Princeton Head Coach Ashton Phillips stands between Michelle Fox (on left) and Shayla Mulvey during the March 12th Scranton show. Mulvey was High Point Rider for the day while Fox was Reserve. Thanks to some late-day heroics, the Tigers were Reserve High Point Team as well.

PRINCETON CONTINUES TO HOLD LEAD IN REGION 4; LAFAYETTE REMAINS UNDEFEATED AT PASSPORT FARMS

Oley, PA - Through the first half of the March 12th University of Scranton show at Passport Farms it seemed the Princeton Tigers were on the verge of giving back much of their 30-plus point lead over Lafayette, with four divisions complete and only six points to their credit.

But whatever the Tigers ate for lunch must have done the trick, as all four pointed Princeton riders who rode after the Coaches and Captains Meeting/Lunch Break were awarded blue ribbons. Shayla Mulvey, a sophomore from Del Mar, California won both her Intermediate flat and novice fences classes to become the only rider at the March 12th show to win twice. Michelle Fox, a junior from Ann Arbor, Michigan, was second in intermediate flat and first in her section of novice fences, giving the tigers a sweep of the novice jumping classes and both the individual high point and reserve high point riders for the day. Lindsay Jacob (novice flat), Amy Maletz (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Monique Roberts (walk-trot) also earned firsts for Princeton.

Yet for all the accolades the Tigers may deserve, the Lafayette Leopards equaled their best score of the season, earning 38 points as they had done the last time everyone convened at Passport Farms on November 13th. Despite the vastly different weather conditions (sunny skies and temps in the '70's replaced by rain and a high of only 55 or so), Lafayette was again high point team, besting the Tigers by five. Lauren Timpson won her first-ever intermediate fences class while teammates Emily Mallory (open fences), Erin Zimmerman (intermediate flat), Emily Hansen (novice flat), Christina Keltz (same) and Brie Brown (advanced walk-trot-canter) also won blue ribbons for the Leopards, who now trail the Tigers by 27 with two shows remaining.

Perhaps the most dedicated member of the Lafayette team over the past two weekends is open rider Erin Githens. The senior from Glen Ridge, New Jersey had bronchitis at the March 4th Princeton/Moravian show but still competed, winning twice and taking part in a five-way ride-off. Still not nearly 100 percent at Scranton (having spent time in the hospital in between), Githens competed only on the flat, placing third and helping to knock at least one point off of Princeton's overall total. Githens overall open point total now stands at 52, giving her genuine hope of qualifying for Regionals in both open divisions.

Jane Lucrezi (right, with novice rider Lauren Forsyth) may be the new Head Coach at Cedar Crest, but it is not her first time coaching the Falcons. Lucrezi was Coach during the 1993-94 season. Cedar Crest scored 14 points at each of the first two springs shows with Lucrezi at the helm.

Githens' shot to represent the region at Nationals in the Cacchione competition has probably gone by the boards however. While teammate Mallory added nine points to her open total (now at 62), Erica Bello of Rutgers gained ten points with a first on the flat and a fourth over fences to move into the lead with 71 points. Bello had trailed Lehigh freshman Erika McEneny by a point entering the show, but McEneny did not compete due to illness. Bello's teammate Ellen Levitian placed second in both of her open classes, moving into second place overall in the Region 4 Cacchione/Open Rider race with 64, while Lehigh junior Jill Douglass won over fences and was fourth on the flat to reach 63 points. Douglass, who as a freshman was second in the nation at 2004 IHSA Nationals in the Cacchione Competition, earned the distinction of becoming the first rider in Region 4 history to compete in an IHSA while wearing spurs! During the Princeton/Moravian show Region 4 had voted to adopt the IHSA national policy on spur use, so the additional piece of metal made its' debut at today's show.

For the second time this spring, Rutgers scored in the '30's, as Kristine Nagle (advanced walk-trot-canter), Mary Heffner (beginner walk-trot-canter) and Nicole Fiorellino (walk-trot) all placed second in their respective classes. The Scarlet Knights finished third with precisely 30 points.

Lehigh was fourth overall with 25. Whitney Colloran (open flat), Rebecca Resnick (open fences) and Anna Childson (intermediate flat) earned one red ribbon each for the Mountain Hawks while Valentina Baio's IHSA debut was a memorable one, with a pair of seconds. It was nearly not Baio's day, as what was almost her first IHSA ride saw her horse take off at the gallop, going around the ring twice before Baio was able to bring him to the walk. Baio received a re-ride in section 4B, leading to the first of her red ribbons.

Bloomsburg was one of only two other teams besides Lafayette and Princeton with two blue ribbon winners. Brittany Zaleski won her section of open flat while Bonnie Lewis showed she could pick up the canter as well as anyone doing so for the first time, earning a blue in her beginner walk-trot-canter debut. The Huskies finished the day with 24 points.

Lyndsey Collins of the University of Scranton was the ribbon-runner during part of the March 12th show. Rather unusually no member of the Scranton team competed at the show they hosted, though two Royal riders were originally entered.

Megan Lissi (intermediate fences) and Marietta Dooley (walk-trot) won classes for Kutztown. Though Lissi did not feel well after her intermediate fences round (was anyone truly healthy at this show?), the ride itself looked fine to judge Abbe Wolfe, and Lissi was awarded the blue ribbon. The Golden Bears won several red ribbons, as Lindsay Clements (intermediate fences), Jessica Robinson (novice flat), Mary-Kate Schneider (same), Laura Vandergrift (novice fences), Heather Mayer (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Allison Brewer (same) all came up second throughout the show. Though Kutztown finished sixth overall, the weekend was actually very successful for the GB's, as their stock seat team had competed three times in West Virginia over the previous 48 hours and headed to Passport Farms with a one-point lead in the Region 4 Stock Seat Team Standings. Members of the Rutgers and Bloomsburg teams had also been out in West Virginia, making for a very long weekend for those who had been riding or driving for the better part of three days.

Also earning blue ribbons at the Scranton show were Megan Franz of East Stroudsburg and Davina Riddell of Cedar Crest, both on top in separate sections of advanced walk-trot-canter.

One school that did not earn any blue ribbons was the host University of Scranton Royals, who would end the day without any of their riders having competed. Though somewhat short-staffed, Scranton put on the show themselves, having to deal with difficult weather aspects, horses brought in from many sources, and the decision to move some of the classes indoors after the outdoor had been groomed. Several days before the show took place, intermediate flat/open fences rider Alicia Anthony had to scrap programs that were printed prior to the addition of many late entries and re-print new ones on her personal computer! Scranton deserves an honorary blue ribbon for being able to put on a decent show under the circumstances.

Kutztown freshman Lauren Casale and Golden Bears' Head Coach Bruce Lachiusa are happy that Casale was High Point Rider at the March 4th Princeton/Moravian show. Casale beat out four others to win the ride-off while Kutztown was reserve high point team. Casale can also jog and lope with the best of the region, as the freshman from New Tripoli, Pennsylvania is neck-and-neck with West Virginia's Mallory Crawford for the Region 4 AQHA/open rider lead.

Princeton Head Coach and 1989 Virginia Intermont graduate Ashton Phillips continues to lead both Region 4 hunter seat alumni divisions, though 2005 Kutztown graduate Crystal Coffelt won the alumni flat at Passport. Coffelt is now only one point behind Phillips on the flat. Two of the riders who had faired well in the fall over fences have not shown so far in 2006. With no sign of either former UConn rider Chrissy Seelaus or Scranton grad Sabrina King, one-time Findlay standout Erika Bender has moved up to 20 points in alumni jumping, adding five of those points at Passport in the rain. Bender, who was known for her flat work at Findlay, was third on the flat and now has 25 points in that alumni division. Another of the Kutztown class of 2005 is Becky Stoll, who was third over the alumni fences, giving her 18 in that division and an outside shot at qualifying for Regionals. Yet another 2005 Golden Bear graduate kept her post-season hopes alive. Abby Tymchak was fifth in both alumni divisions, and now has 17 points in alumni flat.

Wilkes makes second appearance: The University of Scranton is no longer the only school from the Scranton-Wilkes Barre area with an IHSA team. Wilkes University joined the IHSA mid-season, and after scoring eight points in their IHSA debut February 18th the Colonials added five more at today's show. Coached by Ann Andes, Wilkes best ribbon so far belongs to Jessica Ashford, who placed second in advanced walk-trot-canter at the February 18th Bloomsburg show. Dana Manning earned their best ribbon at the Scranton show, placing third in advanced walk-trot-canter, a division that can claim four of the six Wilkes riders who have shown so far.

Less is more sometimes: Kelly Jones earned a third on the intermediate flat while placing fourth in intermediate fences. Theresa Zataveski was fourth in novice flat. These two made up the Moravian team at the Scranton show, as the Greyhounds were one of several schools with a reduced roster due to Spring Break. Strangely enough, Moravian scored seven points at Passport yet scored only six on November 5th with a full card.

Erin Githens of Lafayette gives her Mother a hug at a (warmer) show last season. Githens won both of her open classes and was one of five riders to compete in a ride-off at the March 4th Princeton/Moravian show. Though Githens is a senior with many blue ribbons to her credit, the March 4th ride-off was her first in IHSA competition.

Not quite ancient history: Princeton University scored 45 points at the March 4th show they co-hosted, setting the record for most points scored at a Region 4 show. Keep in mind that Region 4 was formed prior to the start of the 2001-02 season, so this was only the 45th regular season show in Region 4 history. Kutztown scored 46 at a 1997-98 show while a member of Zone 3, Region 2, while Rutgers may have faired as well if not better during their mid-'80's heyday when they captured Region Titles in 1984, '85 and '87.

A little more about the March 4th show: Kutztown was reserve high point team with 36 points, while Golden Bear open rider Lauren Casale won the five-way ride-off versus teammate Tara Davies, Githens, and both Fox and Katie Klosterman of Princeton. Fox was reserve, giving her both individual reserve ribbons handed out so far in the month of March. With a third, Lissi pointed out of intermediate flat, meaning she moved from advanced walk-trot-canter to open in less than three full seasons.

What's Next?: Cedar Crest will host a show at Briarwood this Saturday (the 18th) while Lehigh will also host at Briarwood on the 26th. Though Princeton will be on Spring Break between the two shows, the Tigers are expected to either have a full card or be close to one for each show. The schools that also show stock seat will be very busy over the final weekend of March, as a double western show will take place on Friday the 24th as well as Regionals, followed by Zone 3 Stock Seat Zones the next day and the Lehigh show the day after that.

--Steve Maxwell

March 12th Show Incidentals: Mostly cloudy with occasional rain. High temperature in the low '50's. Parts of this show held indoors. Start time: 9:11AM. Finish: 4:08PM - includes 66 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? No. Alumni classes held in this Region? Yes. Judge: Abbe Wolfe. Stewards: Lachiusa/Kutztown University, Speziale/East Stroudsburg University and Clark/Lafayette College.

Team Totals: Lafayette College (High Point Team) 38; Princeton University (Reserve) 33; Rutgers University 30; Lehigh University 25; Bloomsburg University 24; Kutztown University 23; East Stroudsburg University 11; Cedar Crest College 8; Moravian College 7; Wilkes University 5 and University of Scranton 0.

High Point Rider - Shayla Mulvey, Princeton University
Reserve High Point Rider - Michelle Fox, Princeton University