Seen here with Head Coach Beth Boteler, Isabel Moore (on right) was one of three Mary Washington riders to win a class at the February 15th George Washington Show. A sophomore from Blacksburg, Virginia, Moore won her section of advanced walk-trot-canter.

UNIVERSITY OF MARY WASHINGTON WINS FOR THE FOURTH TIME THIS SEASON

Poolesville, MD - Sometimes you never know what might happen or who you might meet at an IHSA horse show. The announcer at today's show was a gentleman by the name of Bob Laycock, a professor in the School of Business at George Washington University. I mentioned to Laycock that I operate a web site which covers college riding, and that I attempt to cover the results of all 31 IHSA regions. Laycock, who is clearly over 50 years of age, surprised me by asking if I had ever heard of Joan Johnson.

I said, "Sure. She was one of the original coaches at Stony Brook when the IHSA was formed back in 1967."

"I took my first lesson from her," Laycock said.

I then asked if Laycock had heard of George Lukemire, who was the other coach at Stony Brook when the IHSA was formed and who lived on the same property as Johnson.

"George was my camp counselor. 'Lucky Lukemire' is what we called him."

Laycock briefly discussed his involvement with a summer camp on Long Island, and his lessons with Johnson, who was the first IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award winner in 1993. It was very interesting to hear about events involving the IHSA founders before there even was an IHSA.

But then it dawned on me that what Laycock was talking about is no different than what went on inside the ring on a chilly day in mid-February 2009 in Poolesville, Maryland. It is all history, and in some way IHSA history at that.

This conversation with Laycock took place after nearly all the classes had been completed, and at that point most of the results from the first-ever IHSA show at Tulip Pond Farm were in the books. It was apparent from the point sheets that host George Washington University was in the running for high point team, along with Goucher College and the University of Mary Washington.

Nadine Miglio (center) of Hood College poses with Head Coach Lisa Mitchell (on left) and Advisor Anita Bartgis after placing second in advanced walk-trot-canter. The senior was one of two Hood riders to place second as the Blazers scored a season-high nine points.

These three programs have very different histories within the IHSA. When still known as Mary Washington College, the school from Fredericksburg, Virginia was initially involved with other Virginia schools now located in Zone 4, Region 2, but this was over 25 years ago. In the spring of 1987, now involved with schools on both sides of the Potomic, the Eagles captured their first region championship. It would not be until 1991 when another school kept Mary Washington from reaching Nationals. In 2008 the Eagles won their eleventh region title in program history, and thanks to a pair of 49 scores during the fall of 2008 region title number 12 is almost a certainty.

Goucher's early days are up for debate, in that this writer has been told two stories. One is that the team was formed for the 1983-84 season, and that the Gophers faced competition from the Washington, DC area and Virginia schools from day one. Another account says that at least in these early days (perhaps starting with the 1982-83 season) that Goucher rode against teams in Eastern Pennsylvania. There is some credibility to this, as the University of Maryland definitely rode against schools in the Philadelphia area during the 1983-84 season. There was a considerable re-alignment within the IHSA following the 83-84 season, including the creation of at least two new regions, and it was likely at this point that Goucher went head-to-head with Mary Washington for the first time. The Gophers have gone on to win Region 1 region titles in 2003, 2005, and 2007, with the most recent champion team their first in program history to reach Nationals.

In total contrast George Washington University (or at least the current incarnation) seems to have made their IHSA debut in the spring of 2004, finishing that season with all of three points! Though the Colonials scored over 100 each of the next two seasons the total dropped all the way to 19 for the 2006-07 season. However if you started following Region 1 this season you would think GW has been a power for some time. The Colonials scored 34 points at Goucher on October 25th, which appears to be the program record (Editor's note: There is the possibility that a team at George Washington existed briefly prior to 2004).

From Fredericksburg, Virginia, freshman Heidi Siegmund (on right) was one of three College of William & Mary riders to win a class on February 15th. Head Coach Karen Greenwood (on left) saw the Tribe score a season-high 30 points, helped in part by Siegmunds' first in novice flat.

The history of the other nine schools is somewhat hazy. American University has fielded a team on-and-off since 2000, but mostly on; The University of Maryland at College Park has fielded a team since at least the early 1980's and maybe even earlier; The University of Maryland at Baltimore County is in their first season of IHSA competition; Georgetown University did not field a team for several years following the 1997-98 season but have fielded a team one season in the early part of the current decade before officially competing again in 2008-09; George Mason University made their IHSA debut during the 2004-05 season; The College of William & Mary, Christopher Newport University, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Mount St. Mary's University all made their IHSA debuts sometime between 1980 and 1996. All nine of these programs are looking for their first Regional Championship.

And headed into today's show none of these nine programs had earned high point team honors in 2008-09 either. Mary Washington won three of the four fall shows, with their wins at Mount St. Mary's and Richmond being perfect 49 scores. Goucher College defeated Mary Washington 39-35 at the William & Mary show on November 2nd. The Gophers in fact earned reserve high point team honors at each of the four fall shows Mary Washington won.

From Washington, DC, University of Maryland at College Park junior Devora McCoy (on left) poses with Teripans team President Brittany McGoldrick after winning her novice flat class and pointing out of the division. The Terps scored 28 points to finish ahead of all but four teams at today's show.

Though the walk-trot riders from Goucher and George Washington proceeded to win, Mary Washington was still able to win for the fourth time in 2008-09, narrowly finishing ahead of both the Gophers and the Colonials by a 35-33 margin.

Though Mary Washington open rider Jessica Van Brocklin managed only a third on the flat and a second over fences (her low combined one day total through the first five shows), the senior from Alexandria, Virginia remained double digits ahead of her nearest competitor in the Region 1 open rider standings. Blue ribbon winners for Mary Washington were Rebecca L'Heareaux (in intermediate flat), Isabel Moore (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Shannon Brown, a sophomore from Kailua, Hawaii (who went to high school with Skidmore College novice rider Chelsea Jones) who won her section of novice flat. One of two schools in the region with the nickname 'Eagles' (the other being the American University), Mary Washington also earned three red ribbons in total.

Goucher earned more blue ribbons than Mary Washington. Julie Fink, who spent the fall semester abroad in Denmark, won the open flat class which started the day. Cady Klimas won her open fences while Taylor Marcus followed with a first in intermediate fences. Shauntae Robinson earned Goucher's final blue ribbon of the day with a first in one of two sections of walk-trot. Freshman open rider Amory Brandt second to Fink in the first open flat class and remains second to Van Brocklin in the open rider standings. A second in open flat allowed Klimas, a senior from Miami, Florida to earn Reserve High Point Rider honors for the day.

George Washington had as many firsts as Mary Washington, with two red ribbons for good measure. Freshman Erika Renson won the third section of open flat and moved to within three points of Brandt in the open rider standings. Valeria Cogliani was second in the second section of open flat while Rebecca Groom was second in intermediate flat. Much later Andria McMaugh, a sophomore from Plainview, New York won her beginner walk-trot-canter class while Allison Daugherty was announced as the winner (at 5:30PM) of the walk-trot class which concluded the show.

She needed seven points to move up into novice and she won her section of advanced walk-trot-canter to receive them. Ironically Callan Kruchten (on left) had not won a blue ribbon at the walk-trot-canter level until today. Teammate Stephanie Shey (center) moved into advanced walk-trot-canter with a second in beginner while Coach Jeff Becker (on right) saw riders on both of his teams - He also coaches Georgetown - earn at least one blue ribbon at Tullip Pond Farm.

The alumni placings differred radically from the flat to the fences. In alumni flat, which was held between intermediate flat and novice flat, Virginia Tech riders ruled. Mara Thayer, who was Mara Sullivan when she graduated in 2004, edged out Alicia Salo, who was also a '04 Hokie, for the blue ribbon. Mount St. Mary's graduate Lauren Maruskin, who trains with George Washington Head Coach Daphne Boogaard at Tullip Pond, was third. When the fences took place later on Hood College graduate Jennifer Mehalko improved from a sixth on the flat to a first over the jumps. Longwood College graduate Kristen VanDerlaske was second while Salo was third. The only other alumni to compete at today's show was 2008 George Washington graduate Jessica Smolar, who was third in both alumni divisions.

Several days after the show this writer e-mailed Coach Boogaard to ask if there was anything in particular she had learned from hosting an IHSA show for the first time. Boogaard's first response was "Never do it again!" but then the Colonials Coach became serious.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat," said Boogaard, "but seeing as five to six horses got pulled (for one reason or another) I need to start with 30 horses or over. I limited entries to 10 to hack and two in 2A and two in 2B and one novice over fences," which Boogaard called "The Train Wreck Class." Boogaard went on to say that stewards need to be stricter about re-ride rules. Maruskin commented during the show that the number of re-rides given out this season had already exceeded the amount awarded in all of 2007-08. There were eight re-rides granted at today's show, with about four or five of which this writer thought were deserved.

This writer also asked Boogaard if the 33 point total was the most in GWU history. It turns out the the Colonials scored 34 at Goucher on October 25th. Boogaard felt that exceeding these totals sooner rather than later is not far-fetched. "I have a lot of freshman this year and I think they are catching on," Boogaard said. "We have some wonderful team members and I'm sure you know, I am hopeful for the seasons to come!"

From Tulsa, Oklahoma, George Washington University sophomore Rebecca Groom (on left) was second in intermediate flat. It may have been the IHSA debut for Groom, who is not the typical college sophomore in that she spent several years in the Air Force before coming to GWU. Head Coach Daphne Boogaard (on right) has the Colonials in third place through five Region 1 shows.

Judge looking for IHSA judging opportunities: During the February 15th George Washington show Goucher Head Coach Patte Zumbrun mentioned that Joann Robertson, a large 'R' judge based in Westminster, Maryland, is interested in judging IHSA shows. Robertson has judged shows in Zone 4, Region 1 so she is aware of how the process works. Robertson appears to be within 100 miles of barns used by Zone 3, Region 1 and Zone 3, Region 2 if those regions are looking for a judge for future IHSA dates. Zone 4, Region 2 is not all that far from her either.

Stop the (virtual) presses!: Because of various delays this story was not posted until after the conclusion of the regular season. Thus we can tell you that Mary Washington went on to score in the '40's at each of the remaining three shows to finish the season with 337 points, 74 more than reserve high point team Goucher. The Eagles were winners at all four early 2009 shows while George Washington was reserve once and tied for reserve with St. Mary's College one other time. Goucher was easily reserve at the season finale which they hosted (one of the closer contests as Mary Washington nipped the Gophers 43-38). Mary Washington thus advanced a full team to Zone 4 Zones on April 5th, which they will also host. Van Brocklin won both of her open classes at the February 21st Mary Washington show and ran away with the region's Caccchione Cup entry (Van Brocklin will compete for the Cup at IHSA Nationals in late April. It will be her second Cacchione appearance, having competed at Nationals for the cup in 2007). Van Brocklin finished the season with 90 points through eight shows while Renson rallied to overtake Brandt for reserve, 65-58. At least one alumni rider will be assured of being at Nationals in Murfreesboro with Van Brocklin, as Mehalko was the only rider with 28 or more points in alumni fences (the Hood grad scored an impressive 36, including three firsts). Though we do not have the results from Regionals the alumni flat class would have been made up of Salo, Maruskin and Mehalko, the latter needing a first and getting a first at the February 28th Goucher show to score exactly the 28 points needed to qualify (it was Mehalko's only blue ribbon on the flat during the regular season). Whichever two riders placed first and second at Regionals would have gone straight to Nationals, as Regions 2 and 3 of Zone 4 do not hold alumni classes, thus making an alumni division at Zone 4 Zones irrelevant.

Alumni procreate!: In the 1990's Will Cawood rode for the now defunct Catholic University equestrian team. Katie Lawery rode for the University of Maryland. Both met at an IHSA show and eventually married. And then both showed alumni together! Katie Cawood would have ridden alumni in 2008-09 but because she was expecting her riding plans went on hold. Both Will and Katie were at the February 15th George Washington show, even though Katie was due to give birth three days later! Little Alexandra actually came into the world at 4:10PM on Saturday, February 21st, at Holy Cross Hospital in Maryland (we are uncertain if the Cawoods attempted to attend the start of the Mary Washington show earlier that day). Alexandra Hill Cawood was seven pounds 14 ounces and 20.75 inches long at birth. Both Mother and Baby came home two days later and were doing well when Katie e-mailed us on March 3rd.

---Steve Maxwell

Show incidentals: Mostly sunny, with high temperatures in the mid '40's. Start time: 11:22AM. Finish: 5:30PM. Coaches and Captains Meeting held prior to start of show. Point Cards posted in this Region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Mrs. Lyndi Prettyman-Caruso, Lanham, MD. Stewards: Falkowski-Schmitter/St. Mary's College (MD); Nicolson/George Mason University and Feldman/University of Richmond.

Team Totals: University of Mary Washington (High Point Team) 35; George Washington University (TIE-Reserve) 33; Goucher College (TIE-Reserve) 33; College of William & Mary 30; University of Maryland (College Park) 28; St. Mary's College (MD) 24; University of Richmond 23; University of Maryland - Baltimore County 15; George Mason University 14; Christopher Newport University 13; Mount St. Mary's University 12; American University 9; Georgetown University 9 and Hood College 9.