During the first class held at 2009 IHSA Nationals she received a combined Judge's score of '81' and was invited back to test. Like Cacchione Cup winner Lindsay Clark, State University of New York at New Paltz sophomore Amanda Bender is also from the town of New Paltz, New York. Bender finished fourth overall in individual intermediate over fences on April 23rd at Nationals in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.