Seen here with Head Coach Patte Zumbrun, Karli Postel (on left) was one of five Goucher College riders to win a class on October 3rd. The Gophers went on to win the Region 1 season opener by a 42-39 score over the University of Mary Washington.

GOUCHER CLAIMS HIGH POINT TEAM, HIGH POINT RIDER ON OPENING DAY

Towson, MD - For many days leading up to the October 3rd Mount St. Mary's-hosted Region 1 season opener, the weather was supposed to be rainey. However about 48 hours prior to the show the forcast changed for the better, and by 10:34AM on the 3rd when the first rider walked into the ring the sun was out and the temperature was already in the mid-'60's.

Though Mount St. Mary's University was hosting, the show took place on the campus of Goucher College and was the first of two IHSA shows there over two days. While the hosts had a good day, the team with the most familiarity of the immediate suroundings was even better. In fact Goucher College won outright with 42 points, three more than defending Region 1 Champion the University of Mary Washington. The Gophers earned five blue ribbons as Karli Postel (a freshman from Newbury Park, California, riding 'Andy' in open fences), Amory Brandt (sophomore, Saratoga, California, riding 'Preston' in open fences), Courtney Levine (senior, Miami, Florida, riding 'Prince' in intermediate flat), Charlotte Kellogg (sophomore, Pennington, New Jersey, riding 'Earthquake in novice fences) and Addie Jabin (Freshman, from nearby Annapolis, Maryland, riding 'Gambler' in novice flat) came up winners over the first 12 sections of the day. In addition red ribbons were awarded to April Kerns (advanced walk-trot-canter), Catherine Gregory (intermediate flat), Taylor Marcus (intermediate fences) and Brandt (open flat), the latter becoming part of a four-way ride-off for high point and the Region 1 leading open rider through one show. Postel's over fences ride (and she was first in the order of go for the division) prompted George Washington Head Coach Daphne Boogaard to tell Goucher Head Coach Patte Zumbrun, "Oh Patte you guys got a good one!"

Haley Jones (on right) briefly put Christpher Newport University in first place. Seen here with new Head Coach Ryann Wynn, Jones won the section of open flat which started the day and later competed in a four-way ride-off. After two days of showing the Captains trail only Goucher and Mary Washington while being tied for the next spot with George Washington.

It was a far cry from opening day 2008, when Mary Washington earned a perfect 49 score and led Goucher by 16 points right off the bat. The Eagles never spent a day out of first place overall in 2008-09 but in spite of their first occupation of second since February 2008 there was much to celebrate. Thanks in part to a dominant showing in the lower divisions, the Eagles earned one more blue ribbon than the Gophers, as Haley Cook (freshman, Duxbury, Massachusetts, riding 'X' in intermediate flat), Chelsea Chamberlain (freshman, Groton, Connecticut, riding 'Yorktown' in intermediate fences), Christine Cook (freshman, Baltimore, Maryland, riding 'Biggie' in novice flat; not related to Haley Cook), Marina Lupini (junior, Midlothian, Virginia, riding 'Indy' in walk-trot), Clair Maher (freshman, Alexandria, Virginia, riding 'Corky' in advanced walk-trot-canter) and Marina Frano (sophomore, Woodbridge, Virginia, riding 'Aladin' in advanced walk-trot-canter) brought the count to six. Brittany Hill (in open fences) and Mary Ryan Richardson (in novice fences) added red ribbons to help Mary Washington reach 39.

There was quite a drop-off between second and third, with a pair of schools tieing for the yellow ribbon with 24 points each. Christopher Newport University has a new coach (the Captains third in four seasons) in Ryann Wynn, whose debut was memorable in that Haley Jones briefly had the Captians in first place. A junior from McLean, Virginia, Jones won the section of open fences which started the day aboard 'Yorktown.' Jones also had the Captains' second ride of the day in open fences two classes later, when she placed second to Postel but ultimately joined the ride-off. Sophomore Danta Thompson was second to Levine in intermediate flat while junior Brittany Wallace rode 'Corky' to victory in beginner walk-trot-canter. Wallace was one of two winners from the town of Woodbridge, Virginia at today's show. The Captains may have scored even more if they had a walk-trot rider. Only four of the fourteen schools entered could claim a full point card.

The University of Richmond tied for third on opening day. Sophomore Martha Brickey (on right, with Spiders Head Coach Jess Feldman) won her section of novice flat to help raise the Richmond point total to 24.

Tieing Christopher Newport at 24 was the University of Richmond. Riding a horse named 'Beau,' Martha Brickey, a sophomore from McConnellsville, NY earned the lone blue (undergraduate) ribbon of the day for the Spiders with a first in novice flat. While Brittany Kneidinger did not win a class, the sophomore from Chesterfield, Virginia was second in both of her novice classes. The Spiders managed to tie for third in spite of no walk-trot or intermediate fences rider on their point card.

George Washington University, the number three school overall during the 2008-09 season, scored 22 points. The Colonials accomplished this without ever placing a rider in the top two, though to their credit the point card was full. Meryl Winslow, a sophomore from Bedminster, New Jersey who was making her IHSA debut was third in intermediate flat. Maya Serkin was also third in novice flat while Pia Engel, originally from an hour south of Frankfort, Germany but now a resident of Sparta, New Jersey was third in a later section of novice flat.

Having a much splashier day but scoring two fewer points was the College of William & Mary. Katherine Wallace, who was fifth at IHSA Nationals in intermediate flat and ninth in intermediate fences rode "Biggie" to victory in the second section of open flat. Heidi Siegmund, a sophomore from Fredericksburg, Virginia won her novice fences aboard 'Earthquake.' Combined with a second earlier in novice flat Siegmund qualified for the ride-off. The Tribe excelled towards closing time, as Emily Burns and Heather Nuckles placed second in the advanced walk-trot-canter sections which preceeded the end-of-day ride-off.

Though she is holding a red-ribbon here, Kate Piret of St. Mary's College of Maryland (on right) later won a blue ribbon to go with it. Her 12 points at the novice level made her part of the ride-off against another novice and two open riders. Head Coach Jacqueline Schmitter (on left) saw St. Mary's score 16 points with only three riders entered and only three positions filled on their point card.

Like George Washington, Goucher and Mary Washington, the University of Maryland at College Park had a full point card. The Terps scored 17 points with sophomore Katie Gankos moving up from beginner walk-trot-canter to advanced with a second. Team President Lauren Marshall was third in novice fences while Brittany McGoldrick, one of four open riders from the state of California to compete at today's show (senior, Thousand Oaks, California), was third in open fences.

Tieing the Terps with 17 points was host Mount St. Mary's. Three members of the Mount placed second. Laura Crane won their first red ribbon in novice flat while Haley Blevins was second in walk-trot and Emily Howse the same in beginner walk-trot-canter. Though 17 points may not seem like much to some, the Mount scored only 55 across seven shows all of last season, so if the trend continues it will only take the school from Emmitsburg, Maryland four shows to accomplish this in 2009-10.

St. Mary's College of Maryland was nearly as good as the Mount and the Terps, earning 16. St. Mary's and Hood College brought the fewest actual riders to opening day, with three each. St. Mary's did have two of their three riders entered in both novice divisions, and by good fortune the novice flat and novice fences riders who were pointed both won! Anna Weaver, a sophomore from Mount Airy, Maryland won the second section of novice flat aboard 'Biggie' while Kate Piret, a sophomore from Upper Marlboro, Maryland won the third and final section of novice fences aboard 'Gambler.' Piret was second in novice flat and thus rounded out the ride-off with Jones, Brandt and Siegmund.

George Mason University scored nine points. Mary McSwiney, a senior making her IHSA debut, led the Patriots with a red ribbon in novice fences. Sophomore Rose Hannigan (also making her IHSA debut) was third in intermediate flat while Meredith Coury was third in advanced walk-trot-canter.

Georgetown University earned five points for the day, receiving all of them in the very first class of the day. Victoria Stulgis, a junior from Boston, Massachusetts was second to Jones in open flat.

The University of Maryland at Baltimore County made their IHSA debut on 10/4/08. Exactly one year later to the day the Retrievers hosted an IHSA show for the first time! From left to right Emily Plitt, Courtney Crouse, Karen Roberson, Mara Laslo and Ashley Speer pose after Roberson won her beginner walk-trot-canter class the day before the Retrievers' IHSA program celebrated it's first birthday.

American University was one of two schools with four points. Alicia Bachledova led American with a third in beginner walk-trot-canter.

Hood College also scored four points. Katie Geiger was fifth in advanced walk-trot-canter while Amy Thompson was fifth in walk-trot.

Surprisingly the team with the fewest points had ribbons that even George Washington might envy (at least at today's show, but just wait until tomorrow - Editor). The University of Maryland at Baltimore County, the program one day shy of the first anniversary of their IHSA debut, retrieved a pair of blue ribbons. Karen Roberson, a junior from Bowie, Maryland won the first section of beginner walk-trot-canter riding 'Corky' while Mara Laslo, a senior from Westminster, Maryland won a section of advanced walk-trot-canter while riding 'Gambler.' However on this day neither were pointed and the Retrievers settled for three points.

Though only seven riders (five going twice) took part in today's alumni divisions, there are actually 21 riders in Region 1 territory who signed up. Because only six rides were permitted at today's show in each division, those registered needed to get their entries in on a first-come, first-served basis. In the alumni flat class former Virginia Intermont College rider Angee Quattro rode 'Jammer' to victory. "Will he fit in my car? I want to take him home," said Quattro afterward. This is a rave from Quattro, whose resume includes a national championship in individual alumni over fences in 2006. Runner up on the flat was 2004 Mount St. Mary's graduate Lauren Maruskin while Sarah Thompson's first ride as a University of Richmond alumni resulted in third place. Quattro did not compete over fences today, with Region 1 alumni rep and Virginia Tech graduate Mara Thayer taking her place. The other five riders were back with Thompson's alumni debut over fences (aboard 'Holly') resulting in a blue ribbon. Maruskin was once again second while 2009 University of Maryland graduate Christie Dowling was third.

The Ride-Off: None of the four riders who qualified for the ride-off had ever competed in an IHSA ride-off for first place. Brandt was in fact the only rider of the four with ride-off experience, having taken part in a ride-off for reserve last season (Brandt did not receive the red ribbon at that time). Judge Wayne Eubank ran the ride-off as if it were a normal IHSA flat class, with riders walking, trotting, cantering, reversing, etc. When it was over Brandt had captured first place in a ride-off for the first time while Siegmund earned reserve high point honors.

Too many Cooks do not spoil the broth! University of Mary Washington Head Coach Teresa Seay (pronounced 'See,' on left) poses with Haley Cook after the latter won her IHSA debut in intermediate flat. Five classes later another freshman with the last name Cook (Christine Cook, not pictured, in novice flat) took home the blue ribbon. Though the Eagles were beaten by three on opening day a 38-35 win at the Maryland - Baltimore County show a day later left things tied at the top, 77-all.

The Name Game: If you skiped the entire article and came right to this paragraph then you have come to the best part. We have prepared a statistical breakdown of the real important aspects of today's show. 'Biggie,' Gambler' and 'Corky' won the most, with three wins each; 'Yorktown' and 'Earthquake' won twice each while nine other horses delivered firsts one apiece. Two riders with the first names 'Haley' and 'Marina' won classes while two riders with the last names 'Cook' and 'Wallace' also won classes. Seven sophomores, Six freshmen, five juniors and either two or three seniors won blue ribbons (Thompson is still enrolled at Richmond but has used up all eight semesters of elibility) depending on how you look at it. Also one bonafide graduate won a blue ribbon. Blue ribbons by state (where the rider makes their home): Maryland 6, Virginia 6, California 2, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Florida one each.

Wasn't there another show? Yes. The very next day many of the same riders gathered on the Goucher campus to compete in the Maryland - Baltimore County show. It was the host school's one-year anniversary as an IHSA program, and the Retrievers should be commended for hosting by themselves at such a young age! Wallace of William & Mary won twice to move ahead in the open rider standings while helping the Tribe tie Goucher for second at 35 for the day. Christopher Newport broke into the '30's, scoring 31 while George Washington looked more like the team that finished third overall in the region last season, scoring 29. Other schools with a big jump upward on October 4th were George Mason (22 up from nine), Georgetown (16 up from five) and Hood (15 up from 4). Mount St. Mary's is the mark of consistancy, scoring 17 both days. And though they scored one less point Mary Washington won high point team honors with 38 and moved into a tie with Goucher at 77 each. These two look set to battle it out like in season's past though Chirstopher Newport and William & Mary are both poised to have their greatest seasons ever.

---Steve Maxwell

Show incidentals: Sunny skies, with high temperatures in the mid '70's. Start time: 10:34AM. Finish: 4:00PM. 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: Wayne Eubank, Fredericksburg, VA. Stewards: Greenwood/College of William & Mary, Feldman/University of Richmond and Nicholson/George Mason University.

Team Totals: Goucher College (High Point Team) 42; University of Mary Washington (Reserve) 39; University of Richmond 24; Christopher Newport University 24; George Washington University 22; College of William & Mary 20; Mount St. Mary's University 17; University of Maryland (College Park) 17; St. Mary's College of Maryland 16; George Mason University 9; Georgetown University 5; Hood College 4; American University 4 and University of Maryland - Baltimore County 3.

High Point Rider - Amory Brandt, Goucher College
Reserve High Point Rider - Heidi Siegmund, College of William & Mary