The Huskies can jump! University of Connecticut sophomore Olivia Carey (on left) won her novice fences. Teammate Kayleigh Meyer (center) won the section of novice fences which followed Carey's, and freshman Molly Tassmer (on right) won the final section of intermediate fences that preceeded Carey's win. UConn won seven classes, the show itself and a Region Title all on February 27th.

HUSKIES WIN AT TRINITY, SECURE A TRIP TO ZONES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK

East Windsor, CT - Zone 2, Region 5 is unique in one aspect. This brand-new region, which was created by taking six schools from Zone 1, Region 1 and three from Zone 2, Region 4, is the only one nationwide to contain every IHSA program within a specific state and nothing else. The state of Michigan had that distinction for a year, but then let the University of Western Ontario in the mix. Sure Zone 1, Region 4 has nothing but Massachusetts-based programs, but some Massachusetts schools are in other regions.

Connecticut College, Central Connecticut State University, Fairfield University, Post University, Sacred Heart University, Trinity College, the University of Connecticut, Wesleyan University and Yale University have been recently joined by the United States Coast Gaurd Academy (though the Coast Guard did not compete today), raising the Region 5 total to ten teams. The first season for this all 'Constitution State' or all 'Nutmeg State' region has nearly come to a close. And during that first season history will note that the largest team prevailed as Region Champion.

The University of Connecticut, which at one point won four consecutive classes today, prevailed by a 38-31 margin over Post to not only win on a snowy, cold day at Oak Meadow Farm but also capture their first Region Title of any kind since the 2005-06 season. Jessica Fall, a UConn sophomore from Suffield, Connecticut won the first section of open flat while teammate Emily Hanink (a junior who like the school itself is from Storrs, Connecticut) won the first section of novice flat. Katherine Gottleib, a sophomore from Newtown, Connecticut won the first section of advanced walk-trot-canter while Olivia Carey, a sophomore from Middletown, Connecticut, won the first section of novice fences. Not every UConn rider won the first section of a given division, as freshman Molly Tassmer won the third section of intermediate fences while sophomore Kayleigh Meyer won the second section of novice fences (coincidentally both Tassmer and Meyer hail from East Haddam, Connecticut). Jessica Snell, a junior from Marlborough, Connecticut, won the third section of novice flat. Taylor Schoenthaler (in open fences), Kate Townsend (in intermediate fences), Brittany LaMark (same) and Olivia Napoli (in intermediate flat) were second place winners for the Huskies. Though one show remains (ironically to be hosted by UConn) the Huskies have a lead of greater than 49 points going into the final regular season show. UConn will be the only school with a full team not from New York State when they travel to the Elsa Gunnison Appleton Riding Hall in Canton, New York on April 9th to compete at Zone 2 Zones versus four other similar Region Champions.

Post University earned only one first-place ribbon over 19 classes, yet the Eagles were the only other team in the 30's. Carly Puzacke, a freshman from Torrington, Connecticut who was a substitution for another Post rider who scratched, won her intermediate flat for the Eagle's lone blue ribbon. Ashley Barrett, a senior from Ansonia, Connecticut who was high point rider at River's Edge Farm a week earlier, was second in her open flat class. Shelby Cocks, a freshman from Montgomery, New York was second in the section of open fences which started the show. Liz Sawelsky, a sophomore from Sharon, Massachusetts, earned Post's final red ribbon of the day in novice flat. The Eagles were one of six teams without a full card entered at today's show. Post did not have a walk-trot rider in the final class of the day.

In spite of only one blue ribbon and no rider in the walk-trot division, Post University was Reserve High Point Team with 31 points. Freshman Carly Puzacke (on left, with Eagles Head Coach Heather Johnson) won her intermediate flat to account for Post's blue ribbon.

Central Connecticut State University was third with 29 points. Like Post, CCSU managed only one blue ribbon. Noelle Chandler, a senior from Simsbury, Connecticut won section 6B of intermediate fences (the fourth class of the day). Julia Barnett, a sophomore from Windsor, Connecticut was a red ribbon winner in both of her novice classes while Holly Shail was second in the first section of advanced walk-trot-canter. A rider with number 281 was second in the only section of beginner walk-trot-canter. If this was actually rider 291 then Kaitlyn Foley added yet another red ribbon to CCSU's total for the day. CCSU has been very consistant since Trinity moved to Oak Meadow, having scored 29 points at their Fall show.

Connecticut College, which like UConn and CCSU managed a full point card, was fourth for the day with 25 points. Kim Klepacki, a sophomore from South Hadley, Massachusetts started the day with multiple refusals but after a re-ride won section 8A of open fences. The Camels would then go 16 classes without another blue ribbon until Luciana Rivera ended the slump. A sophomore from Florianopolis, Brazil, Rivera won the lone section of beginner walk-trot-canter. Veronica Molnar, a sophomore from Budapest, Hungary won the lone section of walk-trot which followed to conclude the afternoon's proceedings (Wow! Three blue ribbons won by riders from three different countries. You don't see this happen too often - Editor). Katie Lynch and Melissa Groher were second in their open flat classes to give Conn College two red ribbons for the day.

Sacred Heart University was the third and final team to score in the 20's at Oak Meadow, receiving 22 points. Abbie Britton, a junior from Hoover, Alabama won the second of two sections of open fences for the Pioneers. Adrianna Dattoli, a junior from Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey won her intermediate flat to double Sacred Heart's blue ribbon total. Kelsey Masterson (in novice fences) and Arielle Pagano (in advanced walk-trot-canter) were red ribbon winners for the Pioneers.

Host Trinity College won for the first time in school history the last time Region 5 showed up at Oak Meadow. Perhaps it was the change in weather, or that the show was in the back indoor and not the front yard outdoor, but the Bantams were only half as good this time, scoring 19 points (Trinity earned 37 points when they previously hosted on October 24th). Jennifer Dorfman, a freshman from Brooklyn, New York (who was Jen Dorfman on the team roster page of the show program) won her intermediate fences while Mollie Scheerer, a freshman from Duxbury, Massachusetts (who was Margaret Scheerer where novice fences riders were listed in the program) won her novice flat. Both riders were third in other classes which surprisingly put them in a tie for Reserve High Point Rider. The Bantams did not earn a red ribbon until the 19th and final class of the day, when Eunice Kimm was second to Molnar in walk-trot.

Individually it was not a bad day for Fairfield University, but on the scoreboard it seemed as though the Stags were held to two touchdowns and two extra points. Samantha Normandeau, a junior from Wilbraham, Massachusetts won her open flat while placing second in intermediate fences. With no one earning two firsts, nor another rider earning a first and a second, Normandeau was high point rider without having to ride off for the honor. Heather Boyd, a senior from Carmel, Indiana won the section of open flat following Normandeau's blue ribbon effort. Emily Deluca, a sophomore from Stamford, Connecticut was second to Hanink in novice flat.

(From left to right) Tess Mahoney, Kelsey Hunt and Samantha Normandeau of Fairfield University pose near the in-gate to Oak Meadow Farm's 'Back Indoor' (there is another indoor closer to the front of the facility). Normandeau won her open flat and finished second in intermediate fences, which was good enough for high point rider honors.

With four riders present to cover five divisions, Yale University was eighth with ten points. Mackenzie Merkel, a freshman from La Jolla, California earned seven of Yale's points with a first in advanced walk-trot-canter. Nadia Ahmad was third in intermediate fences for the Bulldog's next best ribbon.

Wesleyan University rounded out the scoring with nine points. Rebecca Levit, a junior from Amherst, Massachusetts was second to Puzake in intermediate flat while Gabrielle Jehle was third in open flat. The Cardinals were made up of three riders on this day.

(Not present at today's show was the Coast Guard Academy or the alumni divisions - Editor.)

The Ride-Off: Because both Scheerer and Dorfman ride for the same team, they mutually decided to leave the reserve ribbon a tie. There was actually talk of cutting the ribbon in half but this did not come to pass as far as this writer knows.

Hope for better weather next time: Save for those who went into the lounge for food (and the lounge is not very close to the back indoor), the conditions for today's show were dreary to say the least. Though the sun eventually came out, snow was still falling when the show started, and what had accumulated on the roof kept falling in clumps over the passageway where spectators could enter the near side of the indoor (this was soft snow, though much of it melted creating a 'drip' to run through). The high temperature did not reach 40 though the winds died down as the show progressed. As luck would have it, the horses looked very good during schooling but for whatever reason were skittish during the early over fences classes. It is easy to blame the weather but if you are ever to blame the elements then this was the day.

A blamy day near the Canadian boarder: Riders who place first or second at Region 5 Regionals will join the UConn team at Zone 2 Zones hosted by St. Lawrence University on April 9th. If you have never been to the Elsa Gunnison Appleton Riding Hall (the equestrian center is a shorter description) it is perhaps the warmest of all heated indoors used by an IHSA program east of Ohio. IF the weather is still cold in Canton, New York on April 9th, (less than an hour from the Canadian border to the north) those who attend Zones will find conditions inside to be tropical.

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Snow early, then clearing with some sun. Temperatures in the mid '30's. Entire show held indoors but exposed to the elements. Start time: 9:43AM. Finish: 2:43PM - Includes 28 minute schooling/lunch break. Coaches and Captains meeting held prior to start of show. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni classes held in this region? Yes but not at today's show. Judge: Joyce Przebowski. Stewards: Luckhardt/Connecticut College, Johnson/Post University and Hajdasz/Sacred Heart University.

Team Totals: University of Connecticut (High Point Team) 38; Post University (Reserve) 31; Central Connecticut State University 29; Connecticut College 25; Sacred Heart University 22; Trinity College (CT) 19; Fairfield University 14; Yale University 10 and Wesleyan University 9.

High Point Rider - Samantha Normandeau, Fairfield University
Reserve High Point Rider - TIE between Jennifer Dorfman, Trinity College and Mollie Scheerer, Trinity College