Courtney Dyson of Delaware Valley College (on left, with Head Coach Cory Kieschnick and Aggies teammate Ciara Menkins) was reserve high point rider at the November 8th Temple University show at Briarwood Farm. Menkins won her open fences class and now leads the Region 2 open rider standings. The Aggies have won all five Zone 3, Region 2 hunter shows so far in 2010-11.

DELAWARE VALLEY TOPPLES PENN STATE BERKS 36-31

Readington, NJ - For the fifth time in five meetings Delaware Valley College has prevailed as high point team at a Zone 3, Region 2 hunter seat team, and for the fourth time Penn State - Berks came relatively close only to claim reserve honors. While Delaware Valley coasted to victory at the Bucks County Community College show on October 10th (winning 44-26 over Franklin & Marshall, with Berks held to 24 points that day), the other four shows have been close, with the Aggies prevailing by single digits. Courtney Dyson, a senior from Ironsides, Maryland won her novice fences while taking second place in novice flat to earn Reserve High Point Rider honors for the Aggies. Also heading back to Doylestown with blue ribbons were Ciara Menkins (sophomore, Brick Township, New Jersey, in open fences), Jessica Katz (freshman, West Hartford, Connecticut, in open flat), Kristin Lawrence (senior, Montgomery, New Jersey, in intermediate fences), Anastasia Garzillo (senior, Easton, Pennsylvania, in intermediate flat), Melissa Semanas (senior, Allentown, Pennsylvania, in novice fences), Chelsea Koerper (freshman, Southampton, Pennsylvania, in novice flat), Samantha Butti (freshman, Vero Beach, Florida, also in novice flat), Lauren Jeffery (freshman, Millstone, New Jersey, in advanced walk-trot-canter) and Lauren Hale (junior, Spring Grove, Pennsylvania, also in advanced walk-trot-canter). Delaware Valley riders won exactly half of the 20 official undergraduate classes. Besides Dyson's red ribbon in novice flat the Aggies earned eight other second place finishes, including two each for Kelsey Ficara and Alison George. Both Ficara and George earned red ribbons in their intermediate classes.

Yet in spite of the overall ribbon domination the final score was only 36-31 in favor of Delaware Valley. Berks faired very respectively, earning three blues and three reds. Two of the blue ribbons were earned by novice rider Taylor Bauder. A freshman from Akron, Pennsylvania, Bauder turned out to be the only rider with two firsts (just as Dyson was the only rider with a first and a second) and therefore was today's high point rider. Evelyn Sczcepanek (sophomore, Oley Valley, Pennsylvania) won the lone section of walk-trot which ended today's show at 2:00PM sharp (it was the first day of standard time in some months, so it seemed to many like 3:00PM). Hannah Kreider (in open fences), Katie Shemonski (in advanced walk-trot-canter) and Kayley Ellis (also in advanced walk-trot-canter) earned Berks their red ribbons. Novice flat rider Makenzie Danton qualified for Regionals in the division. This is important for Berks as they competed at today's show without intermediate flat or fences riders, owing to Krieder pointing out of both divisions one day earlier.

From left to right are Penn State Berks Head Coach Chrystal Coffelt-Wood (who won her alumni fences class at today's show), Taylor Bauder (who was high point rider), Frannie King, Makenzie Danton (who pointed out of novice flat) and Selby Neidigh. Save for Coffelt-Wood everyone in this photo showed for Berks in novice fences. Berks earned reserve high point team honors with 31 points despite not having an intermediate rider entered.

Third at today's show was Franklin & Marshall with 19 points. Rebecca Hicks, a junior from Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania who had won her intermediate fences class at the Delaware Valley/Arcadia show a day earlier was a winner in intermediate flat this time around. Elana Rabinowitz, a freshman from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania won her section of beginner walk-trot-canter while Lily Seidenberg won the Diplomats' lone red ribbon of the day in advanced walk-trot-canter. Like Berks F & M did not have a full point card, coming very close with only open fences left blank on their point sheet.

Rider University was fourth with 16 points. The Broncs were lead by advanced walk-trot-canter rider Melissa Pruitte. A junior from Suffield, Connecticut, Pruitte won her advanced walk-trot-canter and also won the maiden crossrails class. For those who have never seen a maiden fences class, the layout is simply four crossrails which are jumped a total of eight times. Maiden classes allow riders who are not yet ready to jump a novice course to go over crossrails in a class where ribbons are awarded but no points are earned. The maiden division is open to riders who compete at the advanced walk-trot-canter level or higher. At today's show 11 riders competed in the maiden crossrails, making it the biggest section of the day. Though Pruitte won two blue ribbons, because the crossrails class is not official this did not put her into a ride-off with Bauder. Lindsey Hornfeck earned a red ribbon for Rider while Tracy Gold was second in her advanced walk-trot-canter class. The Broncs were without riders in open fences or walk-trot on this day.

Five teams tied for fifth with 14 points each. Arcadia University was lead by Wayde Taylor, who was second to Koerper in novice flat. Taylor also shows western for the Tigers, showing in the open division when asked to lope. Bucks County Community College was lead by Sarah Keyser, a sophomore from Newtown, Pennsylvania who won her intermediate fences early in the day.

While Arcadia and Bucks found top two ribbons a scarce commodity, host Temple University actually earned as many blue ribbons as Berks! Things heated up all at once for the Owls, as Anna Dougherty (senior, Landsdale, Pennsylvania) won her novice flat while teammate Erin Griffith was second. In the section of beginner walk-trot-canter which followed, Hannah Krause, a sophomore from Schnecksville, Pennsylvania was a winner for Temple while teammate Brittany Esser was second. It was a big moment for Krause, as it was her IHSA debut! Megan Fleming, a junior from Hollands, Pennsylvania who had finished second to Pruitte in the crossrails class won her advanced walk-trot-canter for the Owls. Rachel Wysznski was second in novice fences while Julie Bare was one of the happiest red ribbon winners of the day after finishing second to Rabinowitz in beginner walk-trot-canter.

This writer feels slightly sorry for Temple alumni rider Samantha Cronce, as she was initially announced as first in alumni fences only to hear the placings repeated with her in third. Cronce was also a yellow ribbon winner in alumni flat while Kutztown University graduate Linda Beyer was second in both alumni divisions. First place was a different rider in each division. Penn State - Berks Head Coach and former Kutztown rider Chrystal Coffelt-Wood won the alumni fences but finished fourth on the flat. Winning the alumni flat was 1989 Virginia Intermont College graduate Ashton Phillips, who won the exact same division a day earlier. Last season Phillips did not earn a blue ribbon until the ninth Zone 3, Region 4 show of the season, though he still survived both Regionals and Zones to reach Nationals for a ninth consecutive season. Former Rider Universitiy rider Erin Bethke was fifth, though Broncs Head Coach Andrea Sagola-Hart had high praise for the considerable effort Bethke puts into contstantly improving her riding.

When she graduated from Lehigh in 2001 she was Nicole Menges. The former Mountain Hawk is now Nicole Koonce, and she is also the new Head Coach at Franklin & Marshall College. From left to right are Erica Lang (third in maiden crossrails), Lily Seidenberg (second in advanced walk-trot-canter), Koonce and Eliana Rabinowitz, who won her section of beginner walk-trot-canter. The Diplomats were third for the day with 19 points.

In their own words: This writer brought his laptop to today's show and asked most blue ribbon winners if they would be kind enough to type a comment or two into the laptop about anything they felt like talking about. It could be something about the horse they drew, something about their coach, about their teammates, a pet, a specific achievement the blue ribbon brought them, etc...

"Today I rode Luther over fences and he was amazing! I had so much fun and I am glad Briarwood has been kind enough to open their barn to us. Thanks to Temple for hosting a great show and congrats to all the DelVal Riders. Go Aggies!" - Ciara Menkins, Delaware Valley College, who won the lone section of open fences.

"I love the IHSA! Being able to ride tons of different horses is so much fun! Today riding a briarwood horse, Luther, made me feel great since he did everything I asked for, including helping me win my intermediate flat class. Go BCCCET!" - Sarah Keyser, Bucks County Community College, who won the first section of intermediate fences.

"It was a stressful day because all I needed was 2 points to point into Open Fences, and Eddie helped me do it! Thanks to all my teammates and my coaches Cory and Emily for the support. Go DVCET!" - Kristin Lawrence, Delaware Valley College, who won the second section of intermediate fences.

"I was really lucky to draw Sweet Potato for both jumping and flat, she is a great horse! I want to say thanks to my coaches Cory and Emily for all the great advice and good luck to all my teamates. Go DVCET!" - Jessica Katz, Delaware Valley College, who won the lone section of open flat.

"I am very excited to have won my intermediate flat today! I just want to say thank you to my teammates and my coach Nikki!" - Rebecca Hicks, Franklin and Marshall College, who won the first of two sections of intermediate flat.

"I couldn't have done as well without my wonderful team and my supportive coaches! Thanks guys, everyone is making my final year with IHSA awesome!" - Anastasia Garzillo, Delaware Valley College, who won the second and final section of intermediate flat.

"Today was a pretty cold morning but that didn't stop my team from cheering me on during my Novice Fences class. Chrystal has really been pushing me hard this year; after this show you can tell it's starting to pay off!" - Taylor Bauder, Penn State - Berks Campus, who won the first section of novice fences.

"I found the first Jump!! Thank you so much Cory and Emily! Classy was an awesome ride, thank you Briarwood for letting us use your wonderful horses." - Courtney Dyson, Delaware Valley College, who won the second section of novice fences.

"Red was a great horse! I was so happy with our course I didn't care what I placed. Thanks to my coach and team it was a great day." - Melissa Semanas, Delaware Valley College, who won the third and final section of novice fences.

"I love and appreciate all the support from my team and my coaches!! They are the best!" - Melissa Pruitte, Rider University, who won the maiden crossrails class of eleven riders.

"Great draw today. Henry from Briarwood. Loved him!" - Ashton Phillips, Virginia Intermont College class of '89, who won his alumni flat class for the second day in a row.

Though host Temple University scored only 14 points the Owls won three blue ribbons and twice had the top two riders in a specific class. Here Anne Dougherty (on left) poses with Owls teammate Erin Griffith after they placed one-two in the third of four sections of novice flat.

"Congratulations Del Val! Keep getting those blue ribbons! Thank you for the support team!" - Lauren Jeffery, Delaware Valley College, who won the first section of advanced walk-trot-canter.

"Congratulations to all the teams and DelVal for the great season!!! Keep up the great work. I couldn't do this without a great coach and team!" - Lauren Hale, Delaware Valley College, who won the second section of advanced walk-trot-canter.

"Thanks to my team and trainer for being so fantastic, our team parents for food, and everyone who made this show run great!" - Eliana Rabinowitz, Franklin & Marshall College, who won the first section of beginner walk-trot-canter.

"Thank you to all the girls on the team for their support! I would also like to thank my mom for always being there for me. I had a great first show!" - Hannah Krause, Temple University, who won her IHSA debut in beginner walk-trot-canter.

"McGuyver was a great ride and helped me point up. I'm now a novice rider!" - Megan Fleming, Temple University, who won the final section of advanced walk-trot-canter and pointed out of the division in the process.

"Thanks to Crystal my trainer and the support from my awesome Penn State team members for giving me the confidence today to win my first blue ribbon, and a thanks to 'Moon' such a great horse." - Evelyn Sczcepanek, Penn State - Berks Campus, who won her first IHSA blue ribbon in walk-trot.

---Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny but cold and windy, with temperatures reaching the low '50's. Novice fences, alumni fences and maiden crossrails classes held indoors. Start time: 8:46AM. Finish: 2:00PM - Includes 22 minute lunch/schooling break. Coaches and Captains meeting held prior to start of show. Point cards posted in this region? No. Alumni classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Shane Ledyard. Stewards: Miller/Delaware Valley College, Beth Jewell/Parent of Coach Amber Jewell, Sagola/Rider University (AM only) and Coffelt-Wood/Penn State University - Berks Campus (PM only).

Team Totals: Delaware Valley College (High Point Team) 36; Penn State University - Berks Campus (Reserve) 31; Franklin & Marshall College 19; Rider University 16; Temple University 14; Arcadia University 14 and Bucks County Community College 14.

High Point Rider - Taylor Bauder, Penn State University - Berks Campus
Reserve High Point Rider - Courtney Dyson, Delaware Valley College