West Virginia sophomore Nicole Saviano poses with 'Angel' after they combined to take the blue ribbon in walk-trot. The Mountaineers scored 35 points to win on October 14th, remaining unbeaten through three shows.

WEST VIRGINIA WINS SIX CLASSES, TAKES BLUE RIBBON AT PITT SHOW

Finleyville, PA - There were 16 undergraduate classes at the October 14th University of Pittsburgh show. West Virginia University had at least one rider in 13 of them. West Virginia was the only school out of 13 competing to have a full point card. Strength in numbers is a good way to win an IHSA show. It worked for the Mountaineers as West Virginia won six classes while finishing with four seconds and three thirds on their way to a 35-26 win over Seton Hill. The Mountaineers remain undefeated through three Region 3 shows and now lead the Griffons by a 93-77 margin overall.

Jackie Boyzcuk (intermediate fences), Lindsay Winter (novice flat), Jan Kanetsky (advanced walk-trot-canter), Amanda Narsisi (same), Nicole Saviano (walk-trot) and Andrea Palmer (same) won classes for West Virginia while Samantha Knight (novice fences), Jamie Killmeyer (advanced walk-trot-canter), Christine Shveda (beginner walk-trot-canter) and Megan Cavan (open flat) were red ribbon winners for the Mountaineers. Cavan finished the day second overall in the Region 3 USEF Cacchione/Open Rider Standings even though she was not enterred in open fences.

She had already pointed out of novice flat. Seton Hill junior Mary Clark (pictured) won both her novice fences and intermediate flat classes on October 14th to earn a place in the ride-off with teammate Erin Albert (not pictured).

The only rider currently ahead of Cavan in the open rider standings is Seton Hill sophomore Erin Albert. From South Park, Pennsylvania, Albert had been generally human in her first four open classes prior to today's show. However the defending Region 3 Cacchione representative won twice to reach the ride-off. The only other rider with two firsts was Alberts' teammate Mary Clark. A junior from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, Clark had already pointed out of novice flat and won both her intermediate flat debut and her novice fences. Albert and Clark accounted for 21 of the Griffons' 26 points, with no other Seton Hill rider finishing above fifth.

Host University of Pittsburgh finished third for the day with 18 points. Panther riders won two of the three sections of beginner walk-trot-canter, as freshmen Katie Bossong and Katie Henderson earned Pittsburgh's only blue ribbons of the day. The Panthers also managed a pair of second-place ribbons, as Katie Morrow and Alyssa Fisher both scored red ribbons in advanced walk-trot-canter. Fisher was also the manager of today's show.

Both Edinboro and Slippery Rock tied for fourth, each one point behind the Panthers. Slippery Rock had only four of the eight divisions filled, with beginner walk-trot-canter rider Tracey Yuslum the only member of the rock to win outright. April Schroder earned Slippery Rock a second in novice flat. Edinboro did not have any blue ribbon winners, though Sara King (in intermediate flat), Lindsay Carter (walk-trot) and Kayla Welsh (same) all placed second for the Scots as the day progressed.

Slippery Rock finished tied for fourth. Head Coach Amy Keifer (left) poses with sophomore Tracey Yuslum after the latter earned the only blue ribbon of the day for the Rock with a first in beginner walk-trot-canter.

Not much separated third from seventh. Bethany College finished only a point behind Edinboro and Slippery Rock, as the Bison earned 16 points. Bethany did extremely well in novice fences, as Ashley Iwaniec won the second section outright. Senior Jennifer Herron was second in the first novice fences class while beginner walk-trot-canter riders Gary Cooper and Rachel Sowinski were red ribbon winners.

The University of Buffalo scored 15 points and ended the day tied with Slippery Rock overall in third place. When you realize the Bulls only competed in an IHSA show for the first time last March this statistic becomes even more impressive. Katie Posner earned the Bulls' best ribbon of the day, a first in novice flat. Buffalo teammates Ashley Warren (also novice flat) and Lauren Chin (in open fences) won red ribbons. The Bulls accomplished much without a walk-trot or walk-trot-canter rider competing in today's show. With a full card this team, the only school in New York State not competing in Zone 2, has a real chance of finishing the season third place outright.

While Buffalo had five riders entered in today's show, Washington & Jefferson had only three, covering four divisions. Senior Anna Snyder won the final scheduled class of the day before the ride-off, winning the third section of advanced walk-trot-canter to score half of W&J's 14 points.

Her parents were on hand to see her IHSA debut, and it was a good one for Edinboro freshman Kayla Welsh (center). Her second in walk-trot also meant a considerable amount of money for the Scot's equestrian team, thanks to one of the most interesting fundraisers of all time.

Penn State - Fayette is now officially known as Penn State Fayette Eberly. No matter the name PSU-FE scored 13 points with only two riders and three rides. Junior Shauna Couch, who had pointed out of advanced walk-trot-canter at the Westminster show a week earlier, earned a fourth in her first-ever novice fences class while winning the blue ribbon later on in her novice flat debut. Teammate Barbara Gencel was fourth in her section of beginner walk-trot-canter. "So far I have a fourth, a first and a fourth" said the freshman Gencel.

While none of the thirteen teams entered today scored 12 points, Allegheny College earned 11. Sophomore Luca Scalera led the way for the Gators, earning a second in the lone section of intermediate fences.

California of Pennsylvania scored seven points, with freshman Ashley Hamilton their last rider to compete and their only rider to place higher than fourth. Hamilton was second in the second of three sections of novice flat.

Clarion was one of two teams with five points. Rachel Juno scored Clarions' best ribbon of the day with a fourth in beginner wall-trot-canter. Also earning five points was Westminster College. The Parsons were led by Hillary Householder, who earned a fourth in the second section of walk-trot.

Cal U fairs best in early-season alumni: Though the Vulcans did not score in double digits at today's show, their alumni have been very successful in the early going. 2004 CUP graduate Nikki Duncan (who was Nicole Marshalitis before getting married - we might be mispelling her last name) won both alumni classes at Westminster before earning a first in alumni fences at today's show. 2007 CUP graduate Kaley Riel (who was Kaley Jones last season when she reached IHSA Nationals in the novice fences division) has only been flating so far this season. Riel's second in alumni flat to Westminsters' Aiden Mewha (also a 2007 graduate) put her in first place in the Region 3 alumni flat standings with 16 points, one more than Duncan. Though not yet into the top five in either alumni flat or fences, 2005 Indiana of Pennsylvania graduate Sonya Bell was second to Duncan in alumni fences and will likely move up with more appearances.

University of Pittsburgh freshman Katie Henderson checks out the program while waiting to place first in beginner walk-trot-canter. The host Panthers finished third for the day with 18 points.

The best fundraiser we've ever heard of: When Welsh placed second in her IHSA debut she mentioned that she had to break 'The Bad News' to several friends back on the Edinboro campus. The news wasn't really bad, unless you are short on cash. Former Edinboro rider Katie Budner came up with a clever idea to raise money for the team. The idea is for people to 'sponsor an equestrian' by signing up to pay a certain amount of money to each rider based on how high they place. Riders such as Welsh can secure as many sponsers as they want to, with the money going to the team. Though it is unclear how much money Welsh raised with one second place ribbon in walk-trot, Edinboro team advisor Walter Patterson said that one rider raised over $400.00 last season through the sponsorship program.

This got us to thinking some hypotheticals: Imagine if a rider earned one dollar per point earned towards classing up. Per person this would mean $35.00 if he or she pointed up below the open level with only one sponsor. With ten sponsors this could mean $350.00. If ten riders on the same team accomplished this it would mean $3,500.00. Suddenly the idea of a bake sale seems antiquated!

We almost forgot the ride-off: Seton Hill teammates Albert and Clark did the usual walk-trot-canter-reverse thing, with Albert looking very much like she is back in 2006-07 form. It was Albert's first time as high point rider this season and hopefully for Seton Hill not the last.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching the mid '60's. Start time: 9:27AM. Finish: 2:28PM - Includes a 69 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Ms. Carol Delacy, Alden, NY. Stewards: Koury/West Virginia University, Trumble/Edinboro University and Keifer/Slippery Rock University and Clarion University.

Team Totals: West Virginia University (High Point) 35; Seton Hill University (Reserve) 26; University of Pittsburgh 18; Edinboro University 17; Slippery Rock University 17; Bethany College 16; University of Buffalo 15; Washington and Jefferson 14; Penn State-Fayette Eberly 13; Allegheny College 11; California University of Pennsylvania 7; Clarion University 5 and Westminster College 5.

High Point Rider - Erin Albert, Seton Hill University
Reserve High Point Rider - Mary Clark, Seton Hill University