She is seen here with "Sammy Davis" after winning team intermediate flat. Later she would win team intermediate over fences while riding "Hatteras." She is Goucher College junior Addie Jabin, and she helped the Gophers capture high point team honors at Zones for the first time ever!

GOPHERS LEAD FROM START TO FINISH WHILE KNIGHTS REPEAT AS RESERVE CHAMPIONS

Towson, MD - Unless Zones were held there in the 1990's, the April 7th Zone 4 Zones show was the first one ever to be held on the campus of Goucher College. The host Gophers were making their fifth appearance with a full hunter seat team at Zones. The 2007 Goucher team was second at Zone 4 Zones held in Blacksburg, Virginia that year, which marked the first time the Gophers sent a full hunter seat team to IHSA Nationals. On April 7th Goucher set a new highwater mark for the program, earning the blue ribbon with 45 points. The Gophers won three of the first four team classes and held the lead from start to finish.

Addie Jabin, a junior from Annapolis, Maryland won both team intermediate classes for Goucher. Callie Hodge (freshman, Columbia, Maryland) won the team walk-trot-canter class prior to Jabin's second win which was in intermediate flat. Juniors Karli Postel and Madison Tidwell were second in team open fences and team walk-trot, respectively. Freshman Joey Fink (from Baltimore, Maryland) finished second in both team novice divisions while senior Amory Brandt was third in open flat which was the final class of the day.

"Get in a jam? Get a Cram!": Last season they were St. Andrews Presbyterian College. This season they are St. Andrews University. Last season the Knights spent most of Zone 4 Zones in first place, only to watch host Bridgewater College sneak past them for the blue ribbon late in the day. This season the Knights were in second place from the second class of the day forward. In either case St. Andrews has successfully advanced a full hunter seat team to Nationals each of the past two seasons. After junior Sami Cram started the day with at third in intermediate fences, junior open rider Katie Hansen (from Toledo, Ohio) pulled the Knights into second with a win in open fences. After a third in team walk-trot-canter for sophomore Miranda Wright Sami's twin sister Kali was second to Jabin in team intermediate fences. Kali won the next team class, novice flat while Shiloh Kozlowski was third in team walk-trot a short time later. Sami won the seventh team class, the novice fences, giving St. Andrews a shot to win the Zones competition outright (according to St. Andrews Director of Riding Peggy McElveen, Virginia Intermont College head coach Eddie Federwisch was so impressed with the Cram twins at several of the Tournament of Champions shows that he sent her a text message with the phrase, "Get in a Jam? Get a Cram!" Considering how phenomenally successful Fink had been throughout the season it was noteworthy that the Crams were able to tag-team the Goucher freshman into a pair of seconds with outstanding rides). Hansen was only able to take second in open flat (one ribbon ahead of Brandt), narrowing the final margin to 45-43 in favor of the Gophers. After the show McElveen was proud of the fact that, for the first time St. Andrews had advanced not only a full hunter seat and full western team to IHSA Nationals but that the St. Andrews Dressage team was also qualified for IDA Nationals. By the end of the weekend the Knights were the only IHSA team to qualify both a full English and Western team to 2012 Nationals, which will be very close to home at the Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, North Carolina.

A reasonable number of St. Andrews riders get into the picture just after Katie Hansen (center) won team open over fences for the Knights. Coach Ashley Duda (second on right) would later see each of the identical Cram twins (one of which is on the far left) win team classes to secure second place overall and a trip to Nationals for the second year in a row.

Defending Zone 4 Zones champion Bridgewater College did not have a good start to the team competition. Each of the first four Bridgewater riders finished fourth out of four, essentially burying the Eagles' chances of catching the Gophers or Knights. Things looked up slightly when senior Lindsey Goode was third in team novice flat. Kara Sims (freshman, Falls Church, Virginia) won team walk-trot to pull the Eagles to within a point of the University of Delaware. Sophomore Emily Rhodes was third in team novice fences to create a tie with UDel through seven classes. Taylor Rose, a sophomore from Westminster, Maryland who had already won individual intermediate on the flat earlier in the day to secure a trip to IHSA Nationals, won team open flat to give the Eagles 34 points and third place honors for the day. One thing to consider about the Eagles' fate in the team competition is that while Goucher, St. Andrews and Delaware each won their regions by over 40 points Bridgewater was in a battle royal for the right to take a full team to Zones from Region 2. The Eagles won their region by a slim 255-250 margin over Sweet Briar College, the later of which led the region through the mid-season break. In order to accomplish this Bridgewater may not have been able to hold out specific riders from late season shows to use them in the Zones team competition at a lower level, instead having to use them in the final shows and let them point out while providing the team with the points needed to fend off the likes of Sweet Briar, Lynchburg College and a hard-charging Hollins University team which had perhaps the best spring of any team in Region 2.

The University of Delaware enjoyed the widest margin of victory of any Zone 4 team during the regular season, finishing 97 points ahead of Villanova University within the Region 4 team standings. However three days before Zones senior open rider and Cacchione Cup qualifier Katie LaDow 'popped a tendon' in her right foot according to Fighting Hens coach Bryan Bradley (LaDow, on crutches but in attendance, said she should be healthy by Nationals to compete for the Cacchione Cup). As a result Bradley had five freshmen entered in the team competition (six rides) instead of four (four rides) had LaDow competed. For a while these freshmen had the Fighting Hens in real contention. Rachel Kanegis was second to Jabin in team intermediate flat, temporarily putting UDel in second to start the day. Anna Loughran was third in team open flat while Tara Doele was second to Hodge in team walk-trot-canter (Through three team classes it was Goucher 19, St. Andrews 15, Delaware 14 and Bridgewater 9). Senior Abbey Randa was third in team intermediate fences which left the Fighting Hens only two points out of second through half the team classes. However just as Bridgewater had been fourth in each of the first four team classes UDel would suffer the same fate in each of the final four team classes. The Fighting Hens finished the day with 30 points. The good news is that many freshmen received their first taste of Zones which might bode well in the future (Goucher was third out of three at 2010 Zone 4 Zones with Jabin, Postel and Brandt - then a sophomore - competing in at least one team class).

There was a progressive rock band in the 1970's known as Emerson, Lake and Palmer or ELP. To a younger generation ELP means you are talking about Hollins University's brilliant open rider Emma Lane Poole! From left to right are Hollins coach Sandy Gerald, Poole, coach Nancy Peterson and coach Liz Courter. Poole won individual open over fences which made her the first of three Hollins riders to advance to Nationals and the second of six consecutive Region 2 riders to win an undergraduate individual class.

There were four IHSA Zones shows around the country on this day, and Zone 4 Zones was clearly the fastest of the four. Judge Carole O'Brien knew what she was looking for, as not one class was tested (though riders in the open flat classes were asked to do work without irons) and the contest was completed in three and a half hours. In total contrast Zone 1 Zones started ten minutes before Zone 4 Zones and was completed after 6:00PM eastern time. The school which faired the best in O'Brien's eyes was Hollins University. Hollins had three riders entered in the individual classes and all three made the top two to advance to Nationals. Emma Lane Poole, a junior from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania had a refusal in individual open fences but received a re-ride and won the class. Two classes later it was teammate Catherine Hensly's turn. A sophomore from Virginia Beach, Hensly won the individual walk-trot-canter, giving Hollins two blues in two attempts. Junior Sarah Brown nearly made it three-for-three, coming up second to Rose in individual intermediate over fences.

Though Bridgewater did not advance a full team Region 2 did extremely well individually, with eight of a possible 16 top-two placings - and a trip to Nationals - for riders from the region associated with the Northern and Western portion of the State of Virginia (the Interstate 81 region to some, as the majority of Region 2 schools are located not all that far off this interstate highway). Allyson Gallamore (senior - graduating a year early!, from King George, Virginia) joined teammate Rose at Nationals by placing second in individual walk-trot. Region 2 reserve high point team Sweet Briar College earned a blue ribbon in the first class of the day as Sarah Hibler won individual intermediate flat. The sophomore from Newark, Ohio was not the only Vixen to win outright. Kathryne Richard (freshman, Portland, Oregon) won individual novice on the flat eleven classes later. Richard was the only freshman to win an individual class. Region 2 Cacchione Cup entry Tamara Morse (senior, Bristow, Virginia) won individual open on the flat for Washington & Lee University to round out the top-two placings for Region 2 individual riders. If you look at the individual numbers from all of the other Zones shows Region 2 was the only region this season to advance eight undergraduate individuals to Nationals and the only one which could claim six blue ribbons at Zones in undergraduate individual classes.

Region 3 advanced four individual riders to Nationals, with three coming from the high point school. Alie McGraw, a St. Andrews senior from Osterville, Massachusetts won the final individual class of the day which was novice fences. Much earlier teammate Kayla McBath (junior, Orlando, Florida) was second to Hibler in individual intermediate flat. Hansen, who is the Region 3 Cacchione entry this season, was second to Morse in individual open flat. The only Zone 4, Region 3 hunter seat rider not from St. Andrews to qualify for Nationals was Talia Baghdoyan. From Northampton, Massachusetts, Duke University sophomore Baghdoyan was second to Richard in individual novice on the flat.

Kathleen Wallace of the University of Mary Washington (on right, with head coach Teresa Seay) was the last individual rider to hear her name called out as an individual Nationals qualifier. Wallace was second in individual novice fences, which was the last of the ten individual classes. Some in Zones 1, 2 and 3 may be surprised to hear that the results at Zone 4 Zones are read off from first through sixth as during the regular season, in contrast to Regionals and Zones in the Northeast (and IHSA Nationals) where the placings are announced in reverse order to create more drama.

Region 1 advanced three undergraduates individually. Mallory Knott, a St. Mary's College of Maryland senior (from St. Mary's County, Maryland) was the first rider from this region to advance, placing second to Hensly in individual walk-trot-canter. Knott is the first St. Mary's undergraduate hunter seat rider to qualify for Nationals since Mike Gaches in 2004. Kathleen Wallace, a University of Mary Washington junior (from Midlothian, Virginia) was second to McGraw in individual novice over fences. And Matthew Stough, a George Mason University sophomore (from Springfield, Virginia) won individual walk-trot outright. With the win Stough ended Region 2's streak of six consecutive individual undergraduate blue ribbons at today's show. Somewhat surprisingly host Goucher did not advance any individual riders through Zones. Postel came close, the junior from Newbury Park, California and Region 1 Cacchione Cup rider placing third in both individual open classes.

Region 4 saw but one individual undergraduate qualify through to Nationals at today's show. Rachel Fleszar, a University of Pennsylvania freshman from Painted Post, New York, had placed third in individual open over fences at Region 4 Regionals one week earlier but was allowed to show at Zones when LaDow (who had been in the top two at Regionals) had to bow out due to injury. Fleszar finished second to Poole to become what turned out to be the only individual undergraduate rider from her region to survive Zones (Note: LaDow plans to be ready to ride for the Cacchione Cup. If her recovery is slower than anticipated then Region 4 runner-up high point open rider Nicole DeVoe of Villanova would compete at Nationals for the Cacchione in her place). Debbie Kapilow of Drexel University (in individual intermediate on the flat) and Patrick Sullivan of Villanova University (in individual novice over fences) just missed with thirds in their respective divisions.

Region 4 had better luck with their alumni, specifically those with University of Delaware degrees. 2011 UDel graduate James Hobbie, who was already qualified for Nationals in both western alumni divisions, won the alumni flat class. His former teammate Nicole Adams was second in alumni fences. The other two alumni to advance were from Region 1. Sarah Thompson, who graduated from the University of Richmond halfway through the 2009-10 school year, won alumni fences. Thompson competed in the same division at 2011 IHSA Nationals, placing second overall. Former Sweet Briar rider Erica Palmisano finished second to Hobbie on the flat and is also Nationals-bound.

Though each individual class was made up of eight riders ribbons were awarded from first through sixth only (somewhat unusually, Zone 4 gives out a blue ribbon which is a 'participation' ribbon to each rider who places third or lower. If one wasn't paying attention they might think everyone was a winner! The first and second place ribbons are much larger than the participation ribbons and are appropriately blue and red, respectively). Among schools present which did not see a rider advance through to Nationals included Lynchburg College (three rides, with Katie Plazak's fourth in individual walk-trot the highlight), North Carolina State University (three rides, with Erin Winter fourth in indvidual walk-trot-canter for the Wolfpack's top placing), Washington College (two rides, with Jared De Permentier's fifth in individual open flat leading the way for the Shoremen) and the first-ever Zones qualifiers from four schools: Camille Hamilton of Valley Forge Military College (in individual walk-trot); Jenna Pummill of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (also in individual walk-trot); Caroline Thompson of Virginia Commonwealth University (in individual walk-trot-canter) and Demi Mahoney of Coastal Carolina University. Mahoney, a junior from Miller Place, New York was the only rider of the four to place within the top six, earning sixth place in individual novice fences for the only school within the state of South Carolina which competes in Zone 4 rather than Zone 5.

When the week started she was already going to Zones in individual open flat. But at the end of the week Rachel Fleszar of the University of Pennsylvania learned that she would also be entered in individual open over fences due to an injury to the University of Delaware's Katie LaDow (not pictured). From left to right are Lyle Brunhofer, coach Dawne Morrone, Fleszar and Allison Lee of the Quakers. Fleszar placed second in individual open fences to secure what turned out to be Region 4's only top-two placing in an individual undergraduate class.

It is always a good thing when the Director of Athletics is on hand: Goucher College director of athletics Geoff (or perhaps Jeff) Miller was in attendance for Goucher's big day. During the individual open over fences both Poole and Postel had refusals while riding the exact same horse (Postel nearly came off but managed one of the most acrobatic saves to stay on this writer has seen in over 20 years of IHSA shows!). When Miller saw that Poole was re-entering the ring for a re-ride he asked if Postel would also receive a re-ride since they were on the same horse (in fact Postel happened to be near Miller earlier when Poole refused and pointed out to him that she would be riding that horse later in the division). This writer said he could not be certain but lo and behold Postel was in fact back in the ring for a re-ride moments after Poole had completed the course. Save for this one incident the horses at Goucher performed beautifully throughout the day. As of April 12th a photo of the Goucher team was loading up on the home page of the official Goucher Athletics site (www.athletics.goucher.edu). For the time being anyone who wants to go through the main entrance to Goucher's athletics site must first see the Zone 4 champions before clicking at the bottom of the page to actually 'enter Goucher Athletics.'

Where will Zone 4 Zones be in 2013?: McElveen indicated that Region 3 will host 2013 Zones, which will be at St. Andrews just as they were three years ago. Region 4 would be next in line for 2014 though it was not certain if the northernmost region within Zone 4 would in fact host Zones at that time. Everyone has two years to figure this one out.

Nationals in Zone 4 Territory for first time since 1991: Considering that the Zone has long included all of Virginia, North Carolina, most of Maryland and all of the District of Columbia it may come as a surprise to some that 2012 Nationals are being held in this area for the first time in 21 years. In the spring of 1991 Hollins University (then known as Hollins College) hosted Nationals on their campus. At that time the IHSA had just over half the number of riders it has today nationwide and better than 80 percent of the Nationals shows prior to 1991 had been held at a college facility. 1991 Nationals, like those from 1979 forward, was held over the course of only two days. In 1998 the show went to three days and in 2004 to four. 2012 Nationals will be held at the Hunt Horse Complex, which is apparently part of the state fairgrounds in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nationals will take place Thursday, May 3rd through Sunday, May 6th, and if the schedule of classes is similar to all but one National show held since 2004 then the hunter seat classes will be completed by mid-afternoon on Saturday, May 5th. Though it has been some time since Nationals took place in this part of the country it should be noted that this will be the sixth time Nationals will have taken place in either Virginia or North Carolina. 1977 and 1986 Nationals were at the Barracks in Charlottesville, Virginia (still the home base of the University of Virginia team), 1988 Nationals were hosted by St. Andrews Presbyterian College (as they were known at the time) and 1983 Nationals were hosted by Southern Seminary Junior College, which included a junior named Elizabeth "Beezie" Patton at the time. In spite of the fact that Southern Sem produced Patton (now known as Beezie Madden) and that the school won or shared IHSA National Championships seven times in the 1980's the program no longer exists. With or without Southern Seminary the IHSA concludes its' 45th full season with what will no doubt be a year-end National show featuring southern hospitality in a way only Zone 4 can serve it up.

--Steve Maxwell

Head coach Ian MacCartney (on right) poses with Sweet Briar College freshman Kathryne Richard after the latter won individual novice flat. Richard was the sixth and final Region 2 rider to win an individual class outright. Region 2 dominated individually, earning eight of the Zones' 16 individual rides at Nationals.

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies with temperatures reaching the low '60's. Start time: 10:10AM. Finish: 1:39PM. Coaches and Captains meeting held prior to start of show. Judge: Carole O'Brien, Aiken, South Carolina. Stewards: Groomes/Mount St. Mary's University, Gerald/Hollins University, McElveen/St. Andrews University and McCoy Palmer/Villanova University.

The Class-by-Class results of 2012 Zone 4 Zones, held in Towson, Maryland, listed in the order in which they were held, with the top two riders in each individual class and the top two hunter seat teams advancing to IHSA Nationals May 3rd through 6th in Raleigh, North Carolina:

Individual Intermediate Equitation On The Flat: 1. Sarah Hibler, Sweet Briar College. 2. Kayla McBath, St. Andrews University. 3. Debbie Kapilow, Drexel University. 4. Sarah Black, Bridgewater College. 5. Alex Vernon, North Carolina State University. 6. Taylor Marcus, Goucher College.

Team Intermediate Equitation On The Flat: 1. Addie Jabin, Goucher College. 2. Rachel Kanegis, University of Delaware. 3. Sami Cram, St. Andrews University. 4. Lauren Casey, Bridgewater College.

Individual Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Emma Lane Poole, Hollins University. 2. Rachel Fleszar, University of Pennsylvania. 3. Karli Postel, Goucher College. 4. Kim Graves, St. Andrews University. 5. Nicole DeVoe, Villanova University. 6. Katie Hansen, St. Andrews University.

Team Open Equitation Over Fences: 1. Katie Hansen, St. Andrews University. 2. Karli Postel, Goucher College. 3. Anna Loughran, University of Delaware. 4. Shelby Goodman, Bridgewater College.

Individual Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation On The Flat: 1. Catherine Hensly, Hollins University. 2. Mallory Knott, St. Mary's College (MD). 3. Erika Bradshaw, College of William & Mary. 4. Erin Winter, North Carolina State University. 5. Caitlin Untterman, Randolph College. 6. Julia McManus, Villanova University.

Team Walk-Trot-Canter Equitation On The Flat: 1. Callie Hodge, Goucher College. 2. Tara Doele, University of Delaware. 3. Miranda Wright, St. Andrews University. 4. Stacey Beam, Bridgewater College.

Individual Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Taylor Rose, Bridgewater College. 2. Sarah Brown, Hollins University. 3. Heidi Siegmund, College of William & Mary. 4. Amanda Lane, Mount St. Mary's University. 5. Alexa Hunter, University of Delaware. 6. Jamie Frees, Washington College.

Team Intermediate Equitation Over Fences: 1. Addie Jabin, Goucher College. 2. Kali Cram, St. Andrews University. 3. Abbey Randa, University of Delaware. 4. Kayla Deyarmin, Bridgewater College.

Alumni Equitation On The Flat: 1. James Hobbie, University of Delaware. 2. Erica Palmisano, Sweet Briar College. 3. Kristen Marley, Virginia Tech. 4. Nicole Adams, University of Delaware.

Individual Open Equitation On The Flat: 1. Tamara Morse, Washington & Lee University. 2. Katie Hansen, St. Andrews University. 3. Karli Postel, Goucher College. 4. Olivia Smith, Sweet Briar College. 5. Jared DePermentier, Washington College. 6. Amory Brandt, Goucher College.

Head Coach Jerry Schurink (on left) poses with Bridgewater College freshman Kara Sims after she won the team walk-trot class. Bridgewater rallied over the final four classes to take third place in the team competition over the University of Delaware.

Alumni Equitation Over Fences: 1. Sarah Thompson, University of Richmond. 2. Nicole Adams, University of Delaware. 3. Kristen Marley, Virginia Tech. 4. Jamie Mast Windle, Delaware Valley College.

Individual Novice Equitation On The Flat: 1. Kathryne Richard, Sweet Briar College. 2. Talia Baghdoyan, Duke University. 3. Marina Frano, University of Mary Washington. 4. Katie Leonard, Bridgewater College. 5. Katherine Rouillard, North Carolina State University. 6. Nicole Farber, University of Delaware.

Team Novice Equitation On The Flat: 1. Kali Cram, St. Andrews University. 2. Joey Fink, Goucher College. 3. Lindsey Goode, Bridgewater College. 4. Elisabeth Price, University of Delaware.

Individual Walk-Trot Equitation On The Flat: 1. Matthew Stough, George Mason University. 2. Allyson Gallamore, Bridgewater College. 3. Sisi Ruan, George Washington University. 4. Katie Plazak, Lynchburg College. 5. Lyle Brunhofer, University of Pennsylvania. 6. Danielle Girard, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Team Walk-Trot Equitation On The Flat: 1. Kara Sims, Bridgewater College. 2. Madison Tidwell, Goucher College. 3. Shiloh Kozlowski, St. Andrews University. 4. Justyna Kwiecinska, University of Delaware.

Individual Novice Equitation Over Fences: 1. Alie McGraw, St. Andrews University. 2. Kathleen Wallace, University of Mary Washington. 3. Patrick Sullivan, Villanova University. 4. Christine Novak, Drexel University. 5. Kelsey Leasure, Towson University. 6. Demi Mahoney, Coastal Carolina University.

Team Novice Equitation Over Fences: 1. Sami Cram, St. Andrews University. 2. Joey Fink, Goucher College. 3. Emily Rhodes, Bridgewater College. 4. Kelly Wallace, University of Delaware.

Team Open Equitation On The Flat: 1. Taylor Rose, Bridgewater College. 2. Katie Hansen, St. Andrews University. 3. Amory Brandt, Goucher College. 4. Anna Loughran, University of Delaware.

Final Hunter Seat Team Totals, with the top two teams advancing to IHSA Nationals: Goucher College (2012 Zone Champion) 45; St. Andrews University (Reserve) 43; Bridgewater College 34 and University of Delaware 30.