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PENN STATE SCORES 45 TO WIN AND CLOSE OUT SEASON; GETTYSBURG RESERVE WITH 34 Readington, NJ - In what was the only Region 1 regular season show of the spring, Penn State won handily by a 45-34 margin over a very effective Gettysburg team. Elizabeth Lubrano won both of her open classes, with a win in open fences to start the day securing a trip for the Nittany Lion freshman from Glenmoore, Pennsylvania to IHSA Nationals where she will compete for the Cacchione Cup. Penn State teammate Mary Zuccato won a pair of intermediate classes while Erika Flashner and Elise Settanni were able to sweep their novice classes. Also winning blue ribbons for Penn State were Cat Shea (in walk-trot), Katie Saniski (advanced walk-trot-canter), Ari Delin (novice flat), Katie Norris (same), Katherine Petro (intermediate flat) and Adele Keeling (intermediate fences). The Nittany Lions earned exactly half of the blue ribbons awarded at Briarwood Farm on this day, leaving 14 to be divided among the rest of the region. One of the riders who secured two of the remaining 14 ribbons was Julie Weisz of Gettysburg College. A freshman from Coto De Caza, California, Weisz won both of her open classes to move into third place overall in the Region 1 Open Rider Standings with a year-end total of 42. Also winning blue ribbons for the Bullets were Megan Knauss in novice fences and Jen Stoner in beginner walk-trot-canter, the latter a senior going out with a win in her final IHSA undergraduate class. Knauss nearly joined Weisz in the ride-off, finishing second to Flashner in novice flat. In addition Jennifer Conway earned a second in intermediate flat. Gettysburg's total of 34 may have been their high for the season (The Bullets accomplished this without a walk-trot rider on their card today - Editor).
Though they earned six blue ribbons Bucknell University finished tied for third for the day with host Dickinson College. The roll call for Bison blue ribbons was made up of Molly Clark (in intermediate flat), Claire McCardell (novice fences), Kelly Gelhaus (novice flat), Amanda Roy (advanced walk-trot-canter), Meghan Hoopes (same) and Caitlin Hume (same), the last of whom won the final class of the day before the ride-off. Bucknell red ribbon winners were Katie McConahy (advanced walk-trot-canter), Alyssa Persing (novice flat), Rebecca Bub (intermediate flat), Nicole Lake (same), Danielle Pizzo (open flat) and Clark, who was second to Keeling in intermediate fences. The Bison finished the season as the Reserve Champion team while Pizzo finished fourth in the Region 1 open rider standings with 37 points. Also scoring 28 points were the hosts. Unlike Bucknell and Gettysburg, Dickinson did have a walk-trot rider on the grounds, and the walk-trotter won! Carrie Johnson's first in the second section of walk-trot was the second and final blue ribbon of the day for the Red Devils. Freshman Abigail West, who was making her IHSA debut in the final regular season show of 2008-09, placed sixth in novice fences but won her novice flat a short time later. Amy Woolf (in novice fences), Devon Whiteway (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Alana Shein (beginner walk-trot-canter) earned second place ribbons for Dickinson. Though the Red Devils finished the season with only one regional qualifier in Davia Palmeri (qualified in both novice divisions) everyone on today's Dickinson roster save for Palmeri (who is graduating early) could be back in 2009-10. The future looks promising in Carlisle, PA indeed. Though there were more riders entered regionwide than at several fall shows, Lebanon Valley College had only five riders at Briarwood, including three showing in both novice divisions. However the Dutchmen (who are all women) finished ahead of seven of the twelve schools entered. Ellen Pittman led the way for Lebanon Valley, earning a second in the first section of novice fences. Kate Cusick was third in both of her novice classes while Julia Olley was also third in novice fences. Lebanon Valley added 15 points to close out their third season in the IHSA with 77 points. Though LVC scored 75 points in 2007-08, that group of Dutchmen had an extra show to compete in, so their average points per show ratio was up significantly this season.
There were several ties today, including Franklin and Marshall College scoring as many as York College of Pennsylvania. Due to spring break the Diplomats were extremely short-handed, as only four riders took part. Sophomore Meredith Buck won the first section of beginner walk-trot-canter, earning seven of Franklin & Marshall's 12 points in the process. Brianna Altieri was third in both of her novice classes while Rebecca Hicks also earned a yellow ribbon in novice flat. The Diplomats finished third overall for the season with 174 points, two points ahead of Gettysburg. Though they had no ribbon above Jennifer Lanz's third in beginner walk-trot-canter through 18 classes, York did fairly well over the final ten, as Andrea Worman was second to Shea in walk-trot while Jessie Fusswinkel was second to Hume in advanced walk-trot-canter. In the penultimate class freshman Alenna Lucabaugh won the Spartans' lone blue ribbon of the day, tops in the third section of beginner walk-trot-canter. Lindsay Underwood was third in the previous section of beginner walk-trot-canter. Tied with eleven points each were Susquehanna University and Juniata College. The Crusaders were into the red ribbons three times as Emily Odle (in novice flat), Amanda Cavanaugh (beginner walk-trot-canter) and Alyssa Lynd (same) placed second. Yellow ribbons went to Melissa Hester (in walk-trot) and Briana Billingham (intermediate flat). Susquehanna was easily the biggest surprise in Region 1 for the season, scoring 88 points to finish sixth out of 12 teams only one season after having not shown one single time in hunter seat competition (The Crusaders scored 66 in '06 and 24 in '07, only two more combined than the 08-09 contingent). Juniata College received the most bang for their buck, as the Eagles scored eleven points with only two riders entered! It was not until the thirteenth class of the day when Juniata sophomore Kristen Olson became the first Eagle to enter the ring. Olson was second to Flashner in novice fences while later placing third in novice flat. Dana Schwab rode in the advanced walk-trot-canter class immediately prior to Olson's novice flat ride, earning a fifth to make Juniata the only school entered where all riders could claim to have made the top five! Indiana University of Pennsylvania entered the day having scored only ten points, but their four entrees raised the year-end total to fifteen. Exchange student Katrina Rubio, perhaps making her only IHSA appearance, was fourth in the second section of walk-trot to earn three of the Crimson Hawks' five points. History was made today when Millersville University sent riders to an IHSA show for the first time. However the Marauders do have a rider with IHSA experience. Grace Usdin rode for East Stroudsburg University and transfered to Millersville prior to the current season. Usdin won the first point in Millersville history, placing sixth in novice flat. Kelly Tyson earned the Marauders remaining points with a third in beginner walk-trot-canter. On the point sheets that were posted Millersville was credited with four points, though it would seem that Usdin's one point added to Tyson's four would make the total five.
Wilson College rounded out the scoring with two points. Junior Nicole Malott-Shelton (third place), Casara Gross (fourth place) and Alyse Lynch (fifth place) all showed for the Phoenix in advanced walk-trot-canter. Also effected by spring break, Wilson's low score of the season dropped them to seventh place behind Susquehanna, finishing with 81 points. The weekend did have one benefit for the Phoenix: A new branch of Dover Saddlery opened in the nearby town of Branchburg and at least three riders left with brand new boots which will no doubt be of help in 2009-10. Don't forget about us!: Penn State also had several red ribbon winners not already mentioned: Andrew Kennedy (walk-trot), Taylor Jaros (advanced walk-trot-canter), Brian Stone (novice flat), Savannah Sheldon (same), Caitlin O'Neill (same), Jamie Walker (novice fences), Katie Sheehan (intermediate fences), Jessica Hoy (open fences) and Samantha Pandolfi (both open divisions). It was the final regular season show for Pandolfi, a senior from Danbury, Connecticut who was the Region 1 Cacchione representative at 2006 and 2008 IHSA Nationals. Pandolfi finished 17 points behind Lubrano in '09 but did qualify for Regionals in both open divisions. Is there no beginning?: Though Penn State had the most entrees, none were entered in any of the four sections of beginner walk-trot-canter. By contrast the Nittany Lions had at least one rider in every other class during the day save for the first section of advanced walk-trot-canter (won by Roy). The Ride-Off: By the end of the day four Penn State riders (Lubrano, Zuccato, Flashner and Settanni) and Weisz of Gettysburg were qualified for the ride-off. However two of the four Penn State riders had left Briarwood before the ride-off took place. When the ride-off was over Weisz was high point, earning the honor for the first time in her IHSA career, while Settanni, a junior from Wayne, Pennsylvania, was the reserve champion.
Hail to the (new) Chief: During the lunch break the region elected new officers for 2009-10, including a changing of President College. Dee Vonada, who as Penn State Head Coach had served as a Region President on-and-off since the mid-1990's, stepped down as President. Elected for the first time was Gettysburg Head Coach Janis Groomes. Groomes will have the unusual distinction of being a Region President in one zone while serving strictly as a Head Coach in another. Before she became the Coach at Gettysburg Groomes had been coaching Mount St. Mary's College in Zone 4, Region 1 for some time, a title she still holds. Currently Groomes is one of two IHSA Head Coaches in charge of two teams in different zones, with Princeton University/New York University Coach Ashton Phillips the other. Why travel so far to Briarwood?: Today's show marked the third time this season that a Region 1 show took place at Briarwood Farm in Readington, New Jersey, roughly a three hour drive from the nearest school in the Region. Some may ask why such a large percentage of the shows (three of seven) took place at a facility so far from the general area of Region 1. Briarwood Farm is perhaps the most IHSA-friendly facility nationwide, for many years having hosted shows involving regions with schools in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Currently many of the facilities in Central Pennsylvania which host IHSA shows have to limit the number of rides due to only so many quality horses being available. Because Briarwood has the horses (few are ever trailered in from the outside for an IHSA event), less limiting of rides and a relatively simple payment structure the decision to go east is a very good one. Besides the benefit of more riders getting a chance to ride, parents in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut can get there more easily, as was evidenced by one of the largest parent turnouts at an IHSA event this writer had seen throughout the 2008-09 season. The former President goes west: Because this story was not posted until months after the season ended, this writer only recently learned that Coach Vonada had left Penn State and the east coast to relocate to the Portland, Oregon area. Vonada, who rode for Penn State between 1985 and 1989 (including the 1988-89 Co-National Champions) had been involved with the Penn State program for 24 years as either a rider or coach. Since 1999 Malinda Grice has also coached the Nittany Lions and she will continue on in that capacity. With no disrespect to Coach Grice it will seem very different without Vonada having any involvement with the program, and this writer wants to go on record that if any college convenient to the Portland, Oregon area needs a coach for their IHSA program you could not find someone more capable and worthy than Dee Vonada to take a program and bring it to another level. --Steve Maxwell Show Incidentals: Sunny skies but chilly, with temperatures reaching the mid '40's. Start time: 9:10AM. Finish: 3:45PM - includes a 45 minute lunch break/Coaches and Captain's meeting plus a second schooling break. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni classes held in this region? Yes but not on this day. Judge: Donna Martin. Stewards: Poff/York College of Pennsylvania; Mitchell/Susquehanna University and Groomes/Gettysburg College. Team Totals: Penn State University (High Point Team) 45; Gettysburg College (Reserve) 34; Dickinson College 28; Bucknell University 28; Lebanon Valley College 15; York College of Pennsylvania 12; Franklin & Marshall College 12; Susquehanna University 11; Juniata College 11; Indiana University of Pennsylvania 5; Millersville University 4 (5?) and Wilson College 2. High Point Rider - Julie Weisz, Gettysburg College
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