OK everyone look at a different camera! From left to right are Kelly Arvidson, Lindsay Mohr and Angela Fiori of Centenary College. Each of these riders placed inside the top three in open flat on April 2nd to advance to Zone 2 Zones eight days later. Cacchione qualifier Mohr was second in open fences earlier in the day before winning the open flat.

TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY: CENTENARY COLLEGE EARNS 16 RIDES AT ZONES

Readington, NJ - A few things are assured in life. Death, Taxes and a pile of Centenary riders showing at Regionals. If you opened up the program at Zone 2, Region 1 Regionals on Good Friday (April 2nd), each class save for one had more than a fair share of Cyclones enterred in it. Open Fences? Three of seven! Intermediate fences? Seven out of thirteen! Novice flat? Nine out of eighteen!

Save for the walk-trot division (where sophomore Sarah Tirch was the only Centenary rider - and a Zones qualifier as it turned out) Centenary had no less than three in each division, which technically meant that under the right circumstances all but two of the walk-trot riders could have been Cyclones going on to Zones. At the end of the day eight riders from other schools had made the top three while Region Champion Centenary could claim 13 riders and 16 rides were theirs at Zone 2 Zones eight days later back at their Equestrian Center in Long Valley.

Centenary riders did so well over the first six classes of the day that only one rider (Lauren Ciuzio of S.U.N.Y. - New Paltz in intermediate fences) had earned a ribbon above third. Through those same classes the Cyclones had a clean sweep of the blue ribbons.

A junior from West Chester, Pennsylvania, Marissa Cohen of Centenary poses with her parents and "Shady" after winning the intermediate fences. Cohen would also earn a second in intermediate flat.

Three Cyclones were able to claim multiple rides at Zones. Lindsay Mohr, a junior from Long Valley, New Jersey (the same town where the Centenary College Equestrian Center resides) who will represent Region 1 at Nationals in the Cacchione Cup Competition, was second to teammate Kathryn McGee in open fences before winning the open flat. Amber Riser, a junior from Barnegat, New Jersey won novice fences while later placing second to teammate Brittany Cunnane in novice flat. And Marissa Cohen, a junior from West Chester, Pennsylvania whose victory in team intermediate fences was a big turning point at 2009 IHSA Nationals was a winner in intermediate fences while also placing second to teammate Cori Reich in intermediate flat. When one considers that the IHSA has always used a random draw for horse selection then Cohen had perhaps the ideal upbringing for IHSA-style shows.

"(Marissa) never had her own horse growing up," says her Mother, who operates a farm in West Chester. "She rode whatever horses I had at the time." Because there was some turnover among the horses at her farm Cohen wound up riding a wide variety of mounts.

Of the 22 Centenary riders who showed today, Reich was the only freshman. From Ivyland, Pennsylvania, Reich also had an ideal upbringing for the IHSA random draw.

"Cori trained here (at Briarwood) with Jack Benson," according to Reich's Mother.

Seen here with teammate and open rider Bethany Richards, Rosina Williams of Bard College (on right) was third in novice flat. The junior from Jersey City survived her first ride (part of three separate 'heats') and the ride-off to advance to Zones.

Also surviving for the Cyclones were Ali Krecker, who was granted one of the few re-rides of the day in novice fences and went on to finish behind only Riser; Sami Davis, who was third in intermediate fences; Cassidy Hoff and Lauren Bender, who were second and third, respectively in walk-trot-canter, Tirch, who was third in walk-trot and both Kelly Arvidson and Angela "Angie" Fiori who along with Mohr comprised the top three in open flat.

For a while it seemed as though the Cyclones were being humanitarian about letting one rider from the other schools earn a top three placing and have reason to travel to Centenary the following weekend. Katie Kramer, a Drew University sophomore from Los Angeles, California was third behind McGee and Mohr in open fences to become the first of two Ranger undergraduate riders to secure a ride at Zones. Ciuzio was the first of three New Paltz riders to continue their seasons by placing second between Cohen and Davis in intermediate fences. Though Sarah Lawrence College finished the regular season with only six active riders one of them was third in novice fences. Sophomore Aya Matsumoto was the yellow ribbon winner behind Riser and Krecker (in a class which unusually featured 15 riders from schools other than Centenary) for the Gryphons.

Following the Cyclone sweep in open flat it was time for another Ranger yellow ribbon. Ashley Kraft, a Drew senior from Washington, Connecticut finished third in intermediate flat behind Reich and Cohen to join teammate Kramer at Zones. Each of the three had to survive a pair of heats to compete in a hack-off for the top eight placings. Bard College had five rides on this day, with Rosina Williams earning the Cavalier's top ribbon with a third in novice flat. Williams, Riser and Cunnane had to survive three heats and a hack-off for the top eight.

Zone 2, Region 1 gives out some of the nicest trophies to Region Champions you will ever see. Lacey Lohr, a SUNY - New Paltz sophomore from Massapequa, Long Island poses with her parents and a rather large trophy after winning walk-trot.

The walk-trot-canter division also featured three heats, with the blue ribbon finally awarded to a non-Centenary rider. Kathryn Colavito, a SUNY - New Paltz sophomore from Binghamton, New York edged out Hoff and Bender for first place in the division. Colavito won the largest division of the day, as 22 riders had been divided among the three initial heats. Lacey Lohr, a SUNY - New Platz sophomore from Massapequa, Long Island won the final blue ribbon of the day. Lohr won the walk-trot class, surviving two heats of five riders each and the hack-off to give the Hawks a third ride at Zones. Coming in second between Lohr and Tirch was United States Military Academy junior Aryn Davis. From Klickitat, Washington, it was quite a week for Davis, who won team beginner western horsemanship to score seven of Army's 11 points at Western Semifinals in Pomona, California. Davis was the only USMA rider to advance to 2010 Zone 2 Zones.

Though there were no alumni classes Region 1 did advance a single alumni rider to Zones. 2006 Drew graduate Kristine Kennedy, who won the alumni flat division at 2007 IHSA Nationals in West Springfield, Massachusetts earned 35 points in alumni flat to become the only Region 1 alumni rider to clear the standard 28 point mark. Kennedy finished with only 24 alumni fences points but the National Steward granted a waiver so that she may ride in that division at Zones as well. Because Kennedy scored 21 or more and led the region in alumni fences points she was eligible for this waiver.

You don't see this everyday: Judge Tony Sgarlata tested all three jumping classes - on the flat! All riders who jumped, regardless of what sort of round they had, were asked to return for flat work. According to Sarah Lawrence Head Coach Lori Rakoczy "They do it all the time in the Marshall & Sterling (league)." This was the first time in 19 years of following the IHSA that this writer has seen a jumping class tested on the flat. Several coaches thought this was a good idea, in that the most well-rounded riders will represent the region at Zones.

USMA junior Aryn Davis (center, between Coaches Sherry and Peter Cashman) placed second in walk-trot less than a week after winning the team beginner western class at Western Semifinals in Pomona, California. Sherry Cashman was also a winner at today's show, as she received Region 1 Coach of the Year honors. Peter Cashman received the IHSA's Lifetime Achievement Award on March 7th, so everyone in this picture received something of merit in the past 30 days.

Lunch time is Awards time: Region 1 handed out their yearly awards during a ceremony within the lunch break. Several awards were a given, such as high point Hunter Seat and Western open riders (Mohr and Randi Cashman of Centenary, respectively). Coach of the Year went to Sherry Cashman of the USMA. It was Sherry's third time as Coach of the Year, having won it outright in 2005 while also tieing for it with husband and Co-Coach Peter Cashman at some point around 2000. This actually gives Sherry Cashman one more win in this department than Peter, who won it once outright in the late 1990's. However Peter, who has been both a Region President and Zone Chairman, was quick to point out that he is the 2010 IHSA Lifetime Achievement Award winner. No one currently involved with Region 1 has received this National award save for Peter, who will be honored at Nationals next month as the 2010 recipient.

Could they keep the momentum going?: Of the 24 individual slots up for grabs at Zone 2 Zones on April 10th seven went to riders from Region 1. Mohr was third in individual open fences to start the day while Cohen was second in individual intermediate fences two classes later. Krecker improved on her Regionals placing, taking the blue ribbon in novice fences. Reich remained unbeaten in individual classes, winning the individual intermediate flat. Cunnane was third in individual novice flat while Hoff repeated her second place showing in individual walk-trot-canter. Lohr was third in individual walk-trot to become the only non-Centenary undergraduate rider from Region 1 to advance to IHSA Nationals. Kennedy won the alumni flat and will now compete against former Drew teammate Tori Frederick among others. A 2008 Drew graduate, Frederick won both alumni classes at Zone 3 Zones in Forest City, Pennsylvania the day after Zone 2 Zones were completed. IHSA Nationals take place at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky May 6th through 9th, with all the hunter seat classes scheduled for the first three days of the competition.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies, with temperatures reaching the mid '70's. Start time: 10:23AM. Finish: 4:43PM - Includes 54 minute lunch break/Coaches and Captains meeting and an awards ceremony. There were additional schooling breaks as well. Judge: Tony Sgarlata, Syracuse, New York. Stewards: Dowling/Centenary College, P. Cashman/United States Military Academy and Sykes/Drew University.

2010 Zone 2, Region 1 Regionals class results, listed in the order in which they were held, with the top three in each class advancing to Zone 2 Zones on Saturday, April 10th, 2010 in Long Valley, New Jersey:

Open equitation over fences: 1. Kathryn McGee, Centenary College. 2. Lindsay Mohr, Centenary College. 3. Katie Kramer, Drew University. 4. Rachel Denning, Drew University. 5. Caroline O'Connell, Pace University. 6. Amanda Bender, State University of New York at New Paltz. 7. Kelly Arvidson, Centenary College.

Intermediate equitation over fences: 1. Marissa Cohen, Centenary College. 2. Lauren Ciuzio, State University of New York at New Paltz. 3. Sami Davis, Centenary College. 4. Sarah Colmer, Drew University. 5. Rosemary Garofalo, Stevens Institute of Technology. 6. Jenni Kuder, Centenary College. 7. Jan Kutscher, Pace University. 8. Brittany Cunnane, Centenary College.

Novice equitation over fences: 1. Amber Riser, Centenary College. 2. Ali Krecker, Centenary College. 3. Aya Matsumoto, Sarah Lawrence College. 4. Emily Raynor, State University of New York at New Paltz. 5. Elizabeth Falcone, Bard College. 6. Angela Parriott, Stevens Institute of Technology. 7. Mya Dee, Centenary College. 8. Corinne Noble, United States Military Academy.

Open equitation on the flat: 1. Lindsay Mohr, Centenary College. 2. Angela Fiori, Centenary College. 3. Kelly Arvidson, Centenary College. 4. Carolyn Smith, State University of New York at New Paltz. 5. Katie Kramer, Drew University.

Intermediate equitation on the flat: 1. Cori Reich, Centenary College. 2. Marissa Cohen, Centenary College. 3. Ashley Kraft, Drew University. 4. Lauren Ciuzio, State University of New York at New Paltz. 5. Randi Cashman, Centenary College. 6. Monica Wise, Sarah Lawrence College. 7. Rachel Kenion, Stevens Institute of Technology. 8. Mary Beth Dixon, Pace University.

Novice equitation on the flat: 1. Brittany Cunnane, Centenary College. 2. Amber Riser, Centenary College. 3. Rosina Williams, Bard College. 4. Megan Pritchard, Centenary College. 5. Sarah Ciamilo, Centenary College. 6. Candice Schober, Centenary College. 7. Corinne Noble, United States Military Academy. 8. Julie Conners, Centenary College.

Walk-trot-canter equitation: 1. Kathryn Colavito, State University of New York at New Paltz. 2. Cassidy Hoff, Centenary College. 3. Lauren Bender, Centenary College. 4. Annie Coolbaugh, Centenary College. 5. Olivia Nathanson, Bard College. 6. Laura Lakin, Drew University. 7. Constance Magalaras, Stevens Institute of Technology. 8. Christina Karas, Drew University.

Walk-trot equitation: 1. Lacey Lohr, State University of New York at New Paltz. 2. Aryn Davis, United States Military Academy. 3. Sarah Tirch, Centenary College. 4. Christine Jordan, United States Military Academy. 5. Madalyn Kulas, Stevens Institute of Technology. 6. Amanda Ptak, William Paterson University. 7. Victoria Keck, Pace University. 8. Annamarie DeAngelo, William Paterson University.