Katie Withowski (left) and Alexandra Schauble (right, with 'Chunky Monkey') won consecutive sections of novice fences to help Stony Brook win on October 21st. Head Coach Myrna Treuting (center) saw the Seawolves cut NYU's lead in half.

STONY BROOK WINS 39-35 OVER FAIRFIELD; BOTH NOW TRAIL NYU BY 13

Medford, NY - From week-to-week no one can predict how the always entertaining Zone 2, Region 4 shows will turn out. Fairfield can show the same promise as was the case in 2006-07 one weekend, then have a shortage of riders due to a conflicting non-IHSA show a week later. Columbia can win the same number of blue ribbons from one week to the next, but the pointed riders win only at one of them. New York University looks like world-beaters one weekend, then next time they don't. It was actually a pretty good day for the Violets, who at one point won three straight classes and five blue ribbons overall.

However on October 21st, with the much-improved Hofstra hosting, Stony Brook University had their best outing of the season to date. Led by senior open rider Rachel Cresswell (who is the most dependable Region 4 rider of the young season), the Seawolves scored 39 points, claiming high point team honors while cutting into NYU's 20 point lead. Fairfield was second with 35 points, four fewer than the Seawolves. Both now trail NYU by 13 points with the season not quite half over.

Stony Brook picked up seven points in the first class, as Cresswell was a winner in open flat. From Commack, New York, the defending Region 4 USEF Cacchione representative at IHSA Nationals later won her open fences section. Cresswell now has 47 (of a possible 56) points through four shows and one of the healthier leads in any regions' open rider standings.

Hofstra freshman Molly Collins poses with her parents after placing second in intermediate flat. Newcommers like Collins have been a big lift to Hofstra, now at 115 points and within 30 of last season's year-end total.

Stephanie Schmidt (intermediate flat), Natalie Zobel (novice flat), Alexandra Schauble (novice fences) and Katie Withowski (same) also won blue ribbons for the Seawolves. Remarkably Stony Brook earned only one red ribbon in 25 tries, as Krystal Whitby was second in the final section of novice flat.

While the Seawolves had been 26 points behind the Violets when the day began the Stags were only four in front. Though Fairfield gave back those four points it was still a good day for the Stags overall. Lindsay Maroney (novice flat), Sarah Albertelli (novice fences) and Heather Boyd (advanced walk-trot-canter) won classes for Fairfield, while Elysse Ruschmeyer (open fences), Stephanie Simpson (intermediate flat) and Jena Fabry (walk-trot) all earned second-place ribbons. Both Fairfield and Stony Brook have 122 points through four shows, or an average of just over 30 per show. If both can continue to score 35 or more however their chances at a region title look much better.

Simply put, New York University was snakebit at today's show. The Violets earned five blue ribbons and seven red ones but finished with only 26 points to show for it. At one point Stephanie Phillips (intermediate flat), Meredith Johnson (novice flat) and Rachel Kenion (same) won consecutive classes, while Emma Matusow (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Arina Chesnokova (walk-trot) were also blue ribbon winners. NYU had the most riders (27) and the most rides (44), and in several cases it was the who-do-you-point scenareo that came back to bite them. Still, the Violets did well on an individual basis and with a better crystal ball might have scored in the 40's today.

Diana and Diana!: After Columbia senior Diana Patterson (left) earned a third in both open divisions freshman Diana Greenwald (right) gave the Lions their first blue ribbon of the day with a win in intermediate fences. Columbia finished fourth for the day with 23 points.

Columbia University enterred the day in second place but left Country Farms technically in fourth. The Lions won both sections of intermediate fences, as Diana Greenwald and Jill Ross took the blues. Much later on Mallory Ratajewski won the first of two sections of beginner walk-trot-canter while Ned Horsey won the first section of walk-trot two classes after that. Columbia was unable to win any red ribbons, which in turn curtails the effort to block others from high ribbons and in part explains their final score of 23 points. The Lions started the day with 89 points, nearly an average of 30 per show. Today's show was likely the exception and not the rule.

Perhaps one of the ten most improved teams in the IHSA so far in 2007-08 is Hofstra University. The school known for many years as the Flying Dutchmen but today simply known as the Pride picked up a significant transfer in open rider Jaime Graham. From Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Graham rode the past two seasons for Savannah College of Art & Design, mostly at the intermediate level. However Graham was as good an intermediate as there is, winning the individual intermediate over fences division at 2006 IHSA Nationals while placing eighth in individual intermediate flat at 2007 Nationals. Graham came up big today for Hofstra, placing first in both of her open classes (it would be interesting to see how Graham and Cresswell - herself a standout intermediate rider when she joined the IHSA - fair throughout the season when they compete in the same section). Genna Tudda, a junior who is new to the Hofstra team this season, also won a blue ribbon. Tudda was one of many to serve as the public address announcer at today's show, and after her time at the mic she was rewarded with a first in beginner walk-trot-canter. Hofstra finished with 23 points but may be able to improve on their numbers if they can fill the walk-trot division.

St. Joseph's College also needs a walk-trot rider to fill their card. The Eagles still had a better-than-average day, scoring 19 points. Listed in today's show program as St. Joseph's University (which might confuse readers in the Philadelphia area who think they go there), the Eagles were led by junior Nicole Sottilo, who won her section of open flat while finishing second to Graham in open fences. Also into the blue ribbons was freshman Jennifer Christensen, who won the third of five sections of novice flat.

Phillips and Phillips!: New York University junior Stephanie Phillips is from Portland, Oregon. New York University Head Coach Ashton Phillips (left) is from New York City. Coach Phillips is happy that Stephanie Phillips (right) was first in intermediate flat and second in intermediate fences.

She came close before but this time she was second to none!: C.W. Post College is sometimes referred to as LIU-C.W. Post Campus. Whatever their name might be the Pioneers from Long Island were next with 16 points. The highlight of the day for C.W. Post came in the first section of intermediate flat, when senior Anne Marie Blatt won the division. Though Blatt has been on the team for three seasons, she had never placed above second in a flat class (Blatt has pointed out of both novice divisions during her time on the Pioneer team). Blatt also was second in her section of intermediate fences. It should be noted that Region 4 has what would be considered large classes, with eight to eleven riders in every section, so winners here have paid their dues. Jessica Lagarce won her section of beginner walk-trot-canter while Amanda Tappin was second in the beginner walk-trot-canter that preceded it. Rounding out the C.W. Post red ribbons were Jasmine Mauger in walk-trot and Brittany Burreece in novice fences.

Another vastly improved team is Nassau Community College. Head Coach Dawn Lipner says the team is made up of 19 people now, a far cry from the total of four less than 18 months ago. Still in need of an open fences rider to fill their card, Nassau was led on this day by novice flat rider Erika Mueller and beginner walk-trot-canter rider Christine Jennette, both of whom earned red ribbons for their efforts.

Dowling College is another team with a significant gain. "We have 13 (riders), up from four," says Head Coach Jason Lacerotsa. with no rider above the novice level at this time, Dowling still managed 12 points. Jacqueline McMahon was second in the final section of advanced walk-trot-canter while Christina Colgen was second in the first section of beginner walk-trot-canter which immediately followed.

Yale did not have the kind of day you would put into a time capsule. Things started out well enough, with open riders Jennie Nevin and Charlotte Morse both placing second on the flat. However aside from Lauren Noble's second in intermediate flat the Bulldogs rarely were in the ribbons. Despite a full card Yale finished with ten points, well below the 21 they were averaging headed into Medford. Like their Ivy League opponent Columbia, this was simply an off-day not indicative of Yale's usual performance.

With Sacred Heart sitting out today's show, Molloy College completed the scoring with a single team point. Patrica Castillo earned the point with a sixth in novice flat, though teammate Georgette Durand was third in beginner walk-trot-canter. Walk-trot rider Danielle Petersen also was sixth for Molloy.

"DeeDee" poses with Fairfield sophomore Lindsay Maroney. From Cold Spring Harbor, New York, Maroney was one of three Fairfield riders to win a class, with her blue ribbon coming in novice flat.

More alumni competing today than in all of Zones 7 and 8 combined!: There were 16 alumni riders listed in today's program, and even with Molloy's Christine Manz scratching the field was still the largest this writer has seen in perhaps two years. No one at today's show could explain quite why the alumni in this particular area turn out in such high numbers. In any event there were even two other riders who showed alumni at one of the first three shows who were not enterred today. Zone 2, Region 4 holds their alumni early in the day, with alumni flat following the open flat and alumni fences held after intermediate fences. Six alumni riders went on to claim all the red and blue ribbons, with C.W. Post graduate Danielle Reynolds first in alumni flat and second in alumni fences. Sacred Heart graduate Kristine Brackenridge managed to swap ribbons with Reynolds, placing first where Reynolds was second and second where Reynolds was first. The other section of alumni flat saw 2007 C.W. Post graduate Jennifer Collins win the blue while Salve Regina graduate and Yale Head Coach Amanda Gerdts won the red. The final section of alumni fences went to Pace University graduate Libby Kahl while 2007 St. Joseph's graduate Krystie Kiernan was second. Reynolds has been consistant so far this season, currently second in both the alumni flat and fences with 20 points in each. Collins is now at 25 points to lead all flat riders while St. Joseph's graduate Amanda Marsh (who was Amanda Deptuch at the turn of the century) is tied with Reynolds atop the fences standings after a fifth at today's show. Gerdts' second also puts her in a tie with Reynolds at 20 points in alumni flat.

Where art thou Romeo?: Horses from several sources were brought in for today's show, including three with the same name! In order to tell 'Romeo' from 'Romeo' and 'Romeo' each was given a number. 'Romeo 1' did not have a long journey as he is from Country Farms. According to the horse list in the program Romeo 1 is a grey gelding who is 'easy to ride.' He 'wiggles on the flat.' You 'can carry a crop,' and he will 'do simple changes.' Romeo 2 is from Victory Farms, and no information about him was listed in the program other than his name. 'Romeo 3' was a late addition and missed the program all together. One of the Romeos was pulled midway through the show, but this writer cannot remember which one it was.

If you got home early thank Rachel Cresswell's employer: Though she won both of her open classes, Cresswell had to leave today's show to 'go to work' she said. Once Graham also had two firsts, the need for a ride-off would only be necessary if a third rider came up with two firsts. However no one else managed the feat, so Graham (who stayed until the end) was awarded the high point rider ribbon while the Stony Brook team claimed Cresswell's reserve high point rider ribbon and the high point team ribbon. Today's show ended at 4:53PM, seven minutes earlier than last season's Hofstra show in the same place with the same Judge, Joyce Przebowski. However last October there was a ride-off, which explains the early exit for all involved this time around.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny Skies, with temperatures reaching the low '70's. Start time: 8:42AM. Finish: 4:53PM - includes 22 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni classes held in this Region? Yes. Judge: Joyce Przebowski. Stewards: Gerdts/Yale University, Kinnally/Columbia University and Larocque/Fairfield University.

Team Totals: Stony Brook University (High Point Team) 39; Fairfield University (Reserve) 35; New York University 26; Columbia University 23; Hofstra University 22; St. Joseph's College 19; Long Island University - C.W. Post College 16; Nassau Community College 13; Dowling College 12; Yale University 10 and Molloy College 1.

High Point Rider - Jaime Graham, Hofstra University
Reserve High Point Rider - Rachel Cresswell, Stony Brook University