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TRINITY COLLEGE WINS AN IHSA SHOW FOR THE FIRST TIME East Windsor, CT - How many schools are there named "Trinity College?" There is one in Dublin, Ireland that is associated with Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. There is one in Florida. Another can be found in our Nation's capitol. There was another Trinity College in Vermont, but that one closed its' doors in 2001. This Trinity College did have an IHSA team while the school was in business. However the only Trinity College with an IHSA Equestrian Team in 2010-11 is located in Hartford, Connecticut (there is a Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and they do have an IHSA team, but they end in 'University'). This particular Trinity College is known for their Squash program, which has produced the majority of National Champion teams over the past decade if not longer. In contrast the Trinity Equestrian Team frequently brought up the rear in the Zone 1, Region 1 team standings. As recently as last March Trinity came in last at Johnson & Wales with only seven points. At several 2009-10 Region 1 shows Trinity did not even compete. Since that time the Bantams have made considerable strides. Trinity moved their practices from Avon Valley Show Stables to Oak Meadow Farm and officially listed 2008 University of Connecticut graduate Amy Kriwitsky as their Coach. The Bantams found themselves in a new region by virtue of their location, as the IHSA made the state of Connecticut one region (under the name Zone 2, Region 5) for 2010-11. Trinity not only showed at each of the first two Region 5 shows they scored 20 points in both. Seldom able to fill a card in prior seasons, Trinity had riders in all eight divisions when they hosted the third show of the season, the first IHSA show ever at Oak Meadow, on October 24th.
By the end of the competition the hosts had set two team records. Trinity had never scored in the 30's, but that was no longer the case as the Bantams tallied 37 points. Trinity had never earned first place at an IHSA show. The Bantams were left holding the blue ribbon for high point team by a 37-32 margin over the University of Connecticut. Leading the way for Trinity was freshman Jennifer Dorfman. From the Borough of Brooklyn, New York, Dorfman won her intermediate flat while placing second in intermediate fences. No other rider earned a first and a second nor did any undergraduate win twice. Therefore Dorfman, who did not have a blue ribbon in either of her first two IHSA shows, was high point rider. Freshmen earned all the Bantams' blue ribbons as Margaret Scheerer (from Duxbury, Massachusetts) won her novice flat while Eunice Kimm (from Plainsboro, New Jersey) won the lone section of walk-trot which concluded the proceedings. Like Dorfman, Kimm did not have a blue ribbon in IHSA competition prior to today's show. In addition to Dorfman's second, other Bantams to receive red ribbons were Nicole Pucci (senior, Greenwich, Connecticut, in open flat) and Kendall Curley (senior, Southport, Connecticut, in intermediate fences). Pucci gained seven points for the day to raise her total to 18 so far, good enough for a third place tie in the Region 5 open rider standings (Pucci has indicated that the points earned prior to the Trinity show may be incorrect, and that her combined open flat and fences total is currently in the mid-20's - Editor). The University of Connecticut, which had tied Connecticut College for high point team at the Yale/Sacred Heart show a week earlier, was reserve this week but perhaps not too upset about it. The Huskies gained ground on Conn College, Fairfield University and Central Connecticut State and now lead the latter by five points for first place in the Region 5 team standings. Brittany Johnson, a junior from Farmington, Connecticut won her open flat while placing third in open fences. This not only put Johnson in a ride-off for reserve high point rider it also put her in the lead within the Region 5 open rider standings with 29 points. Jessica Fall, a sophomore from Suffield, Connecticut won the Huskies' first blue ribbon of the day in intermediate fences while Chelsea Leach, a senior from Vernon, Connecticut who is new to the UConn team in 2010-11 won their final blue ribbon of the day in beginner walk-trot-canter. "I won a blue, then a red, and now a blue," said the so-far-successful Leach refering to her first three shows. Brittany Lamark (in intermediate flat), Olivia Carey (in novice flat), Emily Hanink (in novice fences), Kristin McLeod (in advanced walk-trot-canter) and Stephanie Tomasino (in beginner walk-trot-canter) were red ribbon winners for the Huskies. Fall had needed only one point to go to Regionals in intermediate fences and easily exceeded that need with the first.
Opening day-winner Central Connecticut State University was third with 29 points. Ashley Miniucci, a junior from Andover, Connecticut won her intermediate fences while Julia Barnett, a sophomore from Windsor, Connecticut won the first of two sections of advanced walk-trot-canter. Senior Rachel Anderson was second to Dorfman in intermediate flat while sophomore Ariel Zona was second in novice fences. Junior Jillian Myslenski was second to Leach in the first of three sections of beginner walk-trot-canter (there were more beginner WTC classes than advanced WTC classes at today's show, a rarity around the IHSA). It was the second weekend in a row that CCSU scored exactly 29 points. Sacred Heart scored 28 points, their best score to date thus far this season to earn fourth place. Abbie Britton, a junior from Hoover, Alabama won the first class of the day for the Pioneers, the first of two sections of open fences. Alyssa Woronik, a junior from Salem, Connecticut won the novice fences class immediately before the lunch break. Katelyn Cleary, a sophomore from Naples, Florida won the second section of advanced walk-trot-canter while Danielle Belson, a freshman from Westhampton Beach, New York won the middle section of beginner walk-trot-canter. Britton ended the day second in the Region 5 open rider standings with 23 points, six behind Johnson. With 77 points through three shows the Pioneers are nearly halfway to last season's total of 157. Post University was one of two schools with 26 points. The Eagles tied Sacred Heart for most blue ribbons with four. Shelby Cocks, a freshman from Montgomery, New York earned her first-ever IHSA blue ribbon in open fences. Pamela Lyon, a junior from Waterbury, Connecticut was a winner in novice fences. Lauren Donohue, a sophomore from Sterling, Massachusetts won her intermediate flat while Carly Puzake, a freshman from Torrington, Connecticut rounded out the Post blue ribbons with a first in novice flat. Strangely enough both Post and Sacred Heart missed out completely on red ribbons. Still 26 is Post's high score so far this season, accomplised without a walk-trot rider on this day.
Connecticut College was the other school with 26 points. Though the Camels were held without a blue ribbon their red ribbon count of seven was easily the best of the day. Katie Lynch, a sophomore from South Dartmouth, Massachusetts was second in both of her open classes. Kim Klepacki (in open fences), Katie McCarthy (in novice flat), Alison Thomson (in advanced walk-trot-canter), Kate Boudreau (in beginner walk-trot-canter) and Luciana Rivera (in walk-trot) comprised the remaining Conn College second place winners. Fairfield University, the reserve champions on opening day, overcame a slow start over fences to earn 25 points. Heather Boyd, a senior from Carmel, Indiana who had the Stag's top ribbon prior to the lunch break with a third in novice fences, won her intermediate flat class. Boyd thus joined Johnson in the ride-off for reserve high point. Catherine McIntyre, a junior from San Diego, California won her open flat while Kelsey Hunt, a sophomore from Andover, Massachusetts won her novice flat. Natasha Zeid was second to Scheerer in novice flat for the Stag's lone red ribbon of the day. Competing without an intermediate flat or walk-trot rider, Wesleyan University scored 18 points. The Cardinal kept getting better ribbons as the day progressed. Co-Captain Rebecca Levit and teammate Haley Greenberg each earned a third in novice flat while senior Susie Howe was also third in beginner walk-trot-canter. Finally Rebecca Schwartz, a junior from New York City came up big for Wesleyan in their final ride of the day. Schwartz, who like Dorfman graduated from Packer Collegiate Institute before going to college, won the final section of beginner walk-trot-canter.
There were fewer Yale University students competing at today's show. "This is parent's weekend," said Bulldogs Head Coach Erin Klemyk, "and many of the parents traveled great distances." As a result many Yale riders were back in New Haven keeping their parents out of trouble. Meanwhile at Oak Meadow three Yale riders did the best they could. Senior Lauren Noble was fourth in intermediate flat; Sophomore Kaitlin McLean was third in open flat and freshman Nadia Ahmad, from Larchmont, New York, was second in intermediate flat and fourth in intermediate fences. The Bulldogs scored only 12 points but would have improved on that total had the rest of the team not been otherwise occupied. Kriwitsky's team wins, as does Kriwitsky: Only four riders took part in the alumni divisions today. Kriwitsky won both of the alumni classes while 2008 University of Delaware graduate Kristina Christiansen was second each time. 2010 Wesleyan University graduate Eugenie Carabatsos swapped third and fourth with 2008 UConn graduate Debbie Kaufman. Carabatsos was third over fences and fourth on the flat while Kaufman earned third on the flat and fourth over fences. Missing at today's show were Kriwitsky and Kaufman's former teammate Tara Lynch, Christainsen's former teammate Sarah Westby and former Yale rider and Head Coach Margot Sanger-Katz, the latter of whom had obligations at the New England Finals if we heard correctly. Christiansen took over the lead in alumni flat (16 points) while Kriwitsky is now tops over fences (14 points). The Ride-Off: The ride-off for reserve high point was held immediately after the final novice flat class (the results of which could have changed the ride-off scenario, but didn't). Johnson eventually was choosen as reserve over Boyd. This was Johnson's first time winning an IHSA ride-off of any kind. "I have been high point rider before. I just didn't have to ride off for it," said Johnson.
Women with a plan: According to Libby Fedorko of UConn there are three seniors on her team who have applied to professional programs. Open flat rider Taylor Schoenthaler has applied to medical school in hopes of becoming a doctor of physical therapy. Liz Casserly applied to the UConn school of Pharmacy while Fedorko herself is applying to vet school. Benfield receives more scholarship money: The last time we saw Central Connecticut State open rider Liz Benfield she had just received the Connecticut Hunter Jumper Association's annual Academic Scholarship. Seven months later the CCSU senior from Weathersfield, Connecticut is at it again. The day before the Trinity show, Benfield received a one thousand dollar scholarship at New England Finals for her essay about the event (titled simply "New England Equitation Championship Essay"). Will it be Post's turn or perhaps Fairfield's November 6th at Mystic Valley?: Through three shows no school has claimed high point team honors more than once. In fact thanks to a tie between Connecticut College and the University of Connecticut on October 17th four different Region 5 schools have technically won a show so far this season. This writer cannot recall a season where every team in a given region won at least one show during a single season. Four have done it here; Five others have a chance over seven shows. While we wish Trinity the best of luck in bringing their riding program to the level of their Squash program we cannot help but wish each Region 5 team yet to win a show this season good luck in their endeavors trying to take home a high point team ribbon. ---Steve Maxwell Show Incidentals: Cloudy skies, with temperatures reaching the mid '60's. Start time: 9:23AM. Finish: 2:31PM - Includes 27 minute lunch/Coaches and Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? Normally Yes but without rider's names. No cards were posted at today's show. Alumni classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Jen Bradley. Stewards: Klemyk/Yale University, Luckhardt/Connecticut College and Hajdasz/Sacred Heart University. Team Totals: Trinity College (CT) (High Point Team) 37; University of Connecticut (Reserve) 32; Central Connecticut State University 29; Sacred Heart University 28; Post University 26; Connecticut College 26; Fairfield University 25; Wesleyan University 18 and Yale University 12. High Point Rider - Jennifer Dorfman, Trinity College (CT)
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