Campus Equestrian: Zone 4, Region 1 home page

IHSA ZONE 4 - REGION 1

What's this? An IHSA Zone 1, Region 1 coach on the Zone 4, Region 1 page? Goucher College freshman Cameron "Cam" Andruskiewicz (on left) grew up riding with University of Rhode Island head coach Wendy Brayman (on right) at Hunter Ridge in Ashaway, Rhode Island. On December 6th both participated in the Holiday Tournament of Champions invitational hosted by Centenary University in Long Valley, New Jersey. Goucher outscored URI that day 21-15 with Andruskiewicz earning 12 of the Gopher's points with a first in limit fences and a second in limit flat. From Norwich, Connecticut (very close to the Rhode Island border), Andruskiewicz more recently earned 12 team points for Goucher at Zone 4 Zones in Towson, Maryland on April 4th. Goucher took second place by a point and will have a full hunter seat team entered (as will URI) at 2026 IHSA Nationals in Mill Spring, North Carolina starting May 1st.

Though the University of Maryland (College Park) was second to Goucher overall in 2025-26 the Terps had the most Region 1 Regional Qualifiers with eight including Gabrielle "Gabby" Hodor (on right). Seen here with head coach Ryan Carroll at the March 7th Goucher show, the junior and Co-Team President from Bethesda, Maryland graduates a year early. Hodor finished the season placing fifth in individual novice equitation at Zone 4 Zones which Goucher hosted on April 4th.

From Munster, Indiana, Madeleine Miller of American University is seen here after placing second in limit fences at the March 7th Goucher show. But it was in intermediate flat that day during which Miller needed one point to qualify for Regionals. Miller was again second to advance to the post-season. One of a larger-than-usual number of freshmen to qualify for Regionals in their first IHSA season, Miller closed out the season with a seventh in individual intermediate flat at Zones on April 4th.

Only one George Washington University rider qualified for 2026 Regionals. Revolutionaries head coach Courtney Morton (on left) poses with Lydia Ball, a senior and team captain also from Bethesda, Maryland who has one more semester remaining. Ball qualified for Regionals in novice equitation either on March 7th (with a fifth in the division at Goucher) or the next day when the University of Maryland hosted. To the best of our knowledge Lydia Ball is not related to Towson's Kendall Ball, who was again the Region 1 rider with the most combined open flat and fences points.

Speaking of Towson University the Tigers qualified two riders for Regionals; Kendall Ball in both open divisions and Jaden Merrill (pictured) in limit flat. A senior from Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, Merrill is seen here at that same Goucher show on March 7th (and Merrill is actually hiding one of the jump standards directly behind). The other Region 1 school located in Towson, Maryland, Towson finished third out of ten teams in the 2025-26 Region 1 team standings.

George Mason University finished fourth for the year within Region 1. Patriots head coach Sue Buscher (on right) is seen here with Hannah Wang, a senior from Woodbridge, Virginia who was third in both intermediate flat and fences on March 7th.

Hood College had the second-most Regional Qualifiers in Region 1 with six, which was one more than American, Georgetown and even Goucher. One of the six was Sarah Wauls (on left, with head coach Lizzie Hummel), who is seen here winning her first-ever IHSA limit flat class at the September 29, 2024 Goucher show. A sophomore from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Wauls qualified for '26 Regionals in limit fences.

Earlier we showed surprise when a Zone 1, Region 1 coach was on the Zone 4, Region 1 page. Mount St. Mary's University head coach Janis Groomes (on left) is one of a very few who coaches two different IHSA teams in two different Zones! Groomes is based not far from both Mount St. Mary's and Gettysburg College, the latter of which competes in Zone 3, Region 1. One member of Mount St. Mary's qualified for Regionals. A junior from Poolesville, Maryland, Veronica Sulima (on right) pointed out of novice equitation.

Four St. Mary's College of Maryland riders took part in the March 7th Goucher show, with Blake Jones (on left) the final member of the Seahawks to compete. Seen here with head coach Riley Cook, the junior from Silver Spring, Maryland was third in introductory equitation which was the twelfth and final class of the day.

Goucher College is coached by Jen Smith (not pictured). One of the five Goucher riders to qualify for Regionals is Estella "Ella" Smith (pictured). Ella and Jen are not related (Smith is coach Jen's married last name). A sophomore from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Smith won her intermediate flat class on March 7th when this photo was taken. However Smith qualified in limit flat earlier in the season. Prior to 2011 it was news if any Zone 4, Region 1 school won a Region Title as many as four years in a row. The Nationals-bound Gophers have now won 14 consecutive Region Titles!

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The Zone 4, Region 1 Smorgasbord

Schools which competed in Zone 4, Region 1 during the 2025-2026 school year: American University, George Mason University, George Washington University, Georgetown University, Goucher College, Hood College, Mount St. Mary's University, St. Mary's College (MD), Towson University and University of Maryland (College Park).

Winter/Spring 2026 Show Schedule for Zone 4, Region 1 (Zone 4, Region 1 is Hunter Seat or English Only):

Sunday, March 1 Goucher College (Host) on campus, Towson, MD Time TBA

Saturday, March 7 Goucher College (Host) on campus, Towson, MD 11:00AM

Sunday, March 8 University of Maryland (Host) at Meadowbrook Stables, Chevy Chase, MD 11:00AM

Sunday, March 15 Zone 4, Region 1 Regionals at Meadowbrook Stables, Chevy Chase, MD Time TBA

Saturday, April 4 ZONE 4 ZONES Hosted by Goucher College on campus, Towson, MD Time TBA ENGLISH ONLY

Friday through Sunday, May 1 - 3 IHSA NATIONALS at Tryon International Equestrian Center, Mill Spring, NC Time each day TBA ENGLISH AND WESTERN

Show Schedule subject to change.

Recent Region 1 Team Champions

Hunter Seat:

1997 - University of Virginia
1998 - University of Virginia
1999 - Randolph-Macon Womans' College
2000 - Mary Washington College
2001 - Mary Washington College
2002 - Mary Washington College
2003 - Goucher College
2004 - Mary Washington College
2005 - Goucher College
2006 - Sweet Briar College
2007 - Goucher College
2008 - University of Mary Washington
2009 - University of Mary Washington
2010 - Goucher College
2011 - University of Mary Washington
2012 - Goucher College
2013 - Goucher College
2014 - Goucher College
2015 - Goucher College
2016 - Goucher College
2017 - Goucher College
2018 - Goucher College
2019 - Goucher College
2020 - Goucher College
2022 - Goucher College
2023 - Goucher College
2024 - Goucher College
2025 - Goucher College
2026 - Goucher College

Regional Qualifiers

Open Level Rider Standings

Team Standings

Zone 4 NEIGHBORS

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