The Cazenovia Wildcats pose for the camera at Saint Lawrence after pulling away to win by a 46-38 margin. Cazenovia was six points ahead of Saint Lawrence headed into the March 15th SUNY-Geneseo show.

THE WRITER GETS PERSONAL IN RECALLING CAZENOVIA'S WIN AT SAINT LAWRENCE

Back on December 2nd this writer made his usual fall journey north from New Jersey to attend a Zone 2, Region 2 hunter seat horse show. Though most of the journeys over the years have been to the Cazenovia College Equestrian Center, the December 2nd show was at Saint Lawrence, where the bitter cold outdoors is quickly forgotten in the Elsa Gunnison Appleton Riding Hall, where the thermostat is usually set to 75 degrees.

Upon arriving outside the Hall in Canton, New York, the first story of the day was the ability to see green grass on the ground on December 2nd, perhaps the first time this decade the snow lost the battle to the air so late in the calendar year in Canton. Once inside a few more incidentals were learned. Legendary former Saint Lawrence Head Coach Marilyn Cobb would be coaching SUNY Potsdam on this day, as their regular coach, Debbie Healey (Cobb's Daughter), was otherwise occupied as a competitor at a non-IHSA show. Current Saints Head Coach Mary Dreuding had a copy of the program ready for this writer and also said that Cazenovia enters the day with a four point lead over Saint Lawrence for first place. However it was quickly learned that, save for a few people who knew when they had classed up, all other statistical information would remain a mystery. To this writers' dismay the Region 2 point-keeper was not present on December 2nd, so there would be no way at that moment to place the results of the show within the context of the Region 2 season to date. Only a story about the show itself could be written on short notice.

Saint Lawrence Head Coach Mary Dreuding (center) poses with Saints open riders Katharine Hankin (left) and Brittan White (right) during the December 2nd show. Hankin, a freshman from Binghamton, New York who was first on the flat and second over fences that day, trails White by four points for the lead in the Region 2 Cacchione/Open Rider Standings as of March 14th.

When the show started I went about my usual business, writing down the start time (8:52AM) and that Christina Trimarchi of SUNY Geneseo was the first rider into the ring. Needing to meet riders and coaches within the region I had not met before, I walked over to where the Alfred riders were gathered to meet their new coaches, Leigh Fischer and Mandy Herrmann. One of the Alfred open riders humored me with a reference to the pronounciation of her last name. "Tufariello, like the Tooth Fairy," said freshman Jessica Tufariello. Another open rider, Alex Carbonero of Nazareth College, showed me her video camera and explained how she is making a documentary similar to the 'Road to Maclay' series seen on Animal Planet earlier in the year. However Carbonero's video will be 'The Road to Regionals.' A visit to the Syracuse entourage in their many chairs placed close to the rail revealed that Kerri Rosen had already qualified for Regionals in both intermediate divisions.

In the meantime, three riders were busy winning sections of open fences: Alexa Weinert, a Cazenovia freshman from Barrington, Illinois; Carbonero, a junior from Rochester, New York and Dorrie Douglas, a Saint Lawrence sophomore from West Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

As the intermediate fences got underway, I learned that more than the usual number of riders were transfers from other schools, though in some cases they did not ride at their former institutions. Rosen had come over from Skidmore. Elena Kurtz of SUNY Geneseo went to NYU but did not ride there. Canisius open rider Carlisle Lipke-Ricci had gone to Hollins but did not get to show. Kim Ringer of Alfred had ridden for SUNY Cobleskill and Claudia Kurjakovic of Syracuse had ridden for SUNY Geneseo (and had pointed out of advanced walk-trot-canter on October 28th as well). Cazenovia senior Meghan Dauler won the first section of intermediate fences, though SUNY Oswegos' Christina Donlan's sixth gave her the one point she needed to go to Regionals. Hayley Drohan became the first rider from a Canadian school to win a class on this day, the resident of Niagra on the Lake, Ontario and fourth-year student at the University of Ottawa winning the second section. Danielle Street made it two in a row for Canada, as the Trent University rider from Pickering, Ontario won section C. Shaina Muir of Alfred secured the final intermediate fences blue ribbon, the sophomore from Columbus, Ohio also pointing out of the division in the process. Third in the section was Elizabeth Campisi of the University of Rochester, who turned 21 on this day.

Trent University Captain Amy West (left) gets a hug from teammate Beth Rumble after placing first and pointing out of novice fences. Both West and Rumble (who was second in her novice jumping class) are third year students at Trent, which finished fourth for the day with 32 points.

After a very short schooling break six sections of novice fences were next, with no more than seven riders enterred in each. The fact that there were six sections made it possible for me to take quite a few pictures and get a bite to eat. I was fortunate to find most of the winners from earlier still dressed and available for a few photos. While I was taking these pictures I missed the chance to photograph some of the novice fences champs. Five schools were represented over the six sections. Cazenovia sophomore Amy Crysler won the first section while another sophomore, Nicole Paris of Nazareth, won the second section. From Victor, New York, it was only the second time jumping for Paris, who had pointed out of advanced walk-trot-canter two shows earlier. A pair of SUNY Geneseo riders took the middle sections, as Katie Marshall and Jessica Iwachiw earned half the Blue Knights' blue ribbons on this day. Risa Bernstein won the fifth section, earning the lone blue ribbon of the day for the University of Rochester while Amy West won section 4F for Trent. In her third year at Trent, the Captain from Lindsay, Ontario also qualified for Regionals with the win.

The final jumping class was Alumni Fences. With Alicia Fereday Shiland not able to compete former Alfred rider Kimberly Buck was summoned from the Syracuse suburbs to fill the division and make the class legal. Buck won the class outright, perhaps winning an IHSA jumping class of any kind for the first time in many seasons. 2003 SUNY Oswego graduate Kari Redmond was second while 2006 Oswego alum Becky Kosbob was third.

The lunch break gave me the chance to meet one or two new coaches. Buzz Van Horn is now at the helm of the University of Rochester, and he has a dog named Bryce which was my Father's name! SUNY Potsdam has an Assistant Coach I had not met until now in Cynthia Lucia, who is also the Potsdam Advisor.

The University of Rochester has a new Head Coach in 2006-07, and he is Buzz Van Horn (on left, holding 'Bryce'). Rochester freshman Risa Bernstein (right) won her novice fences class at the December 2nd Saint Lawrence show.

Earlier Dorrie Douglas had won her open fences for Saint Lawrence. Douglas is a fences specialist, as she had jumped in every show so far this season but had yet to flat. Douglas's teammate Marrielle Van Rossum is the opposite. Through today's show Van Rossum had yet to jump, but had flated every time. Though both only rode one time each at today's show, they perfected their crafts perfectly, going two-and-O for the day. Van Rossum, who this writer has never seen lose a class, won the first of four open flat classes while teammate Brittan White won the following section. Saint Lawrence continued to be invincible in open flat, as Colleen Barnett and Katharine Hankin won sections C and D, respectively. A sophomore from Binghamton, New York, Coach Dreuding thought Hankin may be leading the Region 2 Cacchione/Open Rider Standings at the moment.

In spite of dominating the division, Cazenovia was still neck-and neck for the day with Saint Lawrence. In complete contrast to the open flat division, the Saints had only one rider enterred in intermediate flat. From Minnetonka, Minnesota, senior Lauren Kuester (pronounced 'Q-Ster') won the second of four sections of the division. A different Danielle, in this case second year Trent student Danielle Perry, won the first section (strangly enough the 'Danielles' from Trent are both from the town of Pickering!) while Nicole Caron of Cazenovia won the third section and Muir of Alfred the fourth. The first left Muir a point from classing out a second time today and made her the first rider of the day to win twice. Caron had been pointed, helping Cazenovia stay with the Saints (For some who may think Caron has been riding for the Wildcats on the eight-year plan you are in for a surprise: There have been two riders with the name 'Nicole Caron' who have ridden for Cazenovia this decade. While the current Nicole Caron is a junior, the prior incarnation known more as 'Nikki' is employed by the College and shares office space at the Cazenovia Equestrian Center.).

The alumni flat took place between the intermediate and novice, with the same three riders enterred. Much to her surprise Buck won yet again. This marked the first time since her freshman year at Alfred - during the 1987-88 season - that Buck won two classes at an IHSA show (The 1991 Alfred graduate was high point rider outright that time). Redmond and Kosbob both repeated their placings from earlier in the day. Though alumni do not compete in ride-offs, Buck and Muir would end the day as the only riders with two blue ribbons.

Sometime during the 1987-88 season, Kimberly Buck of Alfred was high point rider outright. This was the only time the 1991 Alfred graduate won two IHSA classes on the same day until December 2nd, when Buck won both of the alumni divisions. Buck (center) stands between SUNY Oswego graduates Kari Redmond (left) and Becky Kosbob after her perfect day.

Six sections of novice flat followed, with five separate schools represented in the winners' circle. Canisius senior Amanda Meyer, who qualified for Regionals in advanced walk-trot-canter two shows earlier, won section A to bring the Griffs their lone blue ribbon of the day. Section B went to Jen Mondazzi of Cazenovia, who finished one place ahead of Paris. At this point Paris and Hankin would be in a ride-off for reserve if no one else managed a first. Moments later, Jennifer Sears of SUNY Potsdam won section C. The Liverpool, New York resident had placed second to Iwachiw in novice fences, thus securing a place in the reserve ride-off as well. Section D went to Christina Szalinski of SUNY Geneseo while section E was won by Alfred freshman Cait Weingartner, who was only riding in her second IHSA show (it was Weingartner's first IHSA blue ribbon). The final section of novice flat went to Megan Moehling of Cazenovia, finishing ahead of fellow sophomore teammate Crysler and assuring Hankin, Paris and Sears that each would make up the ride-off for reserve. Though I did not pay close attention to the point cards, either Mondazzi or Moehling was pointed, as Cazenovia earned seven points to take the lead on Saint Lawrence for the day.

In order to keep the show going while horse draw for the ride-off took place, the first of four sections of advanced walk-trot-canter got underway. Brittany Belknap won this section for Nazareth, earning the third of four blue ribbons on this day for the Golden Flyers. The ride-off followed, with Hankin unsurprisingly earning the Reserve ribbon for the day. Sharla Englerth ensured that Cazenovia would not give back any ground to Saint Lawrence for at least one more division, earning the blue in section 2B-B for the Wildcats. Michelle Dumas then made sure that Caz could take nothing for granted, winning section 2B-C for Saint Lawrence to maintain the status quo. The final section of advanced walk-trot-canter went to Jackie McMahon of SUNY Geneseo. It would be the final blue ribbon of the day for the Blue Knights, who would finish third overall this afternoon with 33 points (To the surprise of some, SUNY Geneseo had won the opening day show by a 41-38 score over Cazenovia; This was the first and so far only time in the program's 20-plus-year history the Blue Knights have occupied first place overall within the region).

There were two sections of beginner walk-trot-canter, with no one from Cazenovia or Saint Lawrence enterred in either. Mary Grefrath delivered the lone blue ribbon of the day for SUNY Oswego in the first section while Tim Garvin won the final blue ribbon of the day for Nazareth in the second section. Nazareth would end the day with 31 points and fifth place, but only a point behind Trent and two behind Geneseo (Syracuse would nearly be as good, finishing the day with 30 points despite no one on the Orange earning a blue ribbon; Syracuse earned five red ribbons, including two for Erica Freiburger in the novice divisions). The University of Guelph did not earn a blue ribbon on this day, but Krysten Norton did place second to Grefrath in the first section for their lone red ribbon.

From Powell, Ohio, Alfred University sophomore Shaina Muir (left) was the only rider besides Buck to win twice on December 2nd. Since Alumni are not eligible for high point rider ride-offs, Muir was high point rider outright for this day. Following her wins in the intermediate divisions, Alfred Assistant Coach Mandy Herrmann posed with Muir and her high point rider ribbon towards the end of the day.

While Cazenovia had only one rider in the walk-trot divisions, Saint Lawrence had one in each. The first of two sections went to Saints junior Rachel Hall, who was apparently not the point rider. The second and final section of Walk-Trot went to Cazenovia sophomore Brittany Burns. From Vernon Center, New York, Burns was the sixth Cazenovia rider of the day to be pointed and win her class. The Wildcats won the show by a 46-38 score to move 12 ahead of the Saints with four shows apparently remaining.

Addendum: A week later, Saint Lawrence went to Cazenovia and defeated the Wildcats for the first time all season. The Saints won at Caz by a 46-43 margin to close the gap to nine points. On March 3rd, Saint Lawrence again was a winner in Cazenovia, New York, defeating the hosts 47-44 to move to within six points. Though the totals are not yet known for the March 15th SUNY Geneseo show at Lehman Farm in Pittsford, Cazenovia outscored Saint Lawrence by four points to lead overall by ten going into the final show at Saint Lawrence on March 22nd. Though Cazenovia has not finished behind Saint Lawrence outside their building so far in 2006-07, it should be remembered that the Saints have done very well at home over the years, including a perfect 49 score in December of 2004. It should be an interesting final regular season show on the fourth Thursday in March.

Second Addendum: I would like to apologize for the delay in this article reaching the internet. I was only recently able to obtain the hunter seat points for this region (western is another question entirely), which include everything up through March 3rd but not the March 15th information. Brittan White went into the March 15th Geneseo show with a three point lead over Lisa Arena and Cazenovia's Elizabeth Redding in the Region 2 Cacchione/Open Rider Standings. Katharine Hankin was only a point behind Arena and Redding. Becky Kosbob was leading in both hunter seat alumni divisions, enterring the March 15th show with 25 points on the flat and 21 over fences. Many riders are qualified for Regionals, and that information can be found on our Region 2 Regional Qualifiers page. Trent's 32-point score on December 2nd may be their highest since joining the IHSA. And Cazenovia led Saint Lawrence 245-239, with SUNY Geneseo third with 195 as March 15th approached. It is uncertain if the Blue Knights have ever finished as high as third but unless Nazareth makes up 14 points over the final two shows Geneseo will be the Region 2 yellow ribbon team of '07.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Overcast skies, with temperatures rising into the upper 30's. Entire show held indoors in a heated facility. Start time: 8:52AM. Finish: 4:31PM - includes 48 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting and a separate 27 minute schooling break. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Joe Dotoli, North Hero, VT. Stewards: Sanford/State University of New York at Geneseo, Bouchard/Nazareth College and Van Patten/Syracuse University.

Team Totals: Cazenovia College (High Point Team) 46; Saint Lawrence University (Reserve) 38; State University of New York at Geneseo 33; Trent University 32; Nazareth College 31; Syracuse University 30; Alfred University 28; State University of New York at Potsdam 26; University of Ottawa 25; Canisius College 16; State University of New York at Oswego 15; University of Guelph 14 and University of Rochester 12.

High Point Rider - Shaina Muir, Alfred University
Reserve High Point Rider - Katharine Hankin, Saint Lawrence University