Pictured: John Pigott and University of Vermont head coach Madeleine Austin.

Cacchione Cup leaders at halftime

As is commonplace most seasons, the race to be hunter seat high point open rider for a season within a given region is close in most places at midseason (by close meaning the leader holds less than a double-digit lead on the current runner-up). The high point open rider in each region will automatically advance to IHSA Nationals to compete in the Cacchione Cup Competition, with the winner essentially holding the title of best IHSA hunter seat rider in the nation. Last season it was Laena Romand of Mount Holyoke who advanced from zone 1, region 3 to win the Cacchione Cup class at nationals. However Romand is not on the Mount Holyoke team this season, making her one of 14 Cacchione competitors from the 2002 nationals who will not be back. Many graduated, some turned professional, others are simply not showing IHSA in 2002-03. Of the 13 Cacchione competitors who did return, several of those are finding themselves further behind in the standings than they would like. When the high point open riders convene in Murfreesboro on May 3rd for horse draw, most will likely be fresh faces in this competition. Who has the inside track on reaching the finals? Here is a region-by-region look at midseason, though in all honesty we lack information on three regions so our apologies to those in the Boston area, in Northern California and in the upper rocky mountains if we leave you out.

ZONE 1, REGION 1: There are seven known regions where the leader has more than a double-digit lead, and Brown University freshman Jamie Peddy is leading in one of them. Through six of the ten region 1 shows Peddy holds a 16 point lead on Connecticut College junior Vanessa Stevenson. Maria Cicchiello of the University of Connecticut and Stevenson's teammate Laura Kirby are 17 behind Peddy. The Brown freshman from Oyster Bay, NY has never trailed while averaging better than five and half points per open class. Though Stevenson, Kirby and Cicchiello would win many other IHSA regions with some ease, all have their work cut out for them to draw even with Peddy in such a short time.

ZONE 1, REGION 2: Though John Pigott of the University of Vermont only leads Colby-Sawyer's Ellen Lampman by two and Bate's Elizabeth Pemmerl by five through five shows, one should be reminded that Pigott missed the first show. Starting with the second show, Pigott is averaging 6.5 points per open class. His efforts in the open division are one reason why Vermont has averaged almost 39 points per show, among the best averages in the nation. If Pigott does advance he will be a returnee, having placed fourth in the nation at nationals last season.

ZONE 1, REGION 3: With Romand having turned professional, several Mount Holyoke riders are making a bid to come out as high point open rider this season. Freshman Kyla Makhloghi is fourth in the region with 35 points (she did not ride in one show) which puts her nine back. Two west coast riders, Alicyn Roy (from Clairmont, CA) and Lauren Morlock (from Ross, CA) are two out and one point out respectively. For the first time since 1998-99 the "Halftime" leading open rider is from a school other than Mount Holyoke. Jordan Olive, who returned to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst team after a three year absence holds a one point lead over Morlock with four spring shows still to come.

ZONE 1, REGION 4: Though we at Campus Equestrian are not completely up to date with this region, it is known that Boston University freshman Jessica Long went undefeated during the Fall. Region 4 held four shows, and Long is the only hunter seat rider to show as often and win every time. Though it is not known if her lead is up to double-digits, it is safe to say that the newcomer from Barrington, RI will reach nationals if she continues to perform this way!

ZONE 2, REGION 1: A pair of Centenary College riders are in the drivers' seat. Junior Kristen Schwieger was once an intermediate fences rider, while Becky Huestis was intermediate all around two seasons ago. Schwieger, from Los Angeles, leads Huestis, from Saratoga Springs, NY, by three points through six shows. No one else in region 1 is closer than 18 points from Schwieger.

ZONE 2, REGION 2: Just as the team race between Cazenovia and St. Lawrence looks poised to go down to the wire, both teams have produced an open rider with a similar situation. Whitney Slauson of St. Lawrence leads Cazenovias' Missy Starr by one point through four shows. Megan Cowan, also of Cazenovia, is only seven points off the lead. Only three region 2 shows are currently scheduled for the spring. If the junior from Burlington, VT holds onto the lead, Slauson would be the first St. Lawrence rider since at least '96 to finish atop the region 2 open rider standings.

ZONE 2, REGION 3: With no Phibbs sisters in sight, a pair of Skidmore riders find themselves tied atop the region 3 standings. Jaime Jansen (Rochester, NY) and Liz Anderson (Martha's Vineyard, MA) both have three more points than Colgate's Kate Norris. Also with real possibilities are Julie Canter of Cornell, who is seven back, and Amy Bisaro of Ithaca, ten behind. Four shows remain.

ZONE 3, REGION 1: In total contrast to zone 1, region 1 to their northeast, zone 3, region 1 is a free-for-all with 10 riders separated by 10 points! There was a different leader in the region 3 open rider standings following each of the five fall shows, with Sacred Heart sophomore Emily Grayson one point ahead following the Fairfield show November 10th. Grayson is one of several transfers to figure prominently in the region 1 open rider standings. Grayson rode for the University of Vermont two seasons ago while Amanda St. Pierre of Fairfield (who came over from Marist) is five back. Destiny Caldwell of C.W. Post (who came over from Cazenovia) is six off the pace. Closest to Grayson is the defending region champion, Fairfield junior Jillian Brown, who trails by only a point. Last season Brown had the biggest lead in the northeast at the break, a 19-point margin. Three spring shows are currently scheduled, and just about anything could happen here.

ZONE 3, REGION 2: Some around the country may wonder if an open rider who started the season in one of the intermediate divisions has much of a chance to be high point open rider in that region. It could happen, thought it is quite rare. In zone 3, region 2 the current reserve rider is Nichole Fox of Rider University, who finished no higher than fourth in three intermediate fences classes this fall. Then at the fourth show, Fox won her debut in open fences! Fox's chances at the top spot are negligible, as University of Delaware senior Kelly Ross holds a 16-point lead with four spring shows on the itinerary.

ZONE 3, REGION 3: Penn State junior Allison Handler, who was high point rider in region 3 two seasons ago, is on top through five shows. Zone 3, region 3 tends to have the most "Limited" shows within the northeast, and as such there is usually only one section of open flat and open fences at each of these shows. This makes it more difficult for someone trailing by double digits to come from behind. One of Handlers' teammates, senior Lindsey Phoebus, is the only other rider in the region currently within ten points, trailing by six at the moment. Phoebus did have one of the great rides in IHSA history at the Holiday Tournament of Champions on December 7th, and this spring will mark Phoebus's last chance to earn a trip to nationals in the Cacchione Cup competition.

ZONE 3, REGION 4: The race here is no more settled than the race in zone 3, region 1! Through five shows it is Bucknell senior Whitney Scott with the lead. Scott, who is from Reston, VA was in fourth place headed into the final fall show, when two firsts abruptly put her into the lead. Vicki Gallets of Rutgers (at one time a member of the Franklin & Marshall team) is second, a mere three points behind. Princeton's Kelly Wells, who is the defending region 4 high point open rider, is four points out. However Wells accrued her 45 points in only four shows. Two of Scott's teammates, senior Sara Figoski and junior Kim Lorenz are very much alive, trailing by 8 and 10 respectively. Figoski was in first place most of the fall for the record. Unlike much of the IHSA, where the majority of each regions' shows took place in the fall, region 4 will stage five spring shows, thus getting in all ten and giving everyone a chance to work their way in or out of the region 4 race.

ZONE 4, REGION 1: It is unknown if a William & Mary rider has ever ended the season in first place, but Elizabeth Clark can claim the lead up to this point. Hailing from Kenilworth, IL, the William & Mary sophomore leads Goucher's Kate Fournel by six points and St. Marys's (of Maryland) Diane Zrimsek by ten. There are only three region 1 shows scheduled in the spring at the moment. Though it is also unknown if a Goucher rider has ever reached IHSA Nationals in the Cacchione competition, Zrimsek would be the first St. Mary's rider to have the honor if she rallies.

ZONE 4, REGION 2: Shows in region 2 of zone 4 are much more limited than those of their neighbors in regions 1 and 3 (the University of Virginia has been known to limit the number of rides to eight when they host). Logic would indicate that it should be harder to come from behind in this region, and the fact that only three shows remain compounds the situation. Through five shows it is Hollins' senior Jessica Parker with a four point lead over Bridgewater's Cary Chenoweth. Parker was high point open rider in region 2 two seasons ago, while James Madison junior Jaime Auletto had the honor last season. Auletto is still in the race, eight behind Parker with 39. No matter who wins, the outcome will be known sooner than most, as all three spring shows are staged during an eight-day span in mid-February.

ZONE 4, REGION 3: All indications are that only Virginia Intermont, St. Andrews and Virginia Tech in zone 4, region 3 have ever had one of their riders compete in a Cacchione Cup competition at IHSA Nationals. One rider who could change that would be Jessica Sharrow of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sharrow is seven points out with three shows to go. Of the teams currently in region 3, the most recent to have their Cacchione representative at Nationals actually win the national championship is St. Andrews. When Texas A & M hosted in 1994, Daniel Geitner won the honor, declared the best by none other than George Morris, who judged that IHSA National show. Angela MacFawn is trying to do the same, trailing by two points thus far. Angee Quattro of Virginia Intermont was the region 3 representative in the 2001 cup competition, but Quattro will have to make up a sizable deficit to do it again. Quattro trails teammate Erika Jewell by 12 points headed into the North Carolina State show on February 2nd.

ZONE 5, REGION 1: Some members of the current zone 5, region 1 were in zone 5, region 3 last season. The region 1 high point open rider last season was Tara Bramblette from University of Kentucky. Bramblette graduated, and region realignment sent the wildcats into zone 6, region 2! The region 3 rider who advanced to nationals is Julie Neumann of Vanderbilt, who is riding this season but finds herself 21 points behind teammate Mawghan McCabe through four shows. McCabe can claim to be one of at least seven hunter seat riders who hold a double digit lead over everyone in their region at the moment. The closest competitor is Sarah Elder of Middle Tennessee State. Though Elder is eleven back, the senior can boast of being a perfect eight-for-eight in Open Western classes, tops in the nation! (more next month when we cover the race for the AQHA Cup at the halfway mark.)

ZONE 5, REGION 2: Because Berry wound up moving their Fall shows to the Spring, only two hunter seat shows were ultimatly held before the new calendar year. As a result the current leading point total in region 2 is 18 points, and both Lindsay Neubarth of Auburn and Collins Daye of the University of Georgia can claim that number! Christa Gilroy of Berry is two behind both Neubarth and Daye. With at least five shows still to come, it would be much too early to say anyone in this region is out of the race!

ZONE 5, REGION 3: The region that was known last season as Zone 5, Region 4 can claim the most one-sided high point open rider race in the nation. Jordan Siegel, a freshman from Flower Mound, TX has helped put Savannah College of Art & Design into the lead by virtue of her 54 points in ten shows. The next closest competitor in the open division, University of Florida junior Amy Uniss, has only 29 points combined flat and fences. The race for second will be a good one. Siegel's ability to keep winning in open will make the team race a great one.

ZONE 6, REGION 1: Ohio State University is synonymous with western championships, having been the stock seat national championship college seven times since 1991. However this season their hunter seat open division has been surprisingly good. Maggie Mulherin leads her buckeye teammate Kat Waltman by a point through the fall. Sarah Jackson of Lake Erie is eight back, still very much alive though only two hunter seat shows have been confirmed for the spring thus far.

ZONE 6, REGION 2: Though some may think of this region as the state of Indiana and the Chicago area, that would be the way it used to be. Last years' region 2 is now zone 9, region 1 for the most part. The new region 2 is made up of Southern Ohio and Eastern Kentucky. Miami of Ohio used to clean up in region 1, and the red hawks have a real find in freshman Megan Palmer. Hailing from Lake Bluff, IL, Palmer has a 12-point lead over Midway's Brooke Markowitz, while all other competitors are 23 or more points off the lead. Three hunter seat shows remain before regionals.

ZONE 6, REGION 3: If you have been paying close attention, you may have noticed that so far only John Pigott of Vermont is leading his region after having been high point open rider a season ago. Nicky Meyer of the University of Michigan can also make that claim. The senior who was listed as "Nicolle" in the 2002 IHSA Nationals program currently holds a nine-point lead over teammate Nikki Jefferies. Sara Ballinger of Findlay is next in line, 12 behind Meyer. Andrea Arlinghaus of Otterbein, one point behind Ballinger, still has an outside shot. Zone 6, region 3 is known for adding Spring shows on very short notice, so up to five shows may remain to tighten or widen the race.

ZONE 7, REGION 1: Liz Devine of Colorado State was fourth in the nation at the 2000 IHSA Nationals in individual novice flat. Devine placed out of the ribbons in team intermediate fences a year later. Devine could do something very special indeed if she hangs on to finish as high point open rider this season. Devine could then claim to have ridden at least once at Nationals as a novice, an intermediate and an open rider! Without a Raczka sister in sight (save for when they ride alumni), the rams still claim the top five open riders at the halfway mark. Devine leads teammates Rachel Vinocur (by a point), Robyn Schaffer (by three points), Alex Ansteth and Tiffany Perelman (both by seven points) through five shows. Suprising to some, all five region 1 hunter seat shows took place by September 22nd! When everyone gets out their boot-pulls on February 1st, the region will have had over four months to prepare for the remaining five shows. Laura Shaner of Colorado University is ten back, likely the only region 1 rider not riding for Colorado State with a real chance to jump over the others. If Shaner pulls off this feat, it will mark the first time Colorado University riders won the open rider championship back-to-back seasons (recent graduate Nicola Thompson was the region 1 Cacchione representative a year ago).

ZONE 7, REGION 2: Several years ago, her older sister Germaine rode in the Cacchione Cup competition in consecutive IHSA Nationals held in Conyers, GA. Now Texas A & M sophomore Amanda Dougherty will try to advance to the first of two consecutive IHSA national shows to be held in Murfreesboro. Hailing from Houston, Dougherty holds a five-point lead over Rachel Quest of West Texas A & M and a six point lead over both teammate Meredith Houx, who was the region 2 high point rider last season, and Ciearra Vinson of West Texas A & M. Oklahoma State's Corrie Janssen and Texas Tech's Claire Prieto are both eight behind. Audrey Buck of Oklahoma State is ten back, perhaps still in the race with four shows remaining. Dougherty rolled up all 35 of her points in only three shows, an impressive 5.8 points-per-class average.

ZONE 8, REGION 1: We at Campus Equestrian apologize for our lack of information regarding zone 8, region 1. All we know is that Jill Humphrey, last seasons' region 1 high point rider with Bakersfield College, now rides for University of California at Davis, and may once again be leading the region.

ZONE 8, REGION 2: Joining Pigott, Mayer and (likely) Humphrey in the "Been there, done that, but like last season I am leading my region again" department is University of San Diego junior Kate De Kraay. Currently leading by seventeen points through three shows, De Kraay is shooting for modern-day IHSA history. De Kraay rode in the IHSA Nationals Cacchione Cup competition as both a freshman and a sophomore. Though we are still checking the history books, De Kraay still has a shot to be the first rider in a decade (maybe ever) to ride at IHSA Nationals in four consecutive Cacchione Cup competitions! Strangely enough, during De Kraay's freshman year there was another region 2 rider who was trying to accomplish the same feat. Anneliese Kannow of UC-San Diego had placed in the top ten at each National show from 1998-2000 but did not ride her senior year due to scheduling conflicts with AHSA shows at places like Indio.

ZONE 8, REGION 3: Unlike in zone 1, region 4 and zone 8, region 1 where we know very little, we don't know anything about who has done what in zone 8, region 3! If you have been to these shows in Idaho and Montana, please drop us a line and bring us up to date!

ZONE 8, REGION 4: If you read this story before January 17th you were informed that Justine Britten of Washington State was leading. However, region 4 President Tracy Laxson recalculated the points and discovered it is in fact Laura Hussey of the University of Washington who has a two-point lead on Britten. Oregon State senior Jody Duppong, the region's high point rider last season, is ten back of Hussey with five hunter seat shows remaining.

ZONE 9, REGION 1: Beth Haag did it, Jody Waller did it, Craig Sappington did it, and last season Sarah Weed did it. What on earth did they do? Each has represented Purdue University in the Cacchione Cup competition at Nationals over the past four seasons. However none of the first three ever rode in the competition twice. Weed is now a senior, but so far the season has not gone quite as Weed might like. Consolation is that the rider who is leading the region is teammate Sarah Cohen. The senior from Mendham, NJ holds a 12-point lead over Weed, while in between are IUPUI's Jenny Hinds (six back) and Notre Dame's Meganne Hoffman (nine back). Yet another boilermaker, Christina Walsh, is a point behind Weed, while Krista Steinmetz, also from Purdue, is three back of Walsh. At least four shows remain.

ZONE 9, REGION 2: Allison Woodworth of Kansas State holds a nine point lead over teammate Dehlia Burdan. The sophomore from Overland Park, KS has 36 points through only six classes. Emily Holkamp of Truman State is third, with only half as many points as Woodworth! Five more hunter seat shows are scheduled, so the race is not truly over.

ZONE 9, REGION 3: Known for the most part as zone 6, region 4 from 1997-2002, the upper midwest can claim to have six english shows and eight western shows already in the books! Shannon Opel of the University of Wisconsin at Madison has a healthy nine point lead over Bree Ann Burgy of the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. Opel's teammate Jennifer Niemeier is eleven back, while no others are within 30 points of the top. Barring something extraordinary, the Cacchione qualifer from this region will once again be from a University of Wisconsin school. The Madison campus had the honor from 1999-01 (Emily Elek twice, Alexandra Nickolai once) while River Falls representatives came through in '98 (Janelle Ward) and '02 (Aubrey Hunt, now riding for Findlay).

---Steve Maxwell