University of Mary Washington senior Kelsey Teeters (on right, with Eagles assistant coach Teresa Seay) won the only section of walk-trot at the October 4th Mount St. Mary's show. The senior from Fairfax, Virginia earned the final first place ribbon out of seven found on the Mary Washington point card.

MARY WASHINGTON EAGLES CATCH PERFECT CURRENT, SOAR TO 49 SCORE

Towson, MD - You could see a look of sadness on Jessica Van Brocklin's face. She had just finished second in her first ride of the 2008-09 IHSA season. A Goucher College freshman by the name of Amory Brandt had won section A of open flat to start the day. But Van Brocklin should not have worried one little bit: Her open flat score would turn out to be Mary Washingtons' drop score. Her ride in open fences would produce a blue ribbon and seven team points for the Eagles. And at the end of the day, Van Brocklin would be much happier. The senior from Alexandria, Virginia would win the ride-off for high point while taking an early lead in the Region 1 open rider standings. And best of all the University of Mary Washington Eagles would score a perfect 49 points and head back to Fredericksburg with a 16 point lead over Goucher.

To earn a perfect score, seven of the eight riders picked before the show to represent their division as a 'Point Rider' must win the class in which they are pointed. After the show is completed the lowest score from the eight divisions is dropped (if a team earned eight first place ribbons through their point riders then one of the 'seven' scores is dropped). At today's show Kelsey Teeters (walk-trot), Mary Ryan Richardson (novice fences), Hannah Woll (novice flat), Brittany Hill (intermediate fences), Van Brocklin (open fences), either Samantha Rizzi or Tiffany Batterton (intermediate flat) and either Marina Frano or Shannon Brown (advanced walk-trot-canter) were pointed for Mary Washington in their respective divisions. And each went on to win their class. Thus Van Brocklins' five points on the point sheet are dropped, though they do indeed count individually in the race to qualify for Regionals.

Mary Washington rode so well throughout the day that only two rides out of 15 resulted in ribbons below third place. Hill, a sophomore from Mount Airy, Maryland was second in a separate section of open flat and thus joined Van Brocklin in the ride-off. Richardson, whose older sisters Lauren (A former University of Virginia rider and individual National Champion) and Erin (a former Mary Washington teammate) were on hand to watch, won the largest class of the day, beating out 11 others in the lone section of novice fences. The sophomore from Powhatan, Virginia accomplished this feat on her 20th birthday.

Virginia McMahon (on left) and Claire McMahon (on right) are one of the only cases of a Mother and Daughter riding for the same IHSA team. As Virginia Verdirame, Claire's Mom was a member of the first Goucher College team in 1982-83. Though she is holding "Tucker," current Goucher senior Claire won her section of intermediate fences riding "Cole" (not pictured).

On any other day Gouchers' 33 point effort would have been far closer to first place or enough to even win. Though today's show was on the Goucher campus, the host was Mount St. Mary's University. Still, Goucher competed on their own horses with considerable success. Brandt, a freshman from Saratoga, California (whose older sister Beth rode for Hartwick College) won open flat while placing fourth in open fences in her IHSA debut. Senior Claire McMahon won intermediate fences while freshman Emily McCormack won beginner walk-trot-canter. Shauntae Robinson (walk-trot), April Kerns (advanced walk-trot-canter), Sarah Ashby (novice flat) and Courtney Levine (same) were red ribbon winners for the Gophers.

Despite not having a walk-trot rider on their point card (resulting in their automatic drop score), the University of Maryland finished third for the day with 26 points. Leading the way for the Equiterps was sophomore Arielle Bluestein. From Mansfield, Massachusetts, Bluestein won her section of open fences while placing third in open flat. Bluestein ended the day a point behind Van Brocklin and a point ahead of Brandt in the Region 1 open rider standings. Also into the blues for Maryland were Devora McCoy in novice flat and Laura Korab in beginner walk-trot-canter. Allison Deugwillo was second in her section of advanced walk-trot-canter.

It was the IHSA coaching debut of former University of Maryland rider Blair Conard (on left). Her Terps came in third overall, with sophomore Arielle Bluestein (on right) finishing first in open fences and third in open flat along the way.

George Washington University finished a point behind Maryland with 25. Surprisingly GW did not claim any blue ribbons during the day. Erika Renson, a freshman from Studio City, California was second to Van Brocklin in her second IHSA ride while sophomore Valeria Cogliani was second to Batterton in intermediate flat two classes later. No other GW rider finished above fourth place.

Two other schools scored in 20's, as George Mason University and St. Mary's College of Maryland tied for fifth with 21 each. Karly Bilotta, a George Mason freshman from Charlottesville, Virginia was the lone blue ribbon winner for the Patriots. Bilotta did not jump at today's show, so she one of a small number of riders who could claim to be undefeated through one show. Lindsay Graves (open fences), Johnnie Lotesta (intermediate fences) and Jessica Nuti (beginner walk-trot-canter) were red ribbon winners for the Patriots. The first St. Mary's ride of the season belonged to senior Rachel Welniak. From Charlotte Hall, Maryland Welniak was tested (along with Hill) at the end of the second section of open flat. Both riders were asked to canter, then change direction showing a simple change of lead. This was more difficult than it may seem, as five other riders were lined up in the middle of the ring for Welniak and Hill to attempt to avoid! Both handled the situation well, with Welniak besting Hill for the blue ribbon. Welniak would be the only St. Mary's rider with a first, though Laura Robidoux would place second for the Seahawks in the middle section of novice flat.

George Washington University has a pair of new open riders. Erica Slan (on left) is a junior from Potomic, Maryland who transfered from Boston University while Erika Renson (on right) is a freshman from Studio City, California. Renson finished second in open fences to earn one of two red ribbons for the Colonials.

The University of Richmond scored 17 points, with junior Lauren Barone earning the Spider's top ribbon of the day with a second in intermediate flat. Rebecca Margolis and Sara Thompson placed third in separate sections of open fences while Alison Fechino was third in walk-trot for Richmond.

Riding without a walk-trot or an open fences rider, the American University still scored a respectable 14 points. Jennifer Knauss, a sophomore from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania was second to McMahon in intermediate fences to earn the best ribbon of opening day for American, which like Mary Washington has the nickname "The Eagles."

As had been the case with George Mason and St. Mary's, both the College of William & Mary and Christopher Newport University finished with the same number of points. The Tribe earned five of their 11 points when senior Maggie Woodward placed second in advanced walk-trot-canter. Woodward was one of a half dozen riders on the day to receive a re-ride for one reason or another. Leading the way for Christopher Newport was Linda Zorumski, who won the additional section of beginner walk-trot-canter which was created shortly before the division began in order that the classes be smaller. Haley Jones (intermediate flat), Whisper Flannagan (advanced walk-trot-canter) and Brittany Wallace (the section of beginner walk-trot-canter before Zorumski) were all yellow ribbon winners for the Captains.

Recent George Mason graduate Veronica Eink (center) filled in for Head Coach Bevin Nicholson (not pictured) at today's show. Sarah Dozier (on left) was fourth in novice flat, while one class later Karly Bilotta was a blue ribbon winner in her IHSA debut. The freshman from Charlottesville, Virginia (on right) was first in the third of three sections of novice flat.

Three teams entered at today's show did not reach double figures, but one of those three could not have been happier. The University of Maryland at Baltimore County made their IHSA debut at today's show, with riders showing in the novice and walk-trot-canter divisions. The "Chesapeake Retrievers" earned their first-ever ribbon when sophomore Cortney Crouse was fifth in the first of three sections of novice flat. Novice fences produced five of UMBC's eight team points, as Emily Plitt was second to Richardson in the large division. The sophomore from Kingsville, Maryland was not the only UMBC rider to earn a red ribbon. Jillian Dembek and Anna Lyons were both second place winners in two of the three sections of beginner walk-trot-canter. Head Coach Sherri Fram nearly saw a top six placing from each of the Chesapeake Retrievers' seven rides. Plitt was disqualified from novice flat for using a crop before entering the ring. For those who are new to the IHSA the most common ways to get disqualified before being judged are to use a crop outside the ring, trot into the ring, canter into the ring, mount the wrong horse or use a material such as stick-um to get a better grip between the saddle and the boot.

Mount St. Mary's University was made up of only three riders at today's show, with senior Carroll Galvin earning four of the Mountaineer's five points with a third in novice flat. Hood College was also made up of three riders. However none of the Hood riders made the top six in any of their three rides. Though they are once again a member of Region 1, Georgetown University did not compete at today's show. According to American Head Coach Jeff Becker (who also coaches the Hoyas) Georgetown will likely compete at the Goucher show on October 25th. Towson State, without an IHSA team since the 1997-98 season, is expected to be returning in the spring of 2009.

Though Mount St. Mary's and Hood may be waiting for better days, both schools can claim alumni riders who are off to very good starts in 2008-09. Jen Mehalko, a 2007 Hood graduate who went to Nationals in both alumni divisions last season, was second in alumni fences and fourth in alumni flat. 2004 Mount St. Mary's graduates Lauren Maruskin and Mary Bast both returned to the IHSA ring for the first time in four years, with Maruskin a winner in alumni flat and Bast a winner in alumni fences. 2004 Virginia Tech graduate Alicia Salo, who like Mehalko went to Nationals in both alumni divisions last May, was second in alumni flat and third in alumni fences. Also riding alumni at today's show were College of William & Mary graduate Jordan DeButts and Longwood University graduate Kristen Van Derlaske. It was the alumni debut for DeButts, whose best showing was fourth in alumni fences. Van Derlaske was third between Salo and Mehalko in alumni flat.

From left to right are Ellen Johnson, Sarah Doble, Linda Zorumski, Laurie Jablonski and Brittany Wallace. Johnson is currently on the injured list and is thus the Christopher Newport "Team Groom" for 2008-09. Zorumski won the only blue ribbon of the day for the Captains with a first in beginner walk-trot-canter.

The Ride-Off: Judge Glenn Moody asked Van Brocklin and Hill to show a simple change of lead at the canter, which would have been the second time Hill was asked to do this at today's show. Both riders were also asked to pick up the counter-canter. Van Brocklin, who is as good as any rider in the IHSA when she is on, was declared today's high point rider.

You don't Seay?: University of Mary Washington Assistant Coach Teresa Seay (who was Teresa Bettis as an undergraduate) could claim three different Head Coaches during her four years riding for Mary Washington from 1995-99: Carol Hall (1995-96), Becky Dye (1996-98) and Kathy Danielson (1998 to well into the current decade). Considering the recent success of the Eagles it is hoped that Seay and Head Coach Beth Boteler (who was Beth Blackwell when she graduated from Virginia Tech in 2000) stay around for the long term. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And in no way is the University of Mary Washington in need of any repairs at this time.

---Steve Maxwell

Show incidentals: Mostly sunny, with high temperatures in the low '70's. Start time: 10:42AM. Finish: 5:04PM. Coaches and Captains Meeting held prior to start of show. Point Cards posted in this Region? Yes. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes. Judge: Glenn Moody, Charlottesville, VA. Stewards: Greenwood/College of William & Mary, Feldman/University of Richmond and Falkowski-Schmitter/St. Mary's College (MD).

Team Totals: University of Mary Washington (High Point Team) 49; Goucher College (Reserve) 33; University of Maryland (College Park) 26; George Washington University 25; George Mason University 21; St. Mary's College (MD) 21; University of Richmond 17; American University 14; College of William & Mary 11; Christopher Newport University 11; University of Maryland - Baltimore County 8; Mount St. Mary's University 5 and Hood College 0.

High Point Rider - Jessica Van Brocklin, University of Mary Washington
Reserve High Point Rider - Brittany Hill, University of Mary Washington