked a walk-trot rider to complete their roster. Nevertheless the Raptors were fifth at today's show with 22 points. Sophomore Lora Price was second to Mass in advanced walk-trot-canter while another sophomore, Rosina Williams, was second to Reiser in novice fences. According to Head Coach Andrea Nussinow Williams "is an awesome baker," who brings cookies and the like to Bard riding functions. Open rider Bethany Richards was fourth in both of her rides and now sits one point behind Smith, Zeruto and Clark in the Region 1 hunter seat open rider standings. Like the USMA, Pace University was without an intermediate flat rider. Still the Setters earned three blue ribbons, the most of any school at today's show save for Centenary. Caroline O'Connell, a junior from Smithtown, New York, won the first section of open flat after the lunch break (which ended Centenary's streak of 12 straight wins in undergraduate classes) while freshmen Victoria Keck and Brittany Ravellette won back-to-back sections of walk-trot much later. Jan Kutscher was second in open flat while senior and Captain Julia Freeman was second in advanced walk-trot-canter. From Yorktown, New York, Freeman needed a point to class up and received five of them. The Setters finished sixth overall with 19 points. Marist College easily had their best day of the season so far. The Red Foxes entered with 17 points through two shows, which had them in last place. At today's show Marist scored 18 points, with Maria Sanner leading the way with a second in novice flat. First year Head Coach Clare Knapp (who was a member of the Marist Track team but not the Equestrian team as an undergraduate) has the Red Foxes out of the celler, having more than doubled their team total on a day when most schools could not claim they took much of a step forward.
Also scoring 18 points at today's show was Sarah Lawrence College. The Gryphons were led by senior open rider Liz Stitzel, who won her open flat class and remains in second place in the Region 1 open rider standings. Freshman Ana Perlstein was second to Keck in walk-trot. Sarah Lawrence, which like most lacked a rider in one division (in their case, intermediate fences) moved up to seventh place outright in the region overall. William Paterson University scored 14 points, which is very close to what the Pioneers average per show. Katie Vunck was second to Kalosy in intermediate fences while Danielle Decker was second to Revior in advanced walk-trot-canter. The Pioneers, without an open rider at today's show, now sit in eighth place, with 44 points. Stevens Institute of Technology scored 14 points as well. Kahri Olsen was second in her open flat, leaving her only a point behind Richards, two behind Zeruto, Smith and Clark and seven behind Stitzel in the open rider standings (Fairclough is 18 points away). Stevens, which was without an intermediate flat rider, will host the next show to take place at the Centenary College Equestrian Center on November 8th. Vassar College, which had 21 points through the first two shows, did not take part in today's competition.
More streaks intact: 2006 Drew University graduate Kristine Kennedy is now undefeated through three shows. Kennedy won both her alumni flat and fences classes, moving her to within seven points of going to Regionals in both divisions. When questioned between the two divisions if she was going to win all of her classes this season, Kennedy quickly knocked on wood. The knocking helped this time. 2006 Fairfield University graduate Sonia Knutsen was second to Kennedy on both occasions, while a pair of Dickinson College graduates were third. Michelle Green, who graduated from Dickinson in 2002, was the yellow ribbon winner over fences while her former Red Devil teammate Sara Misthal (class of '03) equaled the ribbon on the flat. Both reside in different boroughs of New York City, and Green said she had to rent a car to compete in the first show. The Ride-Off: It would be incorrect to say Zone 2, Region 1 never holds a ride-off, but to the best of this writer's knowledge no more than three ride-offs have taken place to settle ties for high point at Region 1 shows this decade. The majority of the coaches in this region would prefer to give the horses a break after a long day. All five Centenary riders with two firsts thus tie for high point at today's show.
Yesterday once more: There were two visitors to today's show who are forever connected to the history of Zone 2, Region 1. 1986 Pace University graduate Julie Becker was on hand as her daughter was one of many schooling horses. Becker went on to coach Caldwell College through the 1990-91 season, and then replaced Lisa Bailey as Head Coach at Sarah Lawrence into the mid 1990's (One of Becker's teammates at Pace was Lori Rakoczy, who is currently the Gryphon's Head Coach). In charge of the in-gate at today's show was former Centenary rider and Head Coach Kerry O'Connell. Now an adjunct professor at Centenary, O'Connell rode for the Cyclones from 1976 to 1980 (when they were a member of what was then Region 5, or the Philadelphia area region), competing on two teams which were IHSA National Champions. O'Connell succeeded Sally Batton as the Centenary Head Coach for the 1989-90 season and led the Cyclones to four straight region titles, with the 1992-93 team earning reserve IHSA national champion honors in Concord, Ohio. It was 30 years ago this Spring that Centenary won their most recent National Championship, and ironically 2009 Nationals are in the same town of Murfreesboro, Tennessee as '79 Nationals. It could be time for lightning to strike twice. ---Steve Maxwell Show Incidentals: Partly cloudy skies, with temperatures in the upper '50's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 9:02AM. Finish: 5:47PM - includes 43 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Barbara Filippelli. Stewards: Dowling/Centenary College, Nussinow/Bard College, Clark/State . University of New York at New Paltz and Rooney/William Paterson University. Hunter Seat Team Totals: Centenary College (High Point Team) 42; State University of New York at New Paltz (Reserve) 28; United States Military Academy 24; Drew University 23; Bard College 22; Pace University 19; Marist College 18; Sarah Lawrence College 18; Stevens Institute of Technology 14 and William Paterson University 14. High Point Rider - TIE: Jessica Anselmo, Centenary College; Molly Brown, Centenary College; Charlene Benson, Centenary College; Amber Reiser, Centenary College and Candice Schober, Centenary College.
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