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MOUNT HOLYOKE, SOUTHERN SCHOOLS FAIR BEST IN INDIVIDUAL HUNTER SEAT CLASSES Murfreesboro, TN - Not long ago there were several IHSA Coaches in the Northeastern United States who felt that the majority of the nations' hunter seat riders from outside their part of the country were not nearly as talented. Some even implied the instruction in the Northeast is better. The IHSA Team Competitions have definitely favored the Northeast at previous Nationals shows, with only a few schools from Virginia (arguably the most horsy state in the country, and barely into the South in the minds of some) and Findlay (from Ohio, in the eastern-most Midwest by our standards) able to win the National Championship from someplace else. While Virginia Intermont College was en route to their first-ever Hunter Seat Team Championship (becoming the Southernmost school ever to win the honor), riders from schools in the states of Kentucky, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia and Ohio went on to place first in the eight undergraduate individual hunter seat classes. Counting Ohio in the Midwest and Virginia in the South, the majority of the riders who placed in the top five in these divisions were not from schools located in the Northeast. The first of the individual classes (also the first class of the entire four-day event) was a microcosm of the individual hunter seat results. The individual intermediate equitation over fences started at 8:51AM central time, with Gina Pacopac of New York University first in the ring. While Pacopac had a good ride (considering that the first rider in the ring at Nationals usually struggles), the senior from Honolulu, Hawaii eventually fell out of the top ten in regard to the judge's scores. The combined totals of judges John Roper and Sarah Good were read aloud by announcer Pat McAfee following each ride, which allowed anyone with a pen or pencil to write them into the program and figure out who would receive which ribbon, save for any ties. Maura Kenny, who was the first of two University of Connecticut riders to earn a ribbon inside the top ten, placed tenth while University of Minnesota at Crookston senior Andres Monroy placed ninth in his final undergraduate IHSA ride. The legacy of the Sproul sisters came to an end when Karen Sproul placed eighth. Both Karen and her older sister Elise had ridden for Bob Story's College of Charleston cougars over a seven-year span. At 2001 IHSA Nationals, the Sproul sisters had a combined total of five rides, with Elise winning the individual intermediate flat and Karen placing second in individual walk-trot-canter. Seventh place went to Stony Brook University freshman Rachel Cresswell, who earned the highest ribbon out of five riders who competed from her region. Sixth was awarded to Rebecca Resnick of Lehigh, who was the only mountain hawk rider to reach Nationals on an individual basis. However the sophomore was not the only Lehigh rider to compete, as Jill Douglass would fair very well in the Cacchione Cup Competition. Seniors made up all but one of the remaining placings in intermediate fences. Virginia Intermont's Jennifer Tabisz was not done with a fifth, as the senior would go out with a first in team intermediate flat later in the day. Glenna Kassel of Randolph-Macon Woman's College (who we think is not yet a senior but we could be wrong) was fourth, while University of California at San Diego senior Linda Torres finished her IHSA undergraduate career with a third. He set the tone at 2003 IHSA Nationals with a first in team intermediate fences. Tom Brennan of Stonehill College also placed third in team intermediate flat at 2003 Nationals, earning eleven of the champion chieftains' 31 team points. His lone appearance in the 2004 National show was vintage Brennan none the less, with a reserve ribbon going to the senior from Holden, Massachusetts. The top prize was a bit of a surprise, as Midway College senior Stephanie Keily won the blue ribbon. Keily had competed at IHSA Nationals before, but mostly as a stock seat rider. At 2001 Nationals, Keily had been eighth in team intermediate western horsemanship. In 2002 Keily rode three times, finishing second in individual intermediate western horsemanship, ninth in individual novice equitation on the flat, and out of the ribbons in team advanced western horsemanship. Keily saved the best for last, going out with a first in individual intermediate equitation over fences. The top five in the division showed the talent to be spread out around the country, as three southern schools, one New England school and a school from Southern California held the top positions. Following team novice fences came the individual open fences. Nine of the eighteen competitors in the division would also ride in the Cacchione Cup Competition later in the day, and three of those (Megan Palmer of Miami of Ohio, Meredith Houx of Texas A & M and John Pigott of the University of Vermont) were also part of the team competition. After everyone had their turn over fences, the judges decided to test four riders: Kate De Kraay, a senior at the University of San Diego who became the first rider in over a decade to reach the Cacchione Cup Competition four years in a row; Tara Brothers, a University of South Carolina junior who would compete in her first Cacchione Cup later in the day (with great success); Lauren Flexon, a sophomore from Carleton College, who helped the knights stay with the mighty Wisconsin badgers for most of the season in the hunter seat team standings, and John Pigott, the Vermont junior who won the Cacchione Cup at 2003 IHSA Nationals. Each of these riders had the top four jumping scores prior to testing, and the test would only invert two placings. Tenth place went to Skidmore College senior Liz Anderson, who surprisingly was making her first IHSA Nationals appearance. Ninth place went to Palmer, who would see the highest highs and the lowest lows before the show was over. St. Andrews Presbyterian College senior Angela MacFawn went out with eighth place. MacFawn would be the first of four St. Andrews riders to compete at 2004 Nationals, giving the knights (not to be confused with Carleton College, also known as the knights) one more national individual qualifier than region champion - and eventual National Champion - Virginia Intermont College. Texas A & M junior Stephanie Glass had the better ride of the two aggies in the class, though Houx would finish out of the ribbons only this one time. Following Glass with a seventh was Mount Holyoke senior Lauren Morlock. Though there were several riders in attendance who could claim to have ridden as freshman at the second of two consecutive IHSA National shows in Conyers, Georgia (including Houx and De Kraay), Morlock may have been the only one who rode at the first of those two shows at the Charles Walker Arena, having placed third in team open fences to start Mount Holyoke on their way to the 2000 IHSA National Championship. Morlock did not ride in Fall of 1999 due to illness, then did not ride during the 2001-02 season. As a result the West Coast resident has one more semester of eligibility at Mount Holyoke, so her sixth in this class may or may not have been her final IHSA ribbon. Fifth place went to Paige Hortman, who confounded 90% of those in attendance who saw her school's name in the program. Hortman is listed in the program as attending Utah Valley State College, but geographically her region contains schools in the Philadelphia area, South Central Pennsylvania, Delaware, Southern New Jersey and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Hortman started the season at Delaware Valley College, located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania (and not in the state of Delaware for those who may have been guessing). Halfway through the season the freshman from Newtown, Pennsylvania decided she wanted a career in aviation. It turned out that Hortman could take aviation classes from a satellite campus of Utah Valley State, the satellite location being in the Philadelphia city limits. Hortman finished the season as a one-woman team, and the Zone 3, Region 2 high point open rider (in a separate e-mail sent after this story was first posted, Hortman stressed that though some of her Utah Valley State classes were taken on-line, most involved hands-on aviation training in Philadelphia). By taking classes at a college or university without having to actually set foot on their main campus, Hortman has inadvertently opened a potential Pandora's Box for the IHSA to mull over at their Jaunuary meeting. Has the IHSA taken into account what would happen if someone took only "On-Line" courses at an accredited university, was considered full time at their school, and wanted to start an equestrian team? A school such as the University of Phoenix (which currently does not have an IHSA program and is known for heavily promoting their on-line degrees) could conceivably have three of four IHSA "Micro-Teams" around the country one day. Maybe not. While Hortman received a score of '84,' the third-place finisher took advantage of the test to move up a placing. Pigott had the next score with an '87,' but the judges apparently liked his test better than that of Flexon, who had scored '88.' Pigott was awarded third place while reserve went to Brothers, who scored '90' but would do even better in the Cacchione Cup.
Though De Kraay had ridden at each of the previous three IHSA National shows, the torero from Plymouth, Minnesota had never won a class outright. Though much has been made of her four consecutive Cacchione appearances, De Kraay's one previous individual ride at Nationals resulted in third place in open flat at the 2002 championships in Cazenovia, New York. Megan Feil, her San Diego teammate in 2002 and today, had won the individual novice fences the same day De Kraay placed third at Cazenovia. De Kraay's score of '93' and her test helped her join Feil and Dana Lee, who won alumni over fences at the 1999 IHSA Nationals at Cazenovia, as the only University of San Diego riders to win a blue ribbon at an IHSA National show. (The hunter seat Alumni classes took place midway through the opening day schedule, and will be covered in a separate Alumni story-ed.) The 2004 Championships were the first to take place over a four-day span. As recently as 1997 the IHSA National Show was over and done in only two days. Growth throughout the IHSA, not to mention the addition of new classes (including the "Novice Western" division this season) made the additional day necessary. The main reason behind the four-day show was to keep each day from running late into the evening, as had been the case in 2002 and 2003. Day one of 2004 IHSA Nationals, the first all-hunter seat day since the 1980's, ended earlier than any session since day three of the 1998 National Show in Port Jervis, New York ended between 3:30PM and 4. It was about 3:30PM when individual walk-trot-canter got underway, the tenth of eleven classes (the final announcements would be heard at 4:58PM on this day, and considering how late into the evening the next two days of classes went, the hunter seat riders should take pride in how quickly they get things done!). All of the individual english classes were made up of eighteen riders, two from each Zone. All eighteen would receive "Participation Ribbons" upon registration. These awards used to be handed out to each rider who did not make the top ten (or top six in a team class) during the presentation of ribbons following each class. In an effort to speed up the show, someone came up with the concept of giving these ribbons out before the show even started, a fantastic idea. Those who placed tenth or higher would have two ribbons to show for their hard work. University of Cincinnati sophomore Erin Batchelor took home tenth place, while ninth went to Shannon Ward of the University of California at San Diego. Amy Goodson of the University of Wyoming was eighth, one of four undergraduate hunter seat riders not from Colorado State, Oklahoma State or Texas A & M to survive Zone 7 Zones. University of South Carolina senior Kyra Hufford went out with a seventh, while Erin Hale of Oklahoma State placed sixth. The cowgirl senior was not done, as she would later place third in individual advanced western horsemanship. 2004 Nationals marked the second time Hale had ridden both english and western at the same National show. Sarah Brandle of the University of Findlay was fifth, while Hallie Britt would pick up the finest ribbon for the St. Lawrence saints at 2004 Nationals with a fourth. Thea Lassen was one of three Savannah College of Art & Design riders to reach Nationals, placing third. St. Andrews riders continued to do well individually as junior Sarah Rhymer was reserve. At long last a school from the Northeast had the blue ribbon winner, with Melissa Rabbitt of Mount Holyoke the winner. The sophomore would not be the only lyon rider to win an individual class. Best IHSA Nationals Program still had flaws: Rabbitt became the ninth Mount Holyoke undergraduate rider in school history to win a class at IHSA Nationals. In theory this information could be learned from the 2004 IHSA Nationals Show Program, which was perhaps the finest IHSA program ever. Even though this author put together a 30th Anniversary retrospective which appeared in the 2003 Nationals Program, the '04 'Book' was easier to read, and even included the return of the "Qualified Riders" pages by Zone in the back of the program (which had been absent since 2001). However two corrections should be made for the 2005 Program. The decision to move the "Previous Champions" to a section at the front of the program was a good one. However the list of previous individual walk-trot-canter champions has the same mistake as every Nationals Program since 2000. The winners listed from 1974 to 1999 are the walk-trot champions, and not those from the walk-trot-canter division (the lists are identical save for the champions from 2000-03). The list should start with Bunny Rinker of Bucks County Community College, who won the division in 1974. Carrie Barske of the University of the South won the WTC in 1999. Anyone with a 1999 Nationals program can fill in the blanks in between. Even more important was the omission for the second year in a row of the previous Cacchione Cup and AQHA Cup winners. Other than that it was the best it has ever been. Day two of 2004 IHSA Nationals started at 8:35AM with Caitlyn Roberts of Oklahoma State entering the ring. Roberts went on to score a '76' which would result in seventh place for the cowgirl freshman. The scores in individual novice fences were generally lower than had been (or would be) the case in other jumping classes. Lindsey Watts of Dowling College earned tenth place with a score of '71' while University of Vermont sophomore Samantha Talbot was ninth with a score of '74.' Yet another sophomore, Kelly Long of Miami of Ohio was eighth, scoring '75.' After Roberts came yet another sophomore, as Nina Waldron of Colorado State placed sixth with a jumping score of '77.' Senior Insley Julier of Skidmore was fifth with a '77.5' in what was her only appearance at an IHSA National Show. All three Skidmore riders who qualified individually made the top ten, with their best ribbon still to come. Clemson junior Ashley Kinsey was fourth with a score of '77.75' making her the only rider in an individual class to receive a fraction in her scoring other than 'point five.' Washington & Lee senior Sarah Michaels was .25 better than Kinsey with a '78' while Centenary College sophomore Ethan Smock was reserve with a '79.' Smock had won team novice flat at 2003 IHSA Nationals, but would only ride on an individual basis this time, also appearing in (but not placing in) individual novice flat.
Like the individual walk-trot-canter yesterday afternoon, the champion of the individual novice fences came from a New England School. Some might associate the word 'Wesleyan' with the college in Macon, Georgia where Jon Conyers coached for many years (Conyers, along with Tony Long were co-managers of 2004 Nationals through their firm, Paradise Ventures, LLC; Conyers also received the Pioneer Award, which had not been awarded in quite some time). Though Wesleyan College had at least one stock seat rider in the competition it was Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut that could claim the champion in this class. Sophomore Elizabeth Perry, who had finished second to Talbot at Zone 1 Zones, won the class with a score of '81.' Wesleyan University Coach Armand Chenelle, who usually does not travel to away shows (Chenelle operates Windcrest Farm in Hebron, Connecticut, where Wesleyan University - and several other schools in Zone 1, Region 1 - host shows), was there to see his rider take home the blue. Following the jumping phase of the Cacchione Cup Competition, team intermediate over fences and the dragging of the ring it was time for individual novice equitation on the flat. This was the fifth individual hunter seat class, and the last class of any kind before the first stock seat division. Somewhat surprisingly, only two riders from individual novice fences also reached Nationals in individual novice flat, with Smock and Hannah Schremser of the University of the South the lucky ones who placed first or second at both Regionals and Zones in both novice divisions. Eight of the top ten riders in this division came from teams that were either first or second overall in their regions, proving for the moment that the bigger programs tend to do the best at getting individuals as well as full hunter seat teams to Nationals. Tenth place went to Kira Mamula of Pittsburgh, whose panthers were second to Penn State in Zone 3, Region 3 (Pittsburgh outscored Penn State at each of the Region 3 Spring Shows). Ninth place was one of the exceptions, as Martha Susan Rendeiro of Wellesley College received the ribbon. Wellesley finished fifth in the Zone 1, Region 4 Standings, though had they earned seven more points they would have been third. Lauren Cannon of Zone 5, Region 2 high point team Berry College was eighth, while Sylvie Tongo of Zone 8, Region 2 region winner University of San Diego was seventh. Jennifer Palmadessa of the University of Connecticut was sixth. The huskies were third overall in Zone 1, Region 1, though they were often within ten points of first and only finished sixteen points behind high point team Roger Williams University. Fifth went to Sharon Bryant of the University of Delaware, the sophomore being the only rider from the Zone 3, Region 2 reserve team to reach Nationals. Alyssa Garvin of Skidmore was fourth, achieving the highest ribbon of the show for the throughbreds, again the high point team in Zone 2, Region 3. Katie DeLucas of St. Andrews Presbyterian College was third, the knights reserve high point team in Zone 3, Region 4, 22 points behind eventual National Champion Virginia Intermont. Schremser may have finished out of the ribbons in individual novice fences, but she more than made up for it here with a second. The sewanees won Zone 5, Region 1 by a healthy 37 points over Middle Tennessee State, who hosted Nationals (with help from other Zone 5 schools) for the second year in a row. She had helped give her team the early lead with a second in team intermediate flat. Mara Keith-Hunter, a sophomore from Northampton, Massachusetts who ventured west to the state of Ohio, gave Findlay their first hunter seat individual blue ribbon at an IHSA Nationals Show in nine years by winning the novice flat. Though their stock seat team has many individual ribbons in that span, and the hunter seat team has placed second each of the past two seasons and first in 2001, Keith-Hunter's blue ribbon in individual novice flat was the oilers first since Merrily Collins won individual intermediate flat at Fort Collins, Colorado in 1995. It should be noted that Kara Treiber won the Cacchione Cup at Burbank, California in 1996, not truly an individual class but certainly a highlight in the history of the Findlay hunter seat team that should not be overlooked.
Though many of the IHSA powerhouses do a great job of producing region championships on an annual basis, the one thing most have to cross their fingers on is the ability to find a "True Beginner." Most serious riders have had lessons much of their lives, so to find someone with little or no riding experience who will dive into the saddle is not always easy to do. When the 2002-03 season started, even Miami of Ohio was without a walk-trot rider for a few weeks. In 2003-04, several established programs went with a blank space on their point sheets for part of the season until their beginners were ready to actually show. Some feel the Coach who can consistantly get blue ribbons out of a walk-trot rider is truly the best Coach, for this trainer has taken someone with little or no experience and has made them capable of picking up the correct diagonal and holding the two-point long enough for a judge to say that they are impressed. Because simply finding a (motivated) beginner is so difficult, many of the riders in the individual walk-trot were not from the more well-known IHSA programs. Twelve of the eighteen entries came from schools that did not win their region. The division started after 6:00PM on Friday (the effect of the stock seat classes and their patterns was slowing the show down considerably) and concluded by 7PM. Tenth place went to Anne Bickford of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst while ninth place went to Mary Washington senior Layne Havens, who was thought to be the only undergraduate rider from Zone 4, Region 1 to qualify individually for Nationals following Zone 4 Zones (this changed when Virginia Intermont senior Taylor Barlass, who had placed second at Zone 4 Zones in individual intermediate on the flat, was unable to attend Nationals. This allowed Mike Gaches of St. Mary's College of Maryland to go in her place. Gaches was third in individual intermediate fences at Zones). Texas A & M junior Jenny D'Abadie was eighth while another senior, Nicki Rasch of College of Charleston, was seventh. Miami of Ohio had four rides in individual classes, and each resulted in a top ten placing. Melinda Marksz of the red hawks was ride number three, which resulted in a sixth. Jackie Watson of the not-so-easy-to-pronounce Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis was fifth. Berry College junior Brittany Hutchinson was fourth, earning the vikings their best ribbon of any kind up to this point. Head Coach Margaret Knight deserves kudos for getting the most of her walk-troters, as freshman Kristin Farmer would place second in team walk-trot two classes later. Colorado College had not one but two riders qualified individually. Kellyan Coors of the tigers placed third, perhaps the highest placing at Nationals for a Colorado College rider in school history. Cem Uzman of Centenary College had placed second in team walk-trot at 2003 IHSA Nationals. The sophomore from Turkey, who prefers the name Cem to his real first name Mehmet, won the reserve ribbon individually this time out. Rabbitt of Mount Holyoke had won the walk-trot-canter class yesterday. Junior Sara Royston made it two blue ribbons for Mount Holyoke riders, capturing the individual walk-trot championship. Of the ten blue ribbons awarded to Mount Holyoke riders in individual classes at Nationals since 1974, five of them were awarded to riders in the walk-trot and walk-trot-canter divisions (three of the walk-trot blue ribbons have come since 1997). Credit must be given to Head Coach Carol J. Law for consistantly getting solid efforts out of her riders with little or no riding experience before enrolling at Mount Holyoke. Individual intermediate equitation on the flat would be the third class of the Saturday session. Earlier in the morning, Virginia Intermont clinched their first hunter seat team championship ever, as Erika Jewell was one placing higher than Aubrey Hunt of Findlay. Brothers then captured the Cacchione Cup, looking the best in a five-way work off not to mention her flat and fences rounds averaging out to a '92.' The individual intermediate flat was thus a little anticlimactic, as all the hunter seat classes were complete save for this one and individual open flat, which took place two classes later. Catherine Respess was the first Emory University rider in the team's two-year history to qualify for Nationals, and the senior came through with tenth place. University of South Carolina senior Lindsey Wilson was ninth, while Colorado State junior Danielle Baker was eighth. Mariah Hughlock may be the first Nationals qualifier from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or at least the first since 1996. The junior placed seventh while Connecticut College freshman Stephanie Gollobin placed sixth. Oklahoma State senior Emily Harison went out with a fifth, bettering her performance at 2002 Nationals in team intermediate fences by one placing. For the second year in a row, Ithaca College Coach Amy Bisaro has seen one of her riders reach Nationals. Darrin Bann took fourth place for the bombers. Midway senior Amanda "Mandy" Alexander made the most of her only Nationals appearance, as the senior went out with a third. Former Stanford Assistant Coach Candice Murton did pretty well in her first season coaching the Midway hunter seat team, finishing second to Miami of Ohio and advancing two riders to Nationals, where they placed first and third, respectively. UCLA went from not having a competing team in 2002-03 to being one of the best start-up teams ever, finishing fourth overall in the Zone 8, Region 2 hunter seat team standings. Michelle Brownstein of the bruins finished fourth in the region's open rider standings, while intermediate rider Sarah Phaklides became the first UCLA rider ever to reach Nationals. The sophomore managed to make UCLA's first IHSA Nationals appearance a memorable one, placing second. The blue ribbon went to Lauren Richardson of the University of Virginia, a team in marked contrast to UCLA, having fielded a hunter seat team since 1975, with eleven Region Championships, one National Championship (in 1991-92), four Cacchione Cup Championships (three of them consecutive, won by CeCe Williamson from 1981-83) and twelve Individual undergraduate Championships. It was the first blue ribbon won by the cavaliers at IHSA Nationals since Kelly Ferroni became coach in Fall of 2002. It should be noted that longtime Head Coach Claiborne Bishop was in the winner's circle with Richardson and Ferroni, and that Tom Bishop, the retired National Steward, husband of Claiborne, and also synonymous with the Virginia program was one of the seven rotating hunter seat stewards at 2004 Nationals.
Up to this point the Individual winners came from schools in the states of Kentucky, California, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Ohio and Virginia. The reserve riders came from schools in Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey and California. Only once had a third place rider come from a northeastern state (John Pigott from the University of Vermont) while others came from California, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Colorado and Kentucky. If you remove Mount Holyoke College and Centenary College, both known for having dominating IHSA programs, the northeast had by no means done any better than the rest of the country. The last hunter seat class of any kind was the individual open equitation on the flat. Pigott, Siegel, De Kraay, Flexon, Palmer and Yale's Elizabeth Jordan were all back from the individual open fences two days earlier. The final class offered Palmer a chance to end the 2004 season on a high note, as the sophomore from Lake Bluff, Illinois would probably liked to have the show erased from memory prior to this class. Palmer had started Thursday off with a ninth in individual open fences. Later that day she bested everyone in the field in the flat phase of the Cacchione Cup, earning a score of '96.' On Friday, things did not go as well. Very uncharacteristically, Palmer had two refusals in the jumping phase of the Cacchione, earning her a score of '20.' Many were in disbelief when she was not given a re-ride (including De Kraay, who along with Flexon did receive a re-ride in the jumping phase even though their first trips were clean but not impressive against the rest of the field). Palmer had finished second to Pigott in the 2003 Cup Competition, and had placed in every open class she rode in at 2003 Nationals (including first in team open flat). Palmer rode again later on Friday in team open flat, but surprisingly did not pin inside the top six. Saturday started off with Palmer looking good in team open fences until she fell off halfway through (A personal apology from this writer. When my story about the hunter seat team competition was initally posted, I mistakenly stated that this was her second fall, forgetting that she stayed on during the Cacchione jumping round. Though corrected within 24 hours of being posted, I apologize for the error. I guess I landed on my head once too often-ed.). This time Palmer was given a re-ride, which resulted in a score of '84' and fifth place. Her final ride of the show would be her first at 2004 Nationals facing off against freshman teammate Jennifer Hutson, who finished eight points behind her for high point open rider in Zone 6, Region 2. From Toledo, Ohio, Hutson actually had more points on the flat during the regular season than Palmer, though the two were often in separate sections of the flat at these shows. The final hunter seat class also featured two riders from Savannah College of Art & Design, and a rider from Savannah, Georgia who went to school out of state. Joining Siegel was sophomore SCAD bee teammate Jessica Brown, who was making her first IHSA Nationals appearance. Flexon of Carleton is from Savannah, begging the question is there something in the water near the Georgia shoreline that makes people ride so well? One more irony was that two of the entries, Centenary College's Kristen Schwieger and University of California at Davis's Laura Blau, had gone to the same high school in Southern California. La Reina High School in Thousand Oaks can claim both riders as graduates (and can even claim actress Amanda Bynes of the WB Network's "What I Like About You" as a former student). Both had ridden in the Cacchione Cup competition, with Schwieger's combined score being higher but just shy of the top ten. Could Blau finish higher this time around? Following the walking, trotting, cantering, reversing and testing, the participants in individual open flat lined up for the placings. De Kraay's final IHSA ride resulted in tenth place, though the San Diego senior did claim sixth in the Cacchione Cup only a few hours earlier. Schwieger finished ninth, ending a briliant career in the IHSA during which time the cyclones finished in third place at Nationals in 2001, 2003 and 2004! Though a re-ride was discussed, ultimately the stewards did not give Pigott a re-ride (his horse kept sticking its' tounge out; several individuals, who were asked in passing, were split as to whether a re-ride should have been granted). The junior from Newport, Rhode Island ended up with the eighth place ribbon. Hutson was seventh in her first-ever IHSA Nationals appearance, while sixth went to Kyla Makhloghi of Mount Holyoke, who had gone head-to-head with Pigott in back-to-back classes at Zone 1 Zones, beating him in individual open flat while placing second to him in team open flat 45 minutes later. Makhloghi was also the final hunter seat rider from a school located in the Northeast to place above the participation level. Flexon was fifth, while Caitlin Lane of Washington & Lee was fourth. From Poolesville, Maryland (technically the Northeast, but then Schwieger of Centenary is from California to sight but one example), Lane was also the Zone 4, Region 2 Cacchione rider, having finished eleven points ahead of defending Region 2 high point open rider Cary Chenoweth. It is worth noting that in '03 Chenoweth unseated then-defending high point open rider Jamie Auletto and that in '02 Auletto unseated Jessica Parker of Hollins, who had ridden in the Cacchione Cup at 2001 Nationals. As far as we know, Lane is back at Washington & Lee in 2004-05, which is either encouraging or discouraging to the other returning Zone 4, Region 2 open riders depending on how you look at it. Zone 4 claimed two riders in the top five of individual open flat, as Elon University freshman Jozi Snowberger was third. Zone 4, Region 3 often stages shows on weekdays, some of which Snowberger could not attend due to understandable conflicts with classes. Snowberger made the most of very few opportunities to compete, as she was not even in the top six within the Region 3 high point open rider standings! The reserve champion was Siegel, who had finished first in the same class at 2003 Nationals (the only time Pigott did not win a class at Nationals last season). The sophomore from Flower Mount, Texas led Savannah College of Art & Design to their first Zone 5, Region 3 Region Championship this season. After the disappointing events of Friday, Palmer went out a winner on Saturday, placing first. Palmer has won at least one class at IHSA Nationals each of her first two years at Miami of Ohio and it would not surprise many if she bested the field at least once in '05 and '06. Miami of Ohio was the fifth place team overall, scoring 18 points. Excluding Centenary (with 22 points), the other schools from Zones 1, 2 and 3 scored a combined 13 points, only sightly more than sixth-place teams Texas A & M and Fresno State with 11. Though some will say it is the luck of the draw, the evidence shows that quality riding can be found throughout the IHSA, with little regard to geography. ---Steve Maxwell The Hunter Seat Individual Class-by-Class Results. The first three classes listed were held Thursday, May 6th, the next three were held Friday, May 7th, and the final two were held Saturday, May 8th. The judges for all hunter seat classes were Sarah Good, Belton, Missouri and John Roper, Brentwood, Tennessee: Individual intermediate equitation over fences: 1. Stephanie Keily, Midway College. 2. Tom Brennan, Stonehill College. 3. Linda Torres, University of California at San Diego. Glenna Kassel, Randolph-Macon Woman's College. 5. Jennifer Tabisz, Virginia Intermont College. 6. Rebecca Resnick, Lehigh University. 7. Rachel Cresswell, Stony Brook University. 8. Karen Sproul, College of Charleston. 9. Andres Monroy, University of Minnesota at Crookston. 10. Maura Kenny, University of Connecticut. Individual open equitation over fences: 1. Kate De Kraay, University of San Diego. 2. Tara Brothers, University of South Carolina. 3. John Pigott, University of Vermont. 4. Lauren Flexon, Carleton College. 5. Paige Hortman, Utah Valley State College. 6. Lauren Morlock, Mount Holyoke College. 7. Stephanie Glass, Texas A & M University. 8. Angela MacFawn, St. Andrews Presbyterian College. 9. Megan Palmer, Miami University of Ohio. 10. Liz Anderson, Skidmore College. Individual walk-trot-canter equitation: 1. Melissa Rabbitt, Mount Holyoke College. 2. Sarah Rhymer, St. Andrews Presbyterian College. 3. Thea Lassen, Savannah College of Art & Design. 4. Hallie Britt, St. Lawrence University. 5. Sarah Brandle, University of Findlay. 6. Erin Hale, Oklahoma State University. 7. Kyra Hufford, University of South Carolina. 8. Amy Goodson, University of Wyoming. 9. Shannon Ward, University of California at San Diego. 10. Erin Batchelor, University of Cincinnati. Individual novice equitation over fences: 1. Elizabeth Perry, Wesleyan University. 2. Ethan Smock, Centenary College. 3. Sarah Michaels, Washington & Lee University. 4. Ashley Kinsey, Clemson University. 5. Insley Julier, Skidmore College. 6. Nina Waldron, Colorado State University. 7. Caitlyn Roberts, Oklahoma State University. 8. Kelly Long, Miami University of Ohio. 9. Samantha Talbot, University of Vermont. 10. Lindsey Watts, Dowling College. Individual novice equitation on the flat: 1. Mara Keith-Hunter, University of Findlay. 2. Hannah Schremser, University of the South. 3. Katie DeLucas, St. Andrews Presbyterian College. 4. Alyssa Garvin, Skidmore College. 5. Sharon Bryant, University of Delaware. 6. Jennifer Palmadessa, University of Connecticut. 7. Sylvia Togno, University of San Diego. 8. Lauren Cannon, Berry College. 9. Martha Susan Rendeiro, Wellesley College. 10. Kira Mamula, University of Pittsburgh. Individual walk-trot equitation: 1. Sara Royston, Mount Holyoke College. 2. Cem Uzman, Centenary College. 3. Kellyann Coors, Colorado College. 4. Brittany Hutchinson, Berry College. 5. Jackie Watson, Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis. 6. Melinda Marksz, Miami University of Ohio. 7. Nicki Rasch, College of Charleston. 8. Jenny D'Abadie, Texas A & M University. 9. Layne Havens, Mary Washington College. 10. Anne Bickford, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Individual intermediate equitation on the flat: 1. Lauren Richardson, University of Virginia. 2. Sarah Phaklides, University of California at Los Angeles. 3. Amanda Alexander, Midway College. 4. Darrin Bann, Ithaca College. 5. Emily Harison, Oklahoma State University. 6. Stephanie Gollobin, Connecticut College. 7. Mariah Hughlock, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 8. Danielle Baker, Colorado State University. 9. Lindsey Wilson, University of South Carolina. 10. Catherine Respess, Emory University. Individual open equitation on the flat: 1. Megan Palmer, Miami University of Ohio. 2. Jordan Siegel, Savannah College of Art & Design. 3. Jozi Snowberger, Elon University. 4. Caitlin Lane, Washington & Lee University. 5. Lauren Flexon, Carleton College. 6. Kyla Makhloghi, Mount Holyoke College. 7. Jennifer Hutson, Miami University of Ohio. 8. John Pigott, University of Vermont. 9. Kristen Schwieger, Centenary College. 10. Kate De Kraay, University of San Diego.
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