From left to right are Ciara Menkens, Terence Prunty and Assistant Coach Emily Miller of Delaware Valley College. With a win in his open flat class Prunty secured the Region 2 entry in the Cacchione Cup Competition at IHSA Nationals in Lexington, Kentucky May 6th through 9th.

DELAWARE VALLEY EDGES UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE 41-39 AT HOME

Doylestown, PA - A day after falling to the University of Delaware by eight at the Valley Forge show, the host Delaware Valley College Aggies earned back two of those points via a 41-39 win over the Fighting Hens. Highlights for the Aggies included winning three consecutive classes (two advanced walk-trot-canter sections and a novice flat class in between) and open rider Terence Prunty clinching the top spot for 2009-10 in the Region 2 hunter seat open rider standings with a win in open flat. A senior from Cranford, New Jersey, Prunty will compete at IHSA Nationals at the Kentucky Horse Park in May versus 30 other riders in the Cacchione Cup competition.

The University of Delaware may have lost this particular battle but with one show to go the Hens are winning the war. Both schools went into the weekend tied at 227 points, with the University of Delaware emerging with a six point lead. Even in defeat at DelVal the Hens earned one more blue ribbon while Katie LaDow earned high point rider honors. A sophomore from Unionville, Pennsylavania, LaDow won the only section of open fences and the first of two sections of open flat. Allison Lee, a University of Pennsylvania freshman novice rider from Livingston, New Jersey also won twice. Rather than have a ride-off, LaDow and Lee were asked questions by Judge Amy Barini (herself a former IHSA Coach at Cedar Crest College) to determine high point and reserve. It took three questions for LaDow to finally earn the blue ribbon and Lee to claim the red one.

Rather than go through a class-by-class recap or a rundown of how each team performed, we instead asked riders who won classes to type anything they wanted to say directly into our laptop. Riders could comment on their ride, their draw, their Coach, what they had for breakfast, etc. As you will see, most of those involved were happiest with their draw and with the pace at which Delaware Valley ran the show itself...

Though open rider Sarah Lessler (on left) is not competing during her final semester at University of Delaware, Katie LaDow (on right) is one of many Fighting Hen open riders who remain. LaDow was tops in an open fences class of eleven riders and an open flat class of seven to qualify for the ride-off.

"I wanted to thank Del Val for putting on such a great and well organized show. I loved the horse I rode, Apollo (owned by Devan). He was amazing! Thank you to our Captains Sarah and Caitlyn, Coach Brian, and the fabulous Betsy for everthing they have done for me and the team! GO UDET!" - Katie LaDow, University of Delaware, who won the lone section of Open Fences and later won the first of two sections of open flat.

"The moment I saw that I drew Helmert for my Intermediate Fences class I knew that it couldn't get any better. I've ridden Helmert many times and my coach (Cory Kieschnick) said, "Don't take him for granite" and that is all I could think about during my course. Hopefully this helps bring DVCET to the top!" - Kristin Lawrence, Delaware Valley College, who won the first of two intermediate fences classes.

"Thanks again to Del Val for putting on a great show. Apollo, whom I rode in Intermediate Fences, was absolutely wonderful. She made my ride so much fun; I couldn't have asked for a better draw! I had a great time, and getting a ribbon was just icing on the cake. Of course, I couldn't have done it with out the help and support of my wonderful captains and team. Go UDET!" - Val Shurtleff, University of Delaware, who won the second section of intermediate fences.

"Thanks to Del Val's fabulously run show and incredible horses (Helmert, here's looking at you) March 7th's show was a success! The ever helpful commentary from our Temple trainer Amber Jewell and Presidents Sam Cronce and Katie Taylor lead to a great ride. Here's to the end of a great season, TUET!" - Brianne Murphy, Temple University, who won the first of two sections of Intermediate Flat.

"Today's show really was a test on concentration! The judge really made us work on the flat. It was a tough class with a lot of good riders and horse in it! I would not have been able to win without my coach, Cory Kieschnick, Co-Captain Ciara Menkens, and the rest of the DelVal Team! I am so thrilled for us and we're ready to come out on top!" - Terence Prunty, Delaware Valley College, who won the second and final section of open flat.

"I want to thank everyone for a great day! The show has run extremely smoothly thanks to the great riders, horses, and coaches. It is a tough day with a lot of great competition and I'm having a great time! I would not have won without the coaching and support of my team. Best of luck to everyone with the rest of the day!" - Steph Scoleri, University of Delaware, who won the second and final intermediate flat class.

Since Head Coach Wendy Myers just had a baby boy less than two weeks earlier, 2009 Drexel graduate Christie Carlson (on far left) was coaching the Dragons in her place. Cameron Callaghan (center), a freshman from Perkasie, Pennsylvania was the lone Drexel rider to win a class at today's show. Callaghan, Carlson and several Dragon teammates pose after the former won the first section of novice flat.

"After winning my novice fences class I am just grateful for the hard work of my coaches and the support of my team this year at DelVal. I am so glad to be a part of such a positive experience in ihsa with DVCET. My first place ribbon is an awesome reward for all of the teamwork that goes into it! GO DVCET!! :)" - Kathryn Gibson, Delaware Valley College, who won the first of three sections of novice fences.

"I quite thrilled to have won my Alumni Over Fences class today. Fences have never been my strong point, I have always had more success on the flat. I was especially nervous this weekend since I have not ridden since the last regular season show in November. I have to say I feel a bit like Sandy Sayre, walking into the ring with so little time in the saddle and coming out so successful. I do not plan to make this a habit however; I am going to get riding again soon. I'd like to dedicate my blue ribbon to Jack Benson, someone who has known me nearly my whole life and who has had an immeasureable impact on my riding career. Thanks Mr. Benson." - Tori Frederick, Drew University, class of 2008, who won the alumni fences.

"I am so happy to have won my Novice Fences class today. Ike was a cutie and a great ride. I would like to thank my captains, Sarah and Caitlyn, and my coach Bryan for being so supportive. Without their beaming smiles and great words of advice, the team would not be where it is today. I love the UDel equestrian team, and as a Freshman, it has become my favorite part of college and my favvorite group of friends." - Cassie Simons, University of Delaware, who won the second of three sections of novice fences.

"Winning my first blue ribbon in the IHSA is the best way I could ever imagine starting my spring break. I want to thank the entire UPenn team for being so supportive and Gutsy who did her job so well!" - Allison Lee, University of Pennsylvania, who won the final section of novice fences and the third section of novice flat to tie for high point.

"I got a really nice draw for this class, and it was the culmination of a long weekend for our team. My team has been really great and supportive throughout this long weekend and the rest of the season." - Cameron Callaghan, Drexel University, who won the first of three sections of novice flat.

From left to right are Laura Francis, Allison Lee, Lucy McGuigan, Sara Hilker, Katie Kuzinevich and Connie Jiang of the University of Pennsylvania. It was quite a weekend for the Quakers, who earned Reserve High Point Team honors at the Valley Forge Military College show a day earlier and claimed the Reserve High Point Rider at the Delaware Valley show. A freshman from Livingston, New New Jersey, Lee won both of her novice classes on March 7th to earn her first appearance in an IHSA ride-off. A question-and-answer session took place instead, with Lee the red ribbon winner.

"I just want to say thank you to Cory and the captains! Coming from a dressage backround without riding alot of hunter eq they helped me alot and couldnt thank them more! I love DVCET!" - Gianna Grupp, Delaware Valley College, who won the first of two sections of advanced walk-trot-canter.

"Yayyyy I won :) I love DVCET and I love Portia!!!!! Lets go DVCET!!" - Samantha Felice, Delaware Valley College, who won the second of three sections of novice flat.

"The DVCET horses were so amazing today! I would love to thank my trainer Cory and all the DVCET members who supported me throughout my class. I would also love to thank my family for believing in me." - Allyson Kriebel, Delaware Valley College, who won the second and final section of advanced walk-trot-canter.

"Being an alumni for the first year since graduating from UDEL and being their captain last year, has been more then I could have hoped for. I want to thank Bryan for continuing to be my coach and I need to thank Nanci Urban, my life long trainer. She taught me all I know. It has been such a pleasure to be able to continue to ride and too see my old team continue to do great. I can't wait to see everyone at regionals! Portia was the best flat draw I have had in a long time!" - Jen Windish, University of Delaware, class of 2009, who won the alumni flat.

"This was my first weekend showing in IHSA and it was a blast! I have never had showing experience in the past so this weekend was a fun learning experience for me as a rider. My team was so supportive and were there to cheer me on the entire time. I absoultely love The University of Delaware Equestrian Team. It has made my college experience thus far so much fun. I have met so many great people!" - Melissa Deutsch, University of Delaware, who won the lone section of beginner walk-trot-canter.

"UDET is amazing!" I just want to thank all of the girls on the team for being amazing. Everyone is so supportive both of other members of the team and of other teams. Thnak you girls...and James!!" - Brianna McMahon, University of Delaware, who won the lone section of walk-trot which closed out the day.

Additional stuff: Team scores from the Valley Forge show were considerably lower than normal, with the University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania the only schools to reach 20 or more points. This was in part because of a limited number of jumping classes (one section each of open fences and intermediate fences), with large numbers entered in each...Though they did not win a blue ribbon at Delaware Valley on March 7th, several schools claimed red ribbon winners. Ellen Hansen of Villanova (in open flat), Chelsea Crozier of Arcadia (intermediate flat), Devon Mathis of Bucks County Community College (novice flat) and Daryl Turbiello (also novice flat), Lauren Weber (also in intermediate flat) and Kelly DellDonne (in novice fences) of West Chester University each secured their respective team's best ribbon of the day with a second...Michelle Firmin of Washington College was third in novice fences, securing the Shoremen their best ribbon on March 7th...Scoleri nearly won twice for UDel, finishing behind Lawrence in intermediate fences...same for Drexel's Callaghan, who was second to Gibson in novice fences...Campus Equestrian introduces hyperlinks to team sites starting with Zone 3, Region 2. The school names on the Region 2 page should now link to another site when clicked on. Please let Campus Equestrian know if we are linking to an outdated version of your school's site (West Chester please contact us for a current version of your site)...the March 14th University of Delaware show which closes out the Regular Season was moved from C-Line Stables in Odessa, Delaware to Gambler's Choice in Dover, Delaware due to a partial roof colapse within the C-Line indoor. Campus Equestrian wishes everyone at C-Line the best in repairing the roof as the facility is one of the more enjoyable places to watch an IHSA show.

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies, with temperatures reaching the low '50's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 9:56AM. Finish: 3:20PM - Includes 55 minute schooling break. Coaches & Captains meeting held prior to start of show. Point cards posted in this region? No. Alumni classes held in this Region? Yes. Judge: Amy Barini. Stewards: McCoy/Villanova University, Bigelow/Washington College and Beth Jewell/Bucks County Community College and Arcadia University.

Team Totals: Delaware Valley College (High Point Team) 41; University of Delaware (Reserve High Point Team) 39; University of Pennsylvania 25; Drexel University 21; West Chester University 17; Bucks County Community College 15; Arcadia University 14; Villanova University 13; Washington College 11 and Temple University 11.

High Point Rider - Katie LaDow, University of Delaware
Reserve High Point Rider - Allison Lee, University of Pennsylvania