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SKIDMORE PREVAILS 43-39 OVER HARTWICK ON FEBRUARY 23RD Greenfield, NY - The road to a Zone 2, Region 3 hunter seat Region Championship inevitably runs through the Van Lennep Riding Center, home of the Skidmore Thoroughbreds. On February 23rd Skidmore hosted for the second time this season, and for the fifth time they scored in the 40's, earning a 43-39 win over Hartwick College. It was the sixth time over seven shows this season that the Thoroughbreds won or tied for high point team. Though one show remains at Hartwick on March 1st, that contest will be for those chasing points, as Skidmore's win mathematically eliminated the field. The Thoroughbreds lead Cornell 300-246 overall and will once again represent Region 3 in the Zone 2 Zones team competition come April 12th. Before the season some wondered what life in the open division without 2007 graduate Ashley Woodhouse would be like for Skidmore. True the Thoroughbreds had several others, including 2007 IHSA Nationals individual open over fences champion Jessica Schroff on the 2007-08 roster, but would any one rider set themselves apart from the rest?
One of the many choices for open at Head Coach Cindy Ford's disposal was Megan Martin. Now a senior, the Palm Coast, Florida resident has owned the open fences, using the jumps to gradually pull away from the field in the Region 3 USEF Cacchione open rider race. Martin won both her open flat and fences classes at today's show, the first time this season she has accomplished this. Martin now averages over 11 points per show and holds an 80-72 lead over Cornell's Caroline Shulman in the race to earn an automatic birth in the Cacchione Cup Competition at 2008 IHSA Nationals in Burbank, California this May. Martin was one of eleven Skidmore riders to win a class on the 23rd. Firsts were also awarded to Kendle Handtmann (open flat), Jennifer Wilkins (same), Emily Bruschi (open fences), Vicky Wright (intermediate flat), Amanda LaRose (novice fences), Jane Raftopoulos (advanced walk-trot-canter), Hanae Kimura (same), Billie Taft (same), Hannah Lipsky (walk-trot) and Grier Filley, a sophomore from Milbrook, New York who won both her novice flat and fences class to reach the ride-off along with teammate Martin. The Thoroughbreds nearly won one out of every three undergraduate classes, eventually settling on 13 blue ribbons while the other teams combined for 28. The Hartwick Hawks, one of only three schools all season to have actually outscored Skidmore at one of the shows (scoring 36 on November 17th, a day which saw Albany score 39 and Morrisville 38 to the Thorougbred's 35) earned reserve champion even though two other schools earned more blue ribbons. The Hawks got rolling late in the day, as Cate Moore (intermediate flat), Lauren Kamerer (novice flat), Rachael Suite (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Ariana Bray (walk-trot) were winners in their respective classes. Hartwick stands third at 215 points, ten more than fourth-place Colgate but with home-horse advantage on March 1st.
For the second time this week Cornell scored 36 points. The Big Red were winners on six occasions, with open rider Dana Kendrick qualifying for the ride-off with a pair of firsts. Georgina Melbye (intermediate fences), Zoe Samuel (intermediate flat), Kaitlin Stanmyer (novice flat) and Kelsey Craig (advanced walk-trot-canter) also won blue ribbons for Cornell, with Craig pointing out with her win. A freshman from New Canaan, Connecticut, Craig manged to pass the 35-point barrier needed to class up at only her seventh IHSA show! Kendrick's double-blue afternoon moved her to 71 points overall, only a point behind teammate Shulman who was second in both of her rides. Both are still mathematically alive to catch Martin but need a miracle to claim the lead on March 1st. The State University of New York at Cobleskill was next, the Fighting Tigers leaving the Van Lennep Riding Center with 32 points for the day and 161 so far overall. S.U.N.Y. - Cobleskill nearly went the entire day without a first. However freshman Trish McNamara won the final section of beginner walk-trot-canter, giving the Tigers a blue three classes from the end (McNamara remained undefeated in IHSA competition, having gone two for two). Prior to this teammates Samantha Cianti (intermediate fences), Kate Laskey (novice fences), Ashley Arnold (novice flat), Tatum St. Pierre (same), Danielle Angly-Hizer (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Stephanie Moller (beginner walk-trot-canter) had all received red, second place ribbons. Cobleskill's overall tenth place standing is misleading, as the Tigers did not compete in the fall Skidmore show. Considering they scored at least 20 points at the other six shows (and over 30 on three occasions), Cobbleskill might actually be sitting in seventh or eighth place at the moment.
Ithaca College is, in fact the eighth place team after seven shows. However on this day the Bombers were fifth, helped early on by a first for Julie Kruger in open fences. Freshman Stefanie Goldenberg was second in both of her novice classes while Jessica Carp was second to McNamara in beginner walk-trot-canter. Ithaca scored 31 points, their second-highest total so far this season. Even though they did not have riders entered in the walk-trot or open fences, Siena College scored a respectable 26 points for sixth place on this day. The first Saint into the ring was Kara Rothermel, whose ride in the ninth class of the morning (the fourth and final section of intermediate over fences) resulted in a second. Rothermel would improve on this, earning a first in open flat later. Also into the blue ribbons for Siena was Carolynn Mulder in novice flat while freshman Stacie Mihok was a red ribbon winner in advanced walk-trot-canter. A pair of teams tied for seventh place at today's show, each of which sits higher up in the overall team standings. Colgate University was once known as the Red Raiders, though today they are simply "the Raiders." However the Raiders were certainly seeing red early on, as Meredith Mazilli, Casey Easley, Maddy Casella and Mackenzie Bower brought home seconds in four of the five open fences classes. While Michelle Simon continued the trend with a second in section A of intermediate fences, sophomore Tanny Sevy would not join in, instead earning a blue ribbon in section B of intermediate jumps and pointing into open in the process. Strangely enough, after their fast start, the Raiders only managed one more top two placing the entire day, with Easley second in her section of open flat.
Tied with Colgate for the day was Morrisville State College. The Mustangs also faired well in the early going, as sophomore Brianne Ellis won open fences and juniors Amanda Curto and Erika Attoma won back-to-back sections of intermediate fences. After Morrisville freshman Katie Lyons won her section of novice fences, Skidmore Head Coach Cindy Ford exclaimed that, "Sunny wins triple for Morrisville." This was not a reference to one of the S.U.N.Y. schools (Morrisville included) but rather a Skidmore horse named "Sunny," who had been the draw for three of Morrisville's four blue ribbon winners up to this point. Morrisville managed to reach the top spot several times after the lunch break, with Aileen Couture a winner in novice flat and Abbey Wilcox tops in the first section of beginner walk-trot-canter. In addition Nicole Hallenbeck was second in her section of novice flat, becoming the only member of the Mustangs to win a red ribbon on this day. In spite of earning more blue ribbons than Hartwick and as many as Cornell the Morrisville point sheet had other riders written on it often enough that the Mustangs earned only 25 points, matching Colgate's effort. Overall Morrisville was still within striking distance of fourth place going into the Hartwick show, trailing the Raiders by only eight points. While these two teams earned 25 each, a pair of teams were next with 19. However these two teams probably felt differently about their performances. For the State University of New York at Albany there was not much to be joyful about. The Great Danes tied their low score, duplicating their 19 point effort at Cornell the last time out. One highlight was Sarah Moscowitz's second in advanced walk-trot-canter, which sent her to Regionals. Katie McCall was the only other Albany rider as high as second, earning a red ribbon in novice flat. While Rebecca Danz started the day with a third in open fences, no other Great Danes earned higher than a fourth (save of course for Moscowitz and McCall). Albany started the season with a bang, tieing Skidmore for high point team on opening day at Hartwick with 35 each. Ultimately the inevitable Albany class-ups have changed the situation, but the Great Danes should still be proud. Through seven shows they are in sixth place, ahead of a few programs that date back to the 1990's, a lifetime ago compaired to Albany's two-and-half-season existance. While Albany could be bummed about 19 points Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was overjoyed to have as many. The Red came in with only 29 points overall, and no more than nine scored at any single show. Fielding a team made up entirely of riders which did not show IHSA until this season, the Red (not to be confused with Cornell, a.k.a "The Big Red") scored 19 as Sarah Burch became their first blue ribbon winner of the season (in the first of five sections of novice flat). While Kate Ellis would earn a second in novice flat later on, an RPI rider making her IHSA debut stole the show. Sandra Turnbull, a freshman from Upperville, Virginia, won both of her novice classes to join the ride-off. RPI managed to score 19 points with no open flat or fences rider. The camaraderie of the Red was as good as this writer has ever seen it (and he has seen RPI riders pick up other RPI riders and hold them sideways!). The future looks bright for the school located east of the Hudson river.
Binghamton University was next with 18 points. Bearcat Junior open rider Alison Levy turned 21 today, and though she did not win a blue ribbon Levy did earn a second in open flat. The only other Binghamton rider to place as high was Alana Ferrigno in advanced walk-trot-canter. The Bearcats scored their 18 points with only five divisions filled on their point card. Hobart & William Smith Colleges can claim to be one of the newest IHSA programs. Competing in an IHSA show for only the second time ever, Hobart & William Smith scored 15 points, with former Mount Holyoke team member Alix Coursen earning seconds in both of her intermediate rides. Walk-trot rider Julianne Staino was third while open rider Lauren Nitahara was fourth in her first IHSA ride. Nitahara is one of a growing number of second generation IHSA riders. Her mother, who was Susan Detwiler as an undergraduate, competed for Skidmore in the late 1970's and was on hand today to see her daughter compete. Considering that they scored 26 at the Cornell show and 15 today, and that they have riders for seven of the eight divisions, Hobart & William Smith Head Coach Sarah Barge could see her team climb well into the top ten within the Region 3 hunter seat team standings next season. Rounding out the team scoring was Elmira College. The Soaring Eagles were short-staffed at today's show, with only four riders and only two levels filled on their point card. Meredith Mohun and Marissa Piccirilli both placed fourth in novice flat to lead the way for Elmira, which appeared to score five points. However the official points total circulated within the region later showed only two points awarded to the Soaring Eagles on this day. The competition Pahls in comparison: Though it was only her second show as an alumni, Albany's Michelle Pahl showed she is a force to be reconned with over fences. After having won the division at the Cornell show, Pahl was again the alumni fences champion. Ithaca graduate Autumn Greenburg was second, while Audra Ravo, who also rode for Ithaca, was third. Former Pace University rider Angela Netoskie rounded out the division with a fourth. On the flat the placings were slightly different. Ravo won the division for the second time this season, while Pahl was reserve. Netoskie was third while Greenburg was fourth. Though already qualified on the flat, Netoskie finished the day one point away from going to Regionals over fences. It should be noted that Wesleyan University graduate Amanda Bon-Keen did not take part in today's show. Bon-Keen still leads on the flat (with 37 points) and over fences (with 34). Ravo is close with 35 on the flat and 33 over fences.
The Ride-Off: Kendrick, Martin, Filley and Turnbull all managed a pair of firsts and got to ride off between two of the advanced walk-trot-canter divisions. When the ride off was completed, Judge Lili Bieler choose Kendrick as Champion and Martin as Reserve Champion. A junior from San Rafael, California, Kendrick is the only Cornell rider this writer recalls seeing win a ride-off against a Skidmore rider (or riders) inside the Van Lennep Riding Center (though this writer admits since he sees only two Region 3 shows a year in person this probably has happenned before). Who will stop the Thoroughbreds?: As the decade gets closer to an end, one has to marvel at Skidmore's ability to continually win their region. Cornell has fielded many a team over the past ten seasons that could have won better than half the current group of IHSA regions, but not once have the Big Red finished with the Big Blue Ribbon at season's end. Hartwick, Colgate and Albany all made huge strides in 2007-08, but still, even with Skidmore not starting the season out of the gate like jackrabbits the result is similar to what has been the norm. The one thing that may give others hope is that this Skidmore team is a veteran team, with Martin and Schroff among several key seniors. The Thoroughbreds have gone through a rebuilding phase before, but even with the turnover someone like former Cacchione Cup winner Ashley Woodhouse would suddenly turn up. While the 2008-09 season is anyone's guess, Skidmore certainly kept their spotless reputation intact in 2007-08. Kudos to Thoroughbreds Head Coach Cindy Ford and the Skidmore team for yet another post-season appearance. ---Steve Maxwell Show Incidentals: Overcast skies, with temperatures in the '30's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 8:39AM. Finish: 5:28PM - includes 39 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting and several schooling breaks. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Lili Bieler, Waterbury, Vermont. Stewards: Hanlon/Siena College, Eklund/Morrisville State College and Hackney/Colgate University. Team Totals: Skidmore College (High Point Team) 43; Hartwick College (Reserve) 39; Cornell University 36; State University of New York at Cobleskill 32; Ithaca College 31; Siena College 26; Colgate University 25; Morrisville State College 25; State University of New York at Albany 19; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 19; Binghamton University 18; Hobart and William Smith Colleges 15 and Elmira College 2 (5?). High Point Rider - Dana Kendrick, Cornell University
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