Wellesley College freshman Emma Slade-Baxter (on left) poses with Head Coach Alli Mitchell prior to the start of the October 15th show co-hosted by Wheaton College and Curry College. Slade-Baxter would place second in the open fences class which started the day. Wellesley would then go 15 classes without a first or second but would earn high point team honors after all 19 undergraduate classes had been completed

WELLESLEY SCORES BIG LATE, PULLS OUT 33-32 WIN OVER BOTH STONEHILL AND BOSTON UNIVERSITY

North Smithfield, RI - The second Region 4 show of the 2011-12 season was certainly a limited show. There were only 19 undergraduate classes, with no more than eight riders in a class (and there were only three classes with as many as eight entered). Eight of the ten schools entered managed a blue ribbon, which says something about balance within Region 4. All ten teams scored in double figures.

Early on it looked as though Boston University was going to run away with it. The first three winners were all from BU and after Stonehill College stopped that streak the Terriers won the fifth class. Following a win for Tufts University (which had won on opening day) Stonehill won back-to-back classes. Considering that these three teams have generally been first, second or third when the Region 4 season ended the past four years the results to this point were not all that surprising (editor's note: Overall Mount Ida College was third ahead of Boston University during the 2010-11 season, which was Mount Ida's first season in the region after being moved over from Zone 1, Region 2).

However a third of the classes do not a show maketh. Five of the final six undergraduate classes would be won by teams other than Boston University, Stonehill and Tufts. When it was all over high point team Wellesley College was completely surprised to hear their name come out first across the PA system. The well-named 'Blue' (that is what the Wellesley sports teams are called) had triumphed with 33 points, one more than both Stonehill and BU. While Emma Slade-Baxter (freshman, from New Paltz, New York) had placed second in open fences to start the day it was not until the fourth-to-last class that another Wellesley rider could do as well if not better. Shira Bleicher, a sophomore from Newton, Massachusetts won the first section of advanced walk-trot-canter. Rebecca Hosey, who had never competed in a horse show of any kind, won her walk-trot two classes later. Because Hosey was Wellesley's only walk-trot rider present, the freshman from Danville, Pennsylvania was a point rider. Hosey's blue ribbon turned out to make all the difference. While it is unclear if Wellesley had ever won an IHSA show before (the program began IHSA competition in 2000) it was the Blue's first high point team award since at least the 2007-08 season at the earliest.

Though they were second to Tufts on opening day and second to Wellesley today, Stonehill College moved into first place overall through two shows. The Sky Hawks were at their best in the intermediate flat, as Hanna Pattie (on left) and Emily Dolan (on right) both won to sweep the division for Head Coach Allegra Valberg (center).

Stonehill College was perhaps the most consistant team of the day, placing at least one rider in the top two in every division save for walk-trot. The Sky Hawks produced four blue ribbons. Danielle Franchi, a freshman from Islip, New York won the second of two sections of open flat. Three classes later Hanna Pattie (junior, from Newburyport, Massachusetts) won the first section of intermediate flat while teammate Emily Dolan (junior, from LaCrosse, Wisconsin) won the second. Nina Crossley, a senior from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey closed out the blue ribbons with a first in novice flat. Casey Lorusso (in open fences), Rebecca Rossi (in intermediate fences), Alexandra Keller (in novice fences) and Megan Payne (in advanced walk-trot-canter) each earned a red ribbon for Stonehill, which finished the day with 69 points through two shows, enough to put them two points ahead of Tufts for first place overall.

If Boston University could have maintained their hot start they might have scored 49 points. Instead the Terriers tied Stonehill at 32 for Reserve Champion with some impressive individual results along the way. Lilly Zarella, a junior from Rochester, New York (whom we learned today is a Political Science major with a minor in Economics) won the open over fences class which started the day. Erin Haggerty, a sophomore from Millis, Massachusetts won the second section of open fences to claim her first IHSA blue ribbon of any kind. Caroline Calhoun, a sophomore from Saratoga, New York kept BU undefeated through three classes with a win in open flat. Two classes later (after both Zarella and Taylor Franchi - no relation to Stonehill's Franchi - did not win the second section of open flat) Victoria Czaplicka won what turned out to be Boston University's final blue ribbon of the day. Pronounced 'Sap-Lee-Kah' the freshman from Northville, Michigan who was making her IHSA debut won the first of two sections of intermediate fences. Both Czaplicka and Haggerty would place second to Pattie and Dolan, respectively in intermediate flat for BU's only red ribbons of the day. With no riders on any of the teams receiving two firsts Czaplicka qualified for the ride-off.

By the end of her first IHSA show she had a blue ribbon, a red ribbon and an appearance in her first IHSA ride-off. Boston University freshman Victoria Czaplicka (pictured) provided Boston University with their fourth blue ribbon of the day after only five classes had been held!

A week after pulling out a narrow 39-37 win over Stonehill, Tufts University scored 28 points to fall into second place through two shows. The Jumbos did reasonably well individually, as three riders won classes. Hannah Tadley, a junior from Winchester, Massachusetts was Tufts only walk-trot-canter rider at today's show and she won to account for seven of their points. Isobel Redelmeier (junior, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada) was the Jumbos' lone representative in novice flat and she too delivered in the clutch. After having placed second to Danielle Franchi in open flat, Kelly Sullivan won Tufts first blue ribbon of the day. The sophomore from Westfield, New Jersey was a winner in intermediate fences. Kennon Ulicny was second to Calhoun in the other section of open flat to give Tufts a second blue ribbon. Once it was determined that no one would have two firsts Sullivan joined Czaplicka in the ride-off. Sullivan's first also assured her of being an open rider in both disciplines for the remainder of the season, for she now had 42 points at the intermediate over fences level to send her on to Regionals.

Through 13 undergraduate classes (and in that span everything from open down to novice was completed) Mount Ida College was still looking for their first blue ribbon of the day. The Mustangs then proceeded to sweep the beginner walk-trot-canter. Patricia Quinn, a freshman from North Haven, Connecticut won the first section. Nancy Baker, a freshman from Dorchester, Massachusetts won the second and final beginner section. Through two shows both were undefeated. A week earlier Quinn had made her IHSA debut and had won while today it was Baker's turn to win her IHSA debut. The Mustangs earned three red ribbons via Anna Gamwell (in intermediate fences), Molly Ladd (in novice fences) and Heather Poirier (in the walk-trot class which concluded today's event) and improved on their opening day 19 point effort with 22 points at today's show.

Competing without a walk-trot rider, Boston College only finished a point behind Mount Ida, scoring 21. Just as Mount Ida, Stonehill and Boston University had consecutive wins in a division so did the Eagles. Kristin McAlpin, a sophomore from Miami, Florida (who went to the same high school - Ransom Everglades Academy - as Tufts novice fences rider Dorothy Kafka) won section 4B of novice fences while teammate Kaitlyn Kodzis (a senior from Canton, Massachusetts) won section 4C. Due to an error in the program Kelly McCarthy was listed in beginner walk-trot-canter while Andrea Ballute was listed in advanced walk-trot-canter. The two were swapped into the opposite divisions and both produced red ribbons for the Eagles. Adriana Driggs was second to Redelmeier in novice flat while Liz Doherty was second to Kodzis to give Boston College a total of four red ribbons, the most of any school at Phoenix Rising Horse Farm that day.

Only once at today's show did one team take first and second place in the same section of a division. This occured when Kaitlyn Kodzis of Boston College (second on right) finished one place ahead of teammate Liz Doherty (on far right) in the final section of novice fences. Eagles Assistant Coach Beth Gold (second on left) also saw Kristin McAlpin (on far left) win her novice fences. Boston College scored 22 points for the day.

Bridgewater State University did not have a rider in either intermediate division. The Bears also were without a first place ribbon. Despite this BSU scored 20 points, a two-point improvement on their score when Tufts hosted a week earlier. The Bears were second one time, as Megan Durgin earned a red ribbon in the beginner walk-trot-canter class Quinn won.

Brandeis University was third at the Tufts show with 32 points but Coach Katie Bobola had concerns that the Judges (the school nickname and not the people placing the riders at each show - Editor) might not maintain that level as they were without riders below the novice level at today's show. Madeline Brown, a sophomore from Fayetteville, Arkansas won the first section of novice fences for the Judge's only blue ribbon of the day. Mara Rosenberg was second in the first section of novice flat but at that moment Brandeis was done for the day even though seven classes remained. The Judges scored 18 points but only fell to fifth place overall through two shows.

Curry College made modest improvements over their opening day effort, the co-hosts scoring 16 points. Tess Tim, a senior from Ann Arbor, Michigan won the walk-trot class which ended the day to give Curry their only top-two placing. Curry scored 13 on opening day and are not doing badly considering they don't have an intermediate rider at the moment.

Closing out the scoring was the other co-host, Wheaton College. Alex Lund, a junior from Plymouth, Rhode Island likely scored half the Lyons' points with a second in walk-trot. One week earlier Lund earned one of Wheaton's two blue ribbons as the Lyons scored 18 points. This time around Wheaton scored ten, though in their defence they had only three divisions covered (walk-trot, walk-trot-canter and novice fences).

From Westfield, New Jersey, Tufts University sophomore Kelly Sullivan (on left) was awarded the high point rider ribbon after winning a ride-off with BU's Czaplicka. Tufts Head Coach Katie Schaaf (on right) had a respectable day in the seat herself, earning seconds in both alumni classes.

The Ride-Off: Held following the beginner walk-trot-canter but before the first advanced walk-trot-canter class, Czaplicka and Sullivan went through the paces for Judge Fifi Schmidt one more time (Schmidt had judged the Smith College show in Region 3 exactly one week earlier - Editor). After Schmidt had seen enough both riders were asked to line up and Sullivan received High Point Rider honors for the day.

Don't forget about us: Held between the novice fences and novice flat, four riders participated in the alumni divisions. 2010 Tufts University graduate Cecilia Pontoriero won both sections, finishing directly ahead of her former coach, 2000 Tufts graduate Katie Schaaf. 2007 Mount Ida College graduate Allison Schaitman, who had made her first-ever alumni appearance at the Tufts show (where she won her alumni fences debut) was third on the flat and fourth over fences. 2010 University of Connecticut graduate Brittany McLaughlin swaped placings with Schaitman, placing third over fences and fourth on the flat. Through two shows Schaaf, Schaitman and Pontoriero were all tied for the region lead in alumni fences with ten points each. Tufts graduates Pontoriero and Schaaf both had 12 points on the flat.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies, with temperatures reaching the mid '50's. Start time: 9:43AM. Finish: 2:09PM - includes 37 minute lunch break/Coaches and Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region?: Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Fifi Schmidt. Stewards: Reed/Mount Ida College; Schaaf/Tufts University and Bobola/Brandeis University.

Team Totals: Wellesley College (High Point Team) 33; Stonehill College (TIE - Reserve) 32; Boston University (TIE - Reserve) 32: Tufts University 28; Mount Ida College 22; Boston College 21; Bridgewater State College 20; Brandeis University 18; Curry College 16 and Wheaton College 10.

High Point Rider - Kelly Sullivan, Tufts University
Reserve High Point Rider - Victoria Czaplicka, Boston University