"Colours" poses with, from left, Jillian Levine, Addie Jabin and Amanda Sobus of Goucher College on October 30th. Though she is not holding a blue ribbon here, Jabin won both of her intermediate classes and the ride-off for High Point Rider honors that day.

GOUCHER WINS BACK-AND-FORTH BATTLE WITH MARY WASHINGTON ON OCTOBER 30TH

Towson, MD - In total contrast to the way we normally write stories on IHSA shows, our story on the October 30th, 2010 University of Maryland at Baltimore County show will be more an exercise in how a Campus Equestrian story is constructed rather than a straight description of what happened.

Before we even travel to a show our intention is to take at least 25 or more photographs and to take at least one photo of a rider on every team with entries. If the team has only one rider in attendance (as was the case today with the American University) we hope to photograph that one rider. If a school has a full card and multiple riders in most divisions, then we hope to get photos of riders who place first or second. If a rider is already qualified for Regionals we will ask to take that rider's photo for possible use on our Regional Qualifiers page (the Regional Qualifiers page is not updated until after November 1st, and from that point forward we try to update the list of qualified riders after each show). Sometimes a team will simply not win a blue or red ribbon as the day progresses. Since we still want to take a photo of someone on this team we will ask who has the best chance of going to Regionals as the season progresses and take that person's photo. If everyone seems to be a mile away from pointing up then whoever has the best ribbon so far that day or whoever is competing in the final classes of the day is who we try to photograph. With 15 teams entered and only 20 undergraduate classes it was obvious several teams would likely miss out on a top-two placing (one school, the United States Naval Academy, did not take part in today's event; Zone 4, Region 1 has the most schools - 16 - of any IHSA region during the 2010-11 season).

Brittany Hill of the University of Mary Washington (on left, with Eagles Head Coach Teresa Seay) is among the most improved open riders within the IHSA this season. In 2009-10 Hill finished sixth in the Region 1 open rider standings with 44 points. Through three fall 2010 shows Hill led the region by six and had already earned 31 points.

The first stop upon arriving at some IHSA shows is the Coaches and Captains meeting (this meeting is sometimes held during a lunch break). During the pre-show Coaches & Captains meeting this writer met several new Region 1 Coaches, including Towson University coaches Julia Wright and Mehdi Kazemi. Kazemi mentioned that he rode for Virginia Intermont College in the 1980's. Towson was making only their second IHSA appearance since the 1990's. Another new coach was Erica Carson, who less than 18 months earlier rode in the team walk-trot class at 2009 IHSA Nationals for the College of Charleston. During the meeting Goucher Head Coach Patte Zumbrun alerted everyone that the show might be stopped temporarily during the AM hours as the Gopher's Cross-Country Team was holding a meet on campus and it would be in the best interest of both horse and rider to let all the runners go by before proceeding. It would turn out that only once during the show would runners emerge from the nearby woods forcing the event to stop. How long were things halted? Fortunately for a grand total of two minutes!

There are several items on this writer's 'to do' list during a show. It is important to photograph as many of the open riders as possible should they eventually represent the region at IHSA Nationals in the Cacchione Cup competition. It is a goal to ask 'year' and 'hometown' of all the open riders and of those who win classes at any level. If the point cards are posted, it is important to start following the points for the day once about three divisions have been completed. Five teams (Goucher, Christopher Newport University, George Washington University, the University of Richmond and the University of Mary Washington) had a slight advantage as their point cards were filled (one rider in each of the eight levels) while the rest had at least one vacancy.

Today's show began with the first of two sections of open flat. Amory Brandt, a Goucher junior from Saratoga, California won the first section while Johnnie Lotesta, a George Mason University senior from Wheaton, Illinois was second. Towson won their first blue ribbon in quite some time as Renn Goldberg won the second section. A senior coincidentally from the town of Towson, Maryland, Goldberg was instrumental in re-starting the Towson equestrian team after a decade-long absense from the IHSA. Brittany Hill, a University of Mary Washington senior from Frederick, Maryland was second. Just over a month earlier Hill had won both of her open classes when Goucher hosted the Pre-Season Tournament of Champions (and Mary Washington had claimed high point team honors).

It seemed like a beam of light shone down on Emma Hines of the University of Richmond (center, with red ribbon) and Spiders coach Sarah Thompson (holding her blue ribbon won in alumni fences immediately before Hines was second in novice flat). However after the Richmond team posed for this golden moment, Monica Croushore of the Spiders (on far right) won her novice fences. Richmond was one of three schools to score 28 points on October 30th.

The open fences followed, with Lotesta (who did not ride for George Mason last season but did ride each of the two seasons prior to that) second to none this time. Valeria Cogliani, a George Washington University senior from Princeton, New Jersey was second in the first section. Arielle Bluestein, a University of Maryland (College Park Campus) senior from Mansfield, Massachusetts, won the second section. Hill was second, which meant she finished the day leading the Region 1 open rider standings with 24 points through two shows.

As was the case with the open divisions, there were two sections of both intermediate flat and fences. However the intermediate flat classes were slighly larger, with seven riders in section 5A and eight in section 5B. Addie Jabin, a Goucher College sophomore from Annapolis, Maryland won the first section of intermediate flat while Anna Weaver, a St. Mary's College (of Maryland) junior from Mount Airy, Maryland was second. Mary Washington, which had yet to lose a show during the 2010-11 season (be it a tournament event or a Region 1 contest) earned their first blue ribbon of the day as Emilia Sanchez won the second intermediate flat class. A junior from Fredericksburg, Virginia (gosh there are so many IHSA riders who go to school in the same town where they live - Editor), Sanchez would not be the last Eagle rider to win a blue ribbon on this day. Second went to Danta Thompson of Christopher Newport University, giving the Captains five points in the process.

It was during section 6A that everyone paused to let what seemed like 30 cross country runners pop out of the woods and off past the Goucher stabling area. When the class was completed Jabin had become the first rider of the day to win twice. It would not be Jabin's first time in the ride-off, as she was high point rider at the Mount St. Mary's University show on October 2nd. Amanda Lane, a Mount St. Mary's freshman from Westminster, Maryland was second to Jabin this time. The second section of intermediate fences was won by Meryl Winslow. A George Washington junior from Bedminster, New Jersey, Winslow pushed the Colonials into double figures for the day with the win (and was one of a handful of winners we failed to photograph during the day). Kate Piret, a St. Mary's College junior from Upper Marlboro, Maryland was second.

We caught them just as they were about to leave. Elizabeth Ryan (third on right) had just placed second in advanced walk-trot-canter for the University of Maryland (College Park) while Emily Bielecki (on far right) was third in the same division one section earlier. In spite of no walk-trot rider the Terrapins still finished in a three-way tie for third with 28 points.

When the University of Maryland at Baltimore County printed up the program for today's show they used very simple abbreviations for each school on the pages where the results of each class could be tracked. This led to some confusion in the alumni flat, as two riders were listed as having attended 'AU.' However while Lindsay Cronin is a 2009 graduate of the American University, Jennifer Coniglio was not from American but from Alfred University in Upstate New York. Coniglio, who went from walk-trot-canter to intermediate while riding for then-head coach Becky Backer in the mid-1990's, was second in alumni flat. It was Coniglio's first IHSA ride of any kind since 1996. Angee Kerns, who was Angee Quattro when she graduated from Virginia Intermont College in 2003, was the alumni flat blue ribbon winner. Though she was only fourth in alumni flat, December 2009 University of Richmond graduate Sarah Thompson won the alumni fences. Thompson is yet another first-year IHSA Coach, having taken over at her alma matter. Kristen Marley, a 2007 Virginia Tech graduate who had placed fifth in alumni flat was second in alumni fences. Former Virginia Tech teammate Mara Sullivan, who is now Mara Thayer, was third in both alumni divisions at today's show. Rounding out the alumni placings were Kristen Vanderlaske, who rode for Longwood College in 2001-02 and was fourth in alumni fences; Cronin, who was sixth in both alumni divisions, and Kerns, who was fifth in alumni fences.

During the alumni classes this writer learned that there was a 21st undergraduate class at today's show. The walk-trot division was split into two sections, with four riders in each.

However the walk-trot would not take place until much later in the day. Novice flat followed the alumni divisions, with not two but four sections. The first section was won by Carly Barrett, a University of Maryland (College Park) junior from Hampsted, Maryland. Emma Hines, a University of Richmond senior from Wilton, Connecticut, was second. Section 3B was the only novice flat class with seven riders (as opposed to six in the others). Christine Cook, a Mary Washington sophomore from (surprisingly) Towson, Maryland won this section while Carly Ziegler of George Mason University was second. From Centerville, Virginia, Ziegler is a sophomore though this is her first year with the GMU team. Lauren Bittle provide the University of Maryland (College Park) with another blue ribbon. A sophomore from Fallston, Maryland, Bittle won section 3C while Ashley McFadden of Christopher Newport was second. A freshman from Malvern, Pennsylvania, this was McFadden's first-ever IHSA ride. While McFadden won a red ribbon in her IHSA debut, Danielle Krause of St. Mary's College came out one placing better. A freshman from Colchester, Connecticut, Krause won section 3D in what was her IHSA debut as well. Since Towson only competed at one show last season we are unsure if Kelsey Leasure of the Tigers had competed at an IHSA show before today. We can confirm that the junior from Mount Airy, Maryland was second in novice flat and would start a streak of Towson red ribbons in the process.

Ashley McFadden of Christopher Newport University (holding red ribbon) poses with several teammates and Coach Ryann Winn (third from right) after placing second in novice flat. We are not sure who the Captain of the CNU team is, but the school with the nickname 'The Captains' tied the Spyders and Terrapins for third with 28 points at today's show.

At one point Goucher (still in search of their first win of the season) had the lead, but the results of novice fences would give the Gophers little room for error if they wanted to rally for a victory. There were three sections of novice jumps. Monica Croushore, a University of Richmond senior coincidentally from Richmond, Virginia won the Spyder's lone (undergraduate) blue ribbon of the day in the first section. Leasure was second, achieving the unusual distinction of winning red ribbons in consecutive classes. Kate Watson, a sophomore from Dudley, Massachusetts was the second George Washington rider to win a class. Second to Watson in section 4B was Rebecca Hale. A junior from Whitehall, Maryland, Hale provided Towson with their third consecutive red ribbon. Sanchez was the last possible candidate who could force Jabin into a ride-off, and she did just that. Sanchez won section 4C while Christopher Newport sophomore Katrina Bess was second. With six divisions completed Mary Washington had the lead. A win for either of the remaining Mary Washington point riders would assure at least a tie for high point team.

There were three sections of advanced walk-trot-canter. Though the College of William & Mary had yet to finish inside the top two this trend would be reversed throughout the remainder of the day. Erika Bradshaw, a sophomore from Chesterfield, Virginia won the first advanced WTC section for the Tribe. Clair Maher, a sophomore from Alexandra, Virginia was second in this section for Mary Washington. In section 2B-A William & Mary made it two straight. Katie Crocker, a junior from Charlottesville, Virginia won while Mary Washington freshman Michelle King (from Lanham, Maryland) was second. Mary Washington did not have another walk-trot-canter entered at today's show. Goucher had two WTC's scheduled in the next two classes. Amanda Sobus, a junior from Baltimore, Maryland won section 2B-C for the Gophers while Elizabeth Ryan (a sophomore from Fallston, Maryland) closed out the University of Maryland (College Park) scoring with a second.

There was one section of beginner walk-trot-canter, which is generally known in Zone 4 as 'beginning walk-trot-canter' (riders in this section can be written on point cards in lieu of listing an advanced walk-trot-canter rider instead - Editor). Jillian Levine, a freshman from Gathersburg, Maryland won this class for Goucher. Host University of Maryland at Baltimore County earned their lone top-two placing of the day as Hannah Wyper was second. A sophomore from Catonsville, Maryland, Wyper was one of only six Retriever riders to compete at today's show (despite such a small number the UMBC team did a good job hosting at Goucher's facility. The show generally went off without a hitch). With both Goucher walk-trot-canter riders winning and both Mary Washington WTC's earning seconds the Gophers could win with a first in walk-trot if Mary Washington coincidentally did not win.

"Colours" was a busy horse on October 30th. He carried Erika Bradshaw of the College of William & Mary (on right) to victory in advanced walk-trot-canter. William & Mary Head Coach Karen Greenwood (on left) saw each of her final three riders of the day earn blue ribbons as the Tribe finished with 26 points.

Thanks to the decision to split walk-trot, two sections made up of four riders each would determine high point team honors. The very first section made it official. Abby Thomas, a sophomore from New York City won section 1A for Goucher to lift the Gophers to victory for the first time this season. Ryan Tiedmann, a Christopher Newport sophomore from Lovettsville, Virginia was second. The College of William & Mary won their third blue ribbon in six classes (they had no one entered in the other three) as Evan Crisman won section 1B. From Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Crisman was the only male rider to win a class at today's show. Meghan Olson of Mary Washington was second in what was the next-to-last class of the day.

The final class of the day was the ride-off for high point rider. For the second time in as many shows Jabin won the ride-off, giving her four blue ribbons plus two high point rider ribbons early in the season (her picture belongs in a dictionary beside the word 'Undefeated'). For the day Goucher won by a 40-38 total, which left the Gophers only two points behind the Eagles overall (Mary Washington won the Region 1 season opener by a 42-38 margin).

Several schools did not in fact see any of their riders place inside the top two. Hood College had five riders entered, with Katie Geiger (in novice fences), Amy Thompson (in advanced walk-trot-canter) and Deedra Hanley-Mathis (in walk-trot) each earning thirds for the Blazers. Georgetown University had three riders entered, with Julia Livesay leading the way for the Hoyas. A freshman from Memphis, Tennessee, Livesay was fourth in both of her novice classes. Sophia Topulos, a junior from Boston, Massachusetts who previously rode for the University of Pennsylvania was fourth in the open flat class which started the show. Jenny Knauss, a senior from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania was the only American University rider to compete, earning a fifth over fences and a sixth on the flat (and ironically we somehow missed our opportunity to take her photo, though Knauss's picture has previously appeared on Campus Equestrian). It should be noted that both the Georgetown and American rosters are much larger than today's show would indicate. However several team members planned ahead of time to attend the 'Rally to restore sanity and/or fear' on the Mall in Washington, DC hosted by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert instead. Apparently they were not alone, as 215,000 people crowded the Mall on October 30th (mostly for the Stewart rally). It is likely both American and Georgetown had better turnouts for the Goucher College show held at the same facility a day later.

Back to 'building a story': With the show completed at 3:55PM, this writer then must wait for the point cards to be fully added so each team's score can be listed at the end of this story. Once this has been completed it is time to head back home to the computer in order to download the photos. Because of the length of the drive (and because this was the second of three IHSA shows this writer saw in three days - Bridgewater College in Zone 4, Region 2 hosted on a Friday) the photos were not downloaded until Monday, November 1st as it turned out.

Towson University (like Goucher College, located in Towson, Maryland) showed at the final 2009-10 Region 1 show and earned 25 points in their first IHSA competition since 1998. Their next time in the ring was on October 30th, and the Tigers tied William & Mary with 26 points each. Rebecca Hale (on left, with Coach Mehdi Kazemi) was second in her novice fences class for Towson.

Knowing that the story itself will take two days to write (it could be completed much sooner if this writer did not insist on mentioning each rider who places first or second, and to acknowledge the best ribbon each team received and the rider who earned it), the decision is made as to which of the shows over the previous weekend this writer attended gets written first. The Bridgewater show on October 29th and the Molloy College show (Zone 2, Region 4) on October 31st were the other candidates. In both of those cases there was a lengthy delay in writing about their 2009-10 shows due to massive amounts of information coming in (high point rider standings and team standings info from other regions) which forced editorial into a hold pattern. As a result the Molloy show story was written first (and was posted on November 3rd). The Bridgewater story was next, and that was not finished and posted until November 10th (after this writer had seen two more shows). This writer was also waiting to hear from someone at Goucher regarding information on the proposed enclosure to their covered arena, which was planned for the end of the story. This delay meant other stories from other weekends were completed first, and ultimately the Goucher story was finished between Christmas and New Year's day. Still the finished product did include information on each of the schools in attendance along with the usual photos and 'show incidentals' at the end. Since this story was delayed the plan is to give priority to writing and posting the next Zone 4, Region 1 article in a timely manner.

We could all use a "Statement of Testamentary Intention" like this: According to the Goucher equestrian team newsletter, a former student has signed a statement of testamentary intention of a million dollars to the college with half the sum to establish an endowment for the equestrian program. Dr. Suzanne Buckner Knoebel, a 1948 graduate of Goucher and the first woman ever elected President of the American College of Cardiology signed this statement on June 1st. Besides the endowment the gift will also fund "...the addition of a Team and Clinic Pavilion to the indoor arena" (the statement in the newsletter is slightly innacurate, as the 'indoor' is actually only a 'covered' ring at time of writing in 2010). Zumbrun indicated that the covered ring will be enclosed and that a permanent viewing area will be constructed on one side of the structure, likely between the current outdoor and the covered arena. The planned bequest is the largest individual gift to the equestrian team in program history.

Three shows later...: After watching both Mount St. Mary's and UMBC host on the Goucher campus, Goucher finally had the opportunity to host in the same place on October 31st. The hosts pulled even with Mary Washington at the time, winning by a 45-43 margin. Less than a week later, Mary Washington re-took the lead with a 37-35 win at the November 6th Christopher Newport show. At the final fall show on November 21st Goucher went back in front. The Gophers' 35-30 win at the Richmond show put them ahead of Mary Washington 193-190 going into the winter break. Christopher Newport, though a distant third with 139 points, would finish higher in the Region 1 team standings than ever before if the season ended today. Though Hill was ahead from October 30th to November 20th, Goucher sophomore Karli Postel won both of her open classes at the Richmond show to draw even through five shows. Postel, who won twice on opening day, is tied with Hill at 47-all in the Region 1 open rider standings (Brandt, Bluestein and Lotesta are next with 38 points each in the race to represent Region 1 at 2011 IHSA Nationals in the Cacchione Cup competition). The next two shows are scheduled for February 19th and 20th, both hosted by Mary Washington at Hazelwild Farm in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Goucher hosts on March 26th in what is currently the Region 1 regular season finale. Expect the team and open rider races to remain close throughout.

We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the efforts of the United States Naval Academy so far in 2010-11. Though Navy was not at the UMBC show the Midshipmen have competed in all the other fall shows. After not having competed in 2009-10 Navy has 71 points this season, good enough for tenth place in the 16 team region.

---Steve Maxwell

Show incidentals: Sunny skies, with high temperatures in the mid '50's. Start time: 10:23AM. Finish: 3:55PM. 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: Street Moore, Baltimore, MD. Stewards: Greenwood/College of William & Mary, Boogaard/George Washington University and Nicholson/George Mason University.

Team Totals: Goucher College (High Point Team) 40; University of Mary Washington (Reserve) 38; University of Richmond 28; Christopher Newport University 28; University of Maryland (College Park) 28; College of William & Mary 26; Towson University 26; George Washington University 24; George Mason University 22; St. Mary's College (MD) 20; Hood College 13; Mount St. Mary's University 12; Georgetown University of 9; University of Maryland - Baltimore County 8 and the American University 3.

High Point Rider - Addie Jabin, Goucher College
Reserve High Point Rider - Emilia Sanchez, University of Mary Washington