Tigers edge bison and scarlet knights

Readington, NJ - Kelly Wells (pictured) won her section of open flat. Allison Roensch won her section of novice flat. Dyonne Venable won her section of advanced walk-trot-canter. All three ride for Princeton, and all three now can say they have competed in an IHSA show where the tigers were high point team. How long had it been since Princeton won a show outright? Not since Rutgers hosted at Briarwood on March 13, 1994 to be exact! The tigers had posted 34 points to edge the University of Delaware, Beaver College (now known as Arcadia University) and Bucks County Community College, all with 33 points on that March day. Today the tigers scored 36 points, their highest one show total in over ten years. Bucknell was reserve with 34, while Rutgers kept close with 33.

How much has the world changed since Princeton last won? The current seniors (such as Wells) were in seventh grade. Less than 2% of the nation had internet access, and the Briarwood riding rings for todays' open and intermediate classes (not to mention the barn where registration takes place) had not even been built! Unlike the 1994 show, todays' tigers also had the responsibility of hosting, making the victory even more impressive. The weather in '94 was overcast with temperatures in the 40's. However, as is often the case with Spring shows at Briarwood Farm, all classes were held indoors. Todays' show was held outdoors under sunny skies, with temperatures eventually in the mid-'40's. But there was one other weather factor - the Wind!

Constant winds from the northwest, perhaps up to 40 miles per hour, made the show feel like one of the coldest ever. Rutgers senior Maureen Hennihan lived the real-life video game when only three rides into the show one of the fences the open rider had past moments earlier blew over! At first someone called out for Hennihan to hold up, but Briarwood Farm owner Jack Benson called out "Keep going. That fence is not on course." Hennihan continued, but even while riding asked if she should stop. Rutgers head coach Kelly Lamont-Francfort told Hennihan to keep going, which turned out to be the right thing. Hennihan won, prompting Kutztown head coach Bruce Lachiusa to remark "(Hennihan) is the only rider who has ever figured out how to ride that horse (referring to "Einstein," one of the more popular draws at Briarwood)."

Following the placement of some sandbags against the jump standard, the second section of open fences went to Bucknell senior Whitney Scott, who only joined the team last season. Vicki Gallets of Rutgers, having her best season to date, was second, while Wells finally saw a ribbon below red, placing third. "I can still say I haven't placed below third," said the senior from Park City, Utah, who ended the day four points out of the lead in the region 4 high point open rider standings, this despite missing one of the five Fall shows.

Four scratches in intermediate fences meant that only one big section of the division was held. Katie Graebener of Rutgers won the lone section, with Kutztown freshman Diana Pegg reserve. Wells then won the open flat, though Gallets was second a second time and thus stayed one point ahead of Wells in the open rider standings. Scott became the first rider of the day with two blue ribbons, winning the other section of open flat while Patty Cleary of Rutgers, who has done very well on the flat this season, was second. Scott overtook teammate Sara Figoski not to mention Gallets and Wells to lead the open rider standings headed into the winter break. The scarlet knights then proceeded to dominate the two intermediate flat divisions. Ellen Levitian won section 5A, with teammate Alicia Blaney second. Erica Bello won section 5B, perhaps the more disconcerting of the two sections. During this class, which was uncharacteristically held in the ring beside the jumping ring, the jump that had been reinforced with sandbags blew over yet again. The noise did not bother Bello, and the third blue ribbon of the day was awarded to Rutgers.

The remainder of the show was held in the ring closest to the indoor. The four novice fences classes followed, won in order by Jeanine Elbaz, a Bucknell freshman from Rockville Center, NY; Sara Silkotch, a standout stock seat rider for Rutgers, winning a fences class for the first time ever (and pointing out of the division in the process); Becky Stoll of Kutztown and Sara Stefanini of Bucknell. The firsts for Elbaz and Stoll were their first IHSA blue ribbons over fences. Bello of Rutgers placed second to Stefanini, while Stefanini had placed second to Bello in intermediate flat. Both were briefly tied for reserve high point rider following this class.

Phillips qualifies for regionals, twice!: Virginia Intermont graduate Ashton Phillips became the first alumni rider in the entire zone to qualify for regionals when he placed first in alumni fences. Nancy Panarese, formerly of the University of Scranton, was reserve. Panarese is the only person to win a class versus Phillips this season, having won once on the flat and once over fences. Following the lunch break, Phillips made it 33 points in each by winning the alumni flat. Alumni riders need 28 points to qualify in a division, and with five shows scheduled for the Spring, Panarese, Amherst graduate Maren Vitousek, University of Virginia graduate Jennifer Price (Jennifer Johnson to her former UVA teammates) and Rutgers graduate Celeste Sisto all have a fair chance to reach 28 in one of the two divisions if they continue to place as they did during the Fall (Bucks County Community College graduate Ron Blessington became the second rider in the zone to reach regionals the next day. Blessington is undefeated in four zone 3, region 2 alumni fences classes-editor).

It was 1:41PM when the flat classes, alumni, novice and everything else below intermediate got underway. All twelve of them and the ride-off would be done in slightly more than two hours. Following Phillips win in alumni flat was a fine showing by Kutztown riders in advanced walk-trot-canter. Ashley Wener from the golden bears was first while teammate Rachael Bartek was reserve. The first of six novice flat classes was next, won by Scrantons' Sarah Fray. Bucknells' Nick Willett, who won the unofficial maiden fences class before the lunch break, was second. Some regions have this class, which allows a rider who might not be ready for the novice fences to jump some cross-rails. Though maiden fences does not count towards regionals, more regions should consider adding this practice class to prepare a few individuals for the verticals. Elizabeth Hardison won the first section of walk-trot, with Princetons' Nathaniel Norman picking up reserve. Along with teammates Ari Samsky and Hillary Frankel, Norman was one of three tigers who served as Public Address announcer. A senior from Providence, Rhode Island who had not participated in IHSA shows until this season, Norman was the finest at pronouncing names and the second place ribbon was his best to date. Chrissie Baldwin of East Stroudsburg won the second section of novice flat, with Scrantons' Alicia Anthony reserve. Next came beginner walk-trot-canter, and like the intermediate fences, both sections "originally-scheduled" were combined shortly before the show started. Heather Mazzanti of Bucknell won the class, with Megan Kees of Cedar Crest reserve, providing the falcons with their best ribbon of the day. Novice flat would come up again every other time the rest of the day. The third section went to Roensch while Elbaz was reserve, moving into a potential three-way ride-off with Stefanini and Bello. Kathleen Laux of Bucknell won the second of three sections of advanced walk-trot-canter, with Lauren Mohan of Lehigh one of three mountain hawks to earn a reserve ribbon throughout the day. Section 3D kept momentum going for Scranton, as Jen Cours won for the royals. Carrie Landis of Kutztown was second. Though many Bucknell freshman participated today, only two first-year bison had ridden at the season opener. One of them was Elizabeth Spencer-Green, who won the second section of walk-trot today. Rebecca Merola of Lehigh was second. Erin Brody became the third royal rider to win a novice flat class by winning section 3E, with Erica Bechtel of Kutztown earning the red ribbon. During this class the wind died down noticably, and the final three classes were held under tolerable conditions. Venable of Princeton won the third section of advanced walk-trot-canter, while Cassie Florian became the third Lehigh rider in the last seven classes to earn a reserve ribbon.

Potential ride-off scenerios: With only one class to go before a ride-off, Scott was still the only rider with two firsts. Teammates Elbaz and Stefanini and Bello of Rutgers each had a first and a second. Two riders in the sixth and final section of novice flat could change everything. Stoll of Kutztown and Silkotch of Rutgers could either tie Scott for high point or place reserve and make the ride-off a four way affair. Though She had only one blue ribbon in all of her prior IHSA hunter seat classes combined before the day started, Silkotch won section 3F outright, sending Scott scrambling to finish changing back into her show clothes (she was dressed from the waist down before the announcement). When the ride-off for high point was over, the Bucknell senior from Reston, Virginia had prevailed. Combined with the fact that she will lead the region 4 open rider standings until February 23rd (when Cedar Crest hosts at Briarwood), it could be said that today was Whitney Scotts' finest IHSA hour. It was also the finest hour in over 70 shows for the tigers, who hopefully will not make everyone wait another eight years to see them claim high point team honors.

Show Incidentals: Mostly sunny, High winds from the northwest, bringing wind chills far below freezing. High temperature actually in the upper 40's at shows' end. Start time: 9:04AM. Finish: 3:47PM - includes 42 minute lunch break/coaches & captains meeting and separate 27 minute schooling break. Point cards posted in this region? No. Alumni classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Annette Mohr, Montgomery, NY. Stewards: Lamont-Francfort/Rutgers University, Gradel/DeSales University and Michael Clarke, head coach of Columbia University in zone 2, region 1.

Team Totals: Princeton University (High Point Team) 36; Bucknell University (Reserve) 34; Rutgers University 33; Kutztown University 25; University of Scranton 20; Lehigh University 17; East Stroudsburg University 10; Cedar Crest College 7; DeSales University 3 and Bloomsburg University 1.

High Point Rider - Whitney Scott, Bucknell University
Reserve High Point Rider - Sara Silkotch, Rutgers University