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UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE HOSTS REGULAR SEASON FINALE, WINS BIG Wilmington, DE - According to University of Delaware assistant coach Betsy Vogt the University of Delaware equestrian team was already ahead by 74 points entering the final regular season show on March 18th. After seven hours of competition at Vicmead Hunt Club the Fighting Hens had extended their lead even further, earning a 45-27 win over Drexel University while seven other teams scored between six and 25 points. The Fighting Hens also claimed the Region 4 Cacchione Cup qualifier in senior Katie LaDow, who was the only rider at today's show to win both of her classes. Somewhat unusually the majority of the UDel blue ribbons came during a hot streak where the team from Newark, Delaware won 13 out of 14 consecutive classes. LaDow, from Unionville, Pennsylvania, bucked this trend by having won both of her open classes during the first 12 classes of the day prior to the streak. Joining LaDow in the winner's circle were teammates Natalie Fogarty (sophomore, from Newark, Delaware), Jen Eccleston (junior, from Claymont, Delaware) and Emily Anania (freshman, from Easton, Pennsylvania) in beginner walk-trot-canter; Hayley Tyree (freshman, Westport, Connecticut), Kristina Brereton (sophomore, New Castle, Delaware) and Kimmy Siegfried (junior, Wilmington, Delaware) in advanced walk-trot-canter; Elizabeth Price (freshman, Rochester, New York), Jen Armistead (freshman, Mahopak, New York), Kelly Wallace (freshman, Eldersburg, Maryland), Nicole Farber (junior, Pittsgrove, New Jersey) and Jess Hill (sophomore, Millington, Maryland) in novice flat; Catherine Monk (senior, Newark, Delaware) and Caroline Lavenduski (junior, Newtown, Pennsylvania) in novice fences; and Colleen Harper (senior, Forked River, New Jersey) in intermediate flat. Harper was the other UDel rider with a blue ribbon over the first twelve classes of the day. UDel riders also earned ten red ribbons, including Monk in novice flat and Wallace in novice fences. Both riders qualified for the ride-off for Reserve High Point Rider.
Though their walk-trot rider was a scratch Drexel University had their moments in claiming reserve high point team honors. Early on Drexel was likely neck-and-neck with UDel (Region 4 does not post point sheets, so the team results are not known until the contest has been completed). Tyler Weith, a sophomore from Charlotte, Vermont was second in both of his open classes while Christine Novak was second in the first section of intermediate fences. Deborah Kapilow (freshman, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey) won the second section of intermediate fences and later placed second in open flat to become part of the reserve ride-off. Mikaila Kononchik (sophomore, Woolwich, New Jersey) won her novice fences while Kelly Reily (sophomore, North Wales, Pennsylvania) was second in both of her novice classes. Emily Jackson was second in advanced walk-trot-canter while Ellen Wildner was second in beginner walk-trot-canter for the Dragons, who missed tieing Villanova for the year for second place by only two points with today's effort. Temple University broke the 20 point barrier for the first time in 2012, finishing third for the day with 25 points. Erin Griffith, a sophomore from Elizabeth, New Jersey won her intermediate fences while finishing second in intermediate flat to join Monk, Wallace and Kapilow in the reserve ride-off. The Owls were most successful in novice fences, with Anna Ryan (freshman, Enola, Pennsylvania) and Emily Marton (sophomore, Bridgewater, New Jersey) winning sections A and C, respectively. Bianca Lupo was second to Marton in novice fences while Megan Fleming and Alyssa Patari were red ribbon winners in novice flat. Shannon Burns earned Temple's final red ribbon of the day with a second in advanced walk-trot-canter. Though Villanova University had 15 riders listed in the show program at least eight of them were scratches (it is unclear if Spring Break had anything to do with this, though some schools claimed they were short several riders do to this). With at least two holes in their point card (no intermediate flat or walk-trot rider) the door was open for Drexel to catch the Wildcats for second place overall in 2011-12. However Villanova scored 22 points to (unofficially) finish ahead of the Dragons by two for the season. Assuming this becomes official it will mark the first time since Villanova joined the IHSA in 2004 that the Wildcats will have claimed Reserve High Point Team honors for a full season. Nicole DeVoe, a senior from Branchburg, New Jersey won the open fences class which started the day (DeVoe was the first of six riders to go in the division) but surprisingly the Wildcats did not win any of the remaining 27 undergraduate classes. It was not until much later when Erin Kale (sophomore, Potomac, Maryland) was second to Siegfried in advanced walk-trot-canter that Villanova earned its' only red ribbon of the day. Kale qualified for Regionals with the five points. DeVoe had been trying to catch LaDow in the open rider race but could not make up six points entering the day despite a valiant effort.
One year ago this month Burlington County College made their IHSA debut at the Spring 2011 University of Delaware show. Burlington County closed out the 2011-12 regular season with an 18 point showing at Vicmead, good enough to clinch fifth place overall in a nine team region! Talia Tomarchio, a sophomore from Delran, New Jersey was second in the walk-trot class which ended the afternoon. The school located in Pemberton, New Jersey is currently one of only two two-year colleges in Region 4 and the only New Jersey-based program in Region 4 (though the Penn team practices in the Garden State - Editor). Considering that BCC often shows without a full card (no open fences or intermediate flat rider today) their ability to finish as high as they did speaks wonders for Coach Brie Quinn and shows that if a two-year school can join the IHSA halfway through a given season and be competitive a year later then just about anyone has the chance to form an IHSA team and take that program someplace in a limited time. The University of Pennsylvania scored 15 points. Like so many other teams the Quakers did not have a full card, with intermediate flat and walk-trot the blank spaces. Rachel Fleszar, a freshman from Painted Post, New York won her open flat for Penn's only top-two ribbon of the day. The Quakers finished the season fourth overall, between Drexel and a Burlington Community team that Penn head coach Dawne Morrone may have helped join the IHSA through her association with BCC coach Quinn. Washington College scored 13 points which surprisingly was their high total over the spring shows. Competing today without a walk-trot-canter rider the Shoremen picked up a pair of red ribbons early. Sophomores Molly McCaslin and Amanda Kloetzli were second in sections of intermediate fences two classes apart. However Michelle Firmin stole the show for Washington much later. The senior from Frederick, Maryland won her novice flat, keeping the University of Delaware from winning 14 consecutive classes (!) and limiting Monk to second which otherwise would have created a tie for high point rider with LaDow. Though the Shoremen may not have had their best season a few quality riders should return in the fall so there is hope for a better 2012-13 in Chestertown.
Salisbury University joined the IHSA only months ahead of Burlington County College. The Sea Gulls scored 12 points at today's show to bring their year-to-date total to 174, nine points more than in 2010-11. Salisbury was able to defeat the University of Delaware not once but twice in early 2012, earning high point team honors at both the February 26th Valley Forge/Burlington show and the March 10th Washington College show (the Sea Gulls' 31 points on March 10th marked the only time so far in calendar year 2012 that a Region 4 team other than the University of Delaware has scored 30 or more points. Salisbury earned 31 that day). With only five riders in attendance at today's show (no riders in either open division or walk-trot) Salisbury's opportunity to win three out of four was destined to go by the boards. Still there were flashes of brilliance, with Amanda Chapo (junior, Princess Anne, Maryland) winning her intermediate fences and Sarah Kullman (junior, Easton, Maryland) winning her intermediate flat. The southernmost team in the region did not have a single senior present at today's show so most of the roster will likely return in 2012-13. Closing out the scoring was Valley Forge Military College with six points. If not for novice flat and fences rider Gabe Gray Valley Forge would only have walk-trot-canter and walk-trot filled on their point card on a regular basis. Though they may currently experience a shortage of riders in the upper divisions Valley Forge has as many beginner walk-trot-canter and walk-trot riders as anyone. At today's show Valley Forge riders swept the walk-trot, as Emerson Curbeam (freshman, Houston, Texas) and Guy Williams (freshman, Bowie, Maryland) won the only sections of the division which were offered. Like Burlington County College Valley Forge is a two-year school, with litterally half the roster turning over from one season to the next. The alumni classes were slightly smaller than usual (University of Pennsylvania graduate Jess Schatz, who is already qualified in both alumni divisions, was among those who were otherwise in dispose) with the alumni flat made up of only four riders. Former University of Delaware rider Nicole Adams won the flat to finish second overall within the region to former UDel teammate James Hobbie. Hobbie was second on the flat while winning the alumni fences. Hobbie had a chance to be the top alumni fences rider in the region but Jamie Mast Windle did not cooperate. Windle finished second in the over fences class to outduel Hobbie 42-40 in alumni fences points for the season. Overall Hobbie earned a combined 91 alumni points which may or may not mean he receives an award of some sort at the year-end Region 4 banquet on March 31st. Allison Kane, who is still going to Drexel but ran out of eligibility to ride as an undergraduate following the 2010-11 season, was third over fences and fourth on the flat. Former University of Southern California rider Katie Calpino had a graceful dismount during her fences class but was third on the flat. Calpino was already qualified on the flat and did not have a chance to qualify over fences. Megan Mendenhall, a 1999 Wilson College graduate who did not show alumni until the fifth show of the 2011-12 season, just missed going to Regionals with a fifth in alumni fences. If Mendenhall rides alumni for a full season she will almost certainly qualify if not even be among the leaders within the region.
The Ride-Off: If you are a long-time fan of Zone 4, Region 4 (or of the teams in this region that went back many years in Zone 3, Region 2) you know that there won't be a ride-off but rather a question-and-answer session with the Judge to break any ties. With LaDow already assured of the blue ribbon Griffith, Kapilow, Monk and Wallace were rounded up during the walk-trot classes to answer questions from Judge Amy Barini. Only two weeks earlier Barini had judged a Zone 3, Region 2 show where there was a similar tie for reserve, and as was the case that day Barini broke the tie in a sort of 'Playoff' manner. Everyone was asked to name the five rein aids (none could name all five; Two weeks earlier two of five riders were able to accomplish this). Then Barini asked each of the four "What is the Egrot?" (a small callosity on the underside of the fetlock of some but not all horses). Two of the four knew this, both from the University of Delaware. The next question was "Who is the Coach of the US Olympic Equestrian Team?" Neither of the two knew this (it is the legendary George Morris, who judged 1994 IHSA Nationals for the record) which did not sit well with Barini. What turned out to be the final question was "Name the parts of the Saddle." Monk was able to name all of them and was awarded the reserve high point rider ribbon. First time for everything: Though the University of Delaware can claim many of their riders have practiced at Vicmead Hunt Club over the past 15-plus years the facility had never hosted an IHSA show prior to today's event. According to Laurie Jakubauskas (who operates LRJ Enterprises at Vicmead Hunt Club) the UDel team approached her and she felt 'the time was right.' The LRJ website (www.lrj-stables.com) mentions that Jakubauskas has placed in over 75 grand prix classes and has won four times (including a win at the 2006 Hampton Classic). However it does not mention that Jakubauskas competed for the Lynchburg College IHSA team before graduating in 1985 and that she rode and taught at the Randolph-Macon Woman's College Riding Center (a facility Lynchburg and Randolph share to this day). Jakubauskas began her association with the University of Delaware team in the mid-1990's (not long after head coach Bryan Bradley started going to all the shows on behalf of the Fighting Hens) and is constantly showing and involving herself with other equestrian-related activities (including Course Design for shows such as the Radnor Hunt Pony Club). The opportunity to go to one school, but ride on behalf of another: When Megan Reinhardt graduates from Burlington County College in May she will have the option to ride alumni for BCC next season or ride for her new school as an undergraduate. Many who attend two year schools may not know they can choose between riding alumni for their old team or riding as an undergraduate for their new school (where the points would carry over). There is one catch: If you ride alumni one single time you cannot ride in any future regular-season undergraduate classes. Reinhardt was clear cut in explaining her intention to ride alumni for BCC in 2012-13 but others graduating from two year schools may want to ponder these choices. What's Next?: For a select few who ride English and Western it may be a trip to Quillen Arena at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, Delaware. This is the site for one of three IHSA Western Semifinal events around the country on March 24th and 25th. The University of Delaware will have a full team taking part and will hope to make the top three overall versus competition from St. Andrews University, West Virginia University, Black Hawk College, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, North Dakota State University, the State University of New York at Oswego and the Ohio State University. The top three teams will advance to IHSA Nationals May 3rd through 6th in Raleigh, North Carolina. Riders in the individual classes which make the top four are also Nationals-bound. For most of today's competitors the next show will be Saturday, March 31st at Valley Forge Military College, when Region 4 Regionals take place. Riders who place first or second at Regionals will advance to Zone 4 Zones on Saturday, April 7th on the campus of Goucher College in Towson, Maryland. The University of Delaware will also have a full team at that show. The Fighting Hens will take on St. Andrews University, Bridgewater College and probably host Goucher with the top two teams going to IHSA Nationals. Also the top two in each individual class at Zones will advance to Nationals as well. --Steve Maxwell Show Incidentals: Overcast skies most of the day, with late day sunshine and a high temperature in the low '70's. Start time: 9:18AM. Finish: 4:19PM - Includes a 56 minute lunch/schooling break and a separate eight minute schooling break. Coaches and Captains meeting held prior to start of show. Point cards posted in this region? No. Alumni classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Amy Barini. Stewards: Cousins/Temple University, Palmer/Villanova University and Quinn/Burlington County Community College. Team Totals: University of Delaware (High Point Team) 45; Drexel University (Reserve) 27; Temple University 25; Villanova University 22; Burlington County Community College 18; University of Pennsylvania 15; Washington College 13; Salisbury University 12 and Valley Forge Military College 6. High Point Rider - Katie LaDow, University of Delaware
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