West Virginia University junior Erin Murray (center, between her boyfriend Mike and her mother Janet) pointed out of novice fences with a first in the division on October 5th. Murray also won her novice flat class and the ride-off while the host Mountaineers were winners by eleven points over the University of Pittsburgh.

WEST VIRGINIA TAKES TOP PRIZES IN SEASON OPENER

Masontown, WV - The West Virginia University Mountaineers picked up where they left off last regular season, earning 38 points en route to yet another Region 3 victory. West Virginia had the most blue ribbons of any of the 13 teams entered, with two of their six firsts going to junior novice rider Erin Murray. From Warrenton, Virginia, Murray rode "Lucy" to victory in novice fences, "Cherrio" in novice flat and "Rusty" in the ride-off. Murray won the two-way ride-off versus Washington & Jefferson's Erica Green, who leads the region 3 open rider standings with 14 points through the season opener.

Others to win for West Virginia were Jackie Boyczuk (in intermediate fences, riding Cherrio), Laura Cardon (in advanced walk-trot-canter, riding "Monte"), Laura Schroeder (in beginner walk-trot-canter, riding "Lil' Dee") and Jenn Kanetsky (also in beginner walk-trot-canter, riding Cherrio). In addition five other West Virginia riders were second place, red ribbon winners. The win kept West Virginia undefeated in IHSA hunter seat regular season competition back to the Spring of 2007.

University of Pittsburgh Senior Mandy Collier (on left) and sophomore Lauren Schmidt (on right) pose with Head Coach Becki Bloom before both earned several of the better Panther ribbons on October 5th. Collier was second in novice fences and sixth in novice flat while Schmidt was second in novice flat and a blue ribbon winner in novice fences. It was only the second IHSA show for Schmidt. The Panthers were reserve high point team with 27 points.

One of the teams to actually win a show versus West Virginia during the 2006-07 season was the University of Pittsburgh. The Panthers were reserve champions at today's show, with three riders earning firsts. Sophomore Lauren Schmidt was the first to accomplish this feat, the Youngstown, New York resident first in novice fences in only her second IHSA show. The Panthers were at their best over the final four classes of the day, with Katie Bossong second in beginner walk-trot-canter, Schmidt second in novice flat, Caitlin Weber first in advanced walk-trot-canter and Nina Weaver first in walk-trot. Senior Mandy Collier was also a red ribbon winner in novice fences. Pittsburgh scored 27 point despite no intermediate flat or fences rider showing for the Panthers on this day.

Though West Virginia was oftern the only Region 3 school with a full card last season, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania joined West Virginia and Bethany College as schools with riders in every division at today's show. The Scots finished third with no firsts but seconds in the first and last official classes of the day and 25 points. Sophomore Kiley Iszkula made her IHSA debut with a second in open fences, then was one of three Edinboro riders to place third, doing so in open flat. The Gerard, Pennsylvania resident ended the day second overall in the Region 3 open rider standings. Sophomore Lindsay Carter was second to Weaver in the walk-trot section held before the ride-off.

Seton Hill only needs a walk-trot rider to fill their card. The Griffins were one of six teams to score 20 or more points at today's show, finishing fourth with 22 points. Seton Hill was led by Mary Clark, who was second in intermediate fences and fifth in intermediate flat. Three other Seton Hill riders were yellow ribbon winners. Somewhat surprisingly two-time Region 3 high point open rider Erin Albert managed only three points for the day, with all of them earned via a fourth in open flat (this writer feels Albert looked better than her placings indicated). One should remember that Albert was the 2006-07 Region 3 Cacchione representative at 2007 Nationals by a comfortable margin even without having competed in the first show of that season. Therefore Albert should still be considered a prime candidate for a trip to Murfreesboro, Tennessee in April for another crack at the Cup.

From Salisbury, Pennsylvania, Seton Hill sophomore Amanda Garlitz (fourth on left) had perhaps the largest cheering section of any rider. Garlitz was one of three Griffin riders to place third, doing so in novice fences. Seton Hill was fourth overall with 25 points.

Despite having only three riders showing in five divisions at today's show, Washington & Jefferson still managed 21 points and fifth place. Green had a lot to do with this, the junior from Mansfield, Pennsylvania winning her open fences while riding Lucy and her open flat while riding Rusty. Freshman Valerie Mahoney was third in novice flat and fourth in novice fences while Elania Sendro was fifth in another section of novice flat.

California of Pennsylvania had no intermediate flat or open fences riders on this day, yet the Vulcans were still able to score 20 points. Ten of those points were earned by sophomore Kim Volpatti. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania resident was fourth in her IHSA debut in intermediate fences, then finished first aboard Cherrio in open flat. Rachel Herman (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Abby Kobylinski (walk-trot) were yellow ribbon winners for Cal U.

896 is the magic number!: If you watched Erica Green closely, you not only saw her win twice but you noticed that she wore number 896. If you watched the intermediate classes closely, you may have also noticed that Megan White of Mercyhurst College wore number 896! It appears that both riders somehow have this same number, though for how long is anyone's guess. Mercyhurst scored only 12 points the entire 2007-08 season, but despite only three riders and four places filled on their point card, the Lakers scored two blue ribbons and 18 points. After White was sixth in intermediate fences, junior Melissa Velchoff won the first section of walk-trot. Hailing from Leander, Texas, Velchoff rode "Banana" to victory and is now roughly seven points from pointing up. White, a freshman from Bay Village, Ohio won intermediate flat aboard "Jazzbo" while Jennifer Stevens earned the Lakers' final three points with a fourth in advanced walk-trot-canter. We are still checking the record books to see if the 18 point effort is the best in Mercyhurst equestrian team history.

The University of Buffalo traveled the furthest, driving over four hours from well into New York State to Valley Ridge Farm. Despite the long drive the Bulls scored a healthy 16 points with no walk-trot or intermediate fences rider. Lauren Miller, a freshman from Syosset, New York won the only blue ribbon of the day for the Bulls, first in a field of six aboard Jazzbo in the third section of novice flat. Lauren Chin (in open flat) and Amber Warren (in the second section of novice flat) were third place winners.

Mercyhurst College scored only 12 points the entire 2007-08 season. On opening day of 2008-09 the Lakers, with a team of three riders, scored 18 points! Mercyhurst freshman Megan White (on right, with Head Coach Halli Bidwell) earned eight of her team's points in her IHSA debut, earning a first in intermediate flat and a sixth in intermediate fences.

Though Bethany College had a full point card, all but one of their eleven riders entered at today's show was making their IHSA debut. Gary Cooper, one of only two Bethany riders from last season who will be competing in 2008-09, was fourth in advanced walk-trot-canter while Daniella Vitale was second to Murray in novice flat for the Bison's best ribbon of the day. Maggie Hillinski (open flat), Sarah Jerome (beginner walk-trot-canter) and Noelle Ruta (advanced walk-trot-canter) were all third place winners for Bethany. While the roster is basically a new group, the head coach is retro. Kerri Gregg, who coached Bethany during their first full season in the IHSA (2005-06) once again holds the Bison head coaching title. Gregg saw Bethany score 13 points, which was not bad considering several of her riders had never seen an IHSA show before.

Slippery Rock had half their point card filled and earned 11 points. Six came courtesy of junior Amy Watt, who was third in open fences and fifth in open flat. Lisa Suhrie provided the Slippery Rock highlight of the day when she placed second in advanced walk-trot-canter and pointed into novice with the red ribbon.

Allegheny College had riders in the novice divisions and below, with their score totaling eight points. Sophomore Sam Spiegel rode "Lucky" to victory in novice flat, moving her very close to pointing out of the division. Jessica Markiewicz was fourth in novice fences while Kate Holquist was fourth in beginner walk-trot-canter.

St. Vincent College earned six points, as Amanda Fultz was second to Velchoff in walk-trot. The senior from Economy, Pennsylvania was making her IHSA debut.

Though Penn State - Behrend (and Clarion and Westminster) did not compete at today's show, Penn State - Fayette Eberly had three riders entered. Freshman Rita Krater (whose sister used to ride for Cal U) was second to Schroeder in beginner walk-trot-canter while another freshman, Rebecca Johnson, was second to Weber in advanced walk-trot-canter. Unfortunately neither Krater or Johnson was pointed, and with the point rider in walk-trot-canter out of the ribbons Fayette is still looking for their first team points of the new season.

Four alumni riders competed at today's show, with 2007 California of Pennsylvania graduate Jamie Mindzayk riding in alumni flat only (and placing third). Former Slippery Rock rider Amanda Hawkins rode Jazzbo to victory in alumni flat while 2002 Edinboro grad (and Region 3 alumni rep) Laura Hetz jumped to victory in alumni fences aboard "Black Max." 2006 St. Vincent College graduate Elizabeth Ferris was the most consistant, placing second in both alumni divisions.

Washington & Jefferson Head Coach Kristin Stein (on left) poses with Presidents open rider Erica Green after her second blue ribbon of the day. Though Green had previously competed in a ride-off for reserve, today marked the first time the junior from Mansfield, Pennsylvania went one-on-one for the oversized blue ribbon.

The Ride-Off: Prior to today's show Murray had ridden in two IHSA ride-offs and had lost both. Green had ridden in one ride-off for reserve high point rider and lost. Both had won the high point rider ribbon on separate occasions without having to ride off for the honor. Despite the novice versus open disadvantage, Murray won the two-way ride-off.

Up Next: The region will be back in action on October 12th, as the University of Pittsburgh hosts. West Virginia will look to extend their unbeaten streak. Though the Mountaineers lost some key riders to graduation, this group looks capable of putting up similar numbers to last year's team, which was the first in program history to advance through Zones to IHSA Nationals. Though Albert has history on her side, and Green has 14 points, keep an eye on West Virginia sophomore Miranda Cain to make inroads in the open rider standings. A transfer from the University of Tennessee at Martin NCAA program, Cain (who is known to carry two or three cameras at a time when not riding) looks like a perfect fit to succeed recent open riders Brittany Poff '08 and Megan Cavan '08. In a season when high point team is truly up for grabs for two-thirds of the IHSA, West Virginia should be counted on to pull away from the field at some point and send a full hunter seat team to Zone 3 Zones for a fourth consecutive season.

Lucy, Cherrio and Jazzbo were the best colaborators: Region 3 is one of a small number of IHSA regions which provide horse descriptions in their Show Programs. Here is what the program said about the horses who carried their riders to victory at least once each (with their blue-ribbon-winning riders listed afterward):

"Applebee" - 15.2 Bay Gelding. Support for right lead; simple changes. Crop Yes (Weaver).

"Banana" - 15.2 Palomino Gelding. Great Draw; Weight limit 145. Crop Yes (Velchoff).

"Black Max" - 15.1 Black Quarter Horse Gelding. Good Draw; Balance in corners; Use voice; Lazy; Can do flying changes. Crop Optional (Hetz).

"Cherrio" - 15.2 Gray Thoroughbred. Great Draw; Ride leg to hand; Balance in corners; Spurs. Crop Optional (Boyczuk, Volpatti, Murray on the flat, Kanetsky).

"Jazzbo" - 16.1 Bay Mare. Great Draw. Crop No (Hawkins, White, Miller).

"Lil' Dee" - 14.2 Liver Chestnut Gelding. Steer to fences; Simple changes; 145 lb weight limit. Crop Optional (Schroeder).

"Lucky" - 15.2 Appaloosa Gelding. Support right lead; Has Changes. Crop Optional (Spiegel).

"Lucy" - 15.2 Bay Mare. Simple or Flying Lead Changes. Crop No (Green over fences, Schmidt, Murray over fences).

"Monty" - 16.1 Dark Bay Gelding. Support to jumps; Simple changes. Crop No (Cardon. In addition Green rode Monty in the Ride-Off).

"Rusty" - 16.2 Chestnut Gelding. Soft supporting ride; has changes. Crop No (Green on the flat, Murray in the Ride-Off).

"Sunny" - 15.3 Palomino Gelding. Sticky Right Lead; Simple Changes. Crop Yes (Weber).

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies, with temperatures reaching the low '70's. Start time: 10:36AM. Finish: 3:56PM - Includes a 42 minute lunch break. Coaches & Captains meeting held prior to start of show. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Peggy Lefelhocz, Madison, OH. Stewards: Malencia/California University of Pennsylvania, Patterson/Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Keefer/Slippery Rock University and Clarion University.

Team Totals: West Virginia University (High Point) 38; University of Pittsburgh (Reserve) 27; Edinboro University of Pennsylvania 25; Seton Hill University 22; Washington & Jefferson University 21; California University of Pennsylvania 20; Mercyhurst College 18; University of Buffalo 16; Bethany College 13; Slippery Rock University 11; Allegheny College 8; St. Vincent College 6 and Penn State - Fayette 0.

High Point Rider - Erin Murray, West Virginia University
Reserve High Point Rider - Erica Green, Washington & Jefferson University