From left to right are Dorothy Pyrdek, Head Coach Halli Bidwell, Samantha Spiegel and Jessica Markiewicz of Allegheny College. Markiewicz was second in her novice flat class while the Gators were high point team for the first time on March 19th.

ALLEGHENY WINS FIRST OF TWO AT STONEGATE

Coolville, OH - When one thinks of Western Pennsylvania, what comes to mind? The Steelers? Eat n' Park? Kennywood??. How about West Virginia? If your mind is geared to the IHSA you might think about the West Virginia University Mountaineers and their recent success at capturing both English and Western Region Titles.

Though all the schools in Zone 6, Region 5 are located in either Pennsylvania or West Virginia, the entire region traveled to Coolville, Ohio for the first of two shows in two days at Stonegate Farm. The first of the two, hosted by California University of Pennsylvania, produced some unexpected team totals for the day. West Virginia University, which had won six of the first seven hunter seat shows of the 2010-11 season, scored a season-low 22 points to tie Washington & Jefferson for fourth place. Allegheny College, involved in a close race for second with Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Seton Hill University, scored a season-high 31 points to earn high point team honors. According to head coach Halli Bidwell this is probably the first time in Allegheny team history that the Gators won an IHSA show.

Even more suprisingly for Allegheny was that they accomplished this without Meghan Naylor. Naylor entered the day second in the Region 5 hunter seat open rider standings. However the Gator's other open rider, freshman Sarah Durrer, faired just fine. The freshman from Los Angeles, California won her open flat while placing third in open fences to earn reserve high point rider honors.

"Kash," the six-month-old Australian Cattle Dog poses with (from left) Shelly Wampole, head coach Connie Winters and Paige Lower of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Lower's third in novice fences turned out to be IUP's best ribbon of the day as the Crimson Hawks scored 10 points.

Meghan Kelly, a junior from Shaftsbury, Vermont won her novice fences to earn Allegheny's only other blue ribbon of the day. Katherine Krackhardt (in novice flat), Jessica Markiewicz (same), Courtney Papinchak (in advanced walk-trot-canter) and Colleen Friel (in beginner walk-trot-canter) each received a second place ribbon. Allegheny earned high point team honors despite not having a walk-trot rider on their point card.

Edinboro University, which prior to today's show had been the only Region 5 team to have defeated West Virginia this season, was Reserve Champion with 26 points. Amy Dutka, a junior coincidentally from Edinboro, Pennsylvania, won the only section of walk-trot at today's show (made up of 12 riders). Lauren Scardina, a freshman also from the town of Edinboro, was a winner in advanced walk-trot-canter. It was Scardina's first-ever IHSA blue ribbon. Kristin Pacansky of the Scots may not be for Edinboro, yet the junior from Fairview, Pennsylvania won her beginner walk-trot-canter class nevertheless. The Scots were not deprived in the red ribbon department, as open rider Kiley Iszkula was second in both of her classes while Kelsey Boyer was second in novice fences. Edinboro fell out of second place overall however, as Allegheny took a 187-184 lead headed into the final show of the regular season a day later.

The University of Pittsburgh earned their second-highest score of the season so far, scoring 24 points to finish third for the day. Emily McTish, a sophomore from Orefield, Pennsylvania won the lone section of intermediate fences (13 riders took part). Kristi Peyton, a freshman from Westfield, New Jersey won her section of advanced walk-trot-canter for the Panther's second and final blue ribbon of the day. Melinda Maloney, a sophomore from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, was the only Pittsburgh rider to earn a second. Maloney was a red ribbon winner in intermediate flat.

From left to right are Allie Natale, Kristi Peyton, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Martin and Emily McTish of the University of Pittsburgh. Peyton was a winner in advanced walk-trot-canter while McTish won her intermediate fences as the Panthers scored 24 points on March 19th. A day later Pittsburgh would score 26 points in the regular season finale.

West Virginia University tied for fourth with 22 points. Rather importantly the Mountaineers were without open rider Miranda Cain, who despite missing both shows over the March 19th/20th weekend still finished 19 points ahead of Izskula, who was the Region 5 reserve high point open rider for the season. Morgan Omdal, a junior from Flemington, New Jersey picked up the slack for West Virginia just as Durrer had done for Allegheny. Omdal won the open over fences class which started the show while placing second in open flat. Omdal was high point rider without having to ride off for the honor (Durrer was the only rider with a first and a third, so no ride-off of any kind was necessary today). Katie McGuire, a senior from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania won the first of two novice fences classes while Kait Scott, a junior from West Chester, Pennsylvania won her intermediate flat. Irene Gladys (in intermediate fences), Meagan Ashley-Menza (in advanced walk-trot-canter) and Briana Bregg (in beginner walk-trot-canter) joined Omdal in the red ribbon winner department. The Mountaineers had as many blue ribbons as any of the twelve teams entered and the most red ribbons with four. On this rare occasion things simply did not translate to the West Virginia point card. One thing that makes it all OK: The Mountaineers maintained a 50-plus point lead over their nearest competitor, which meant they could make hotel reservations in the Columbus area for Zone 6 Zones to be hosted by Otterbein University on April 9th. In plain English West Virginia University had clinched their sixth consecutive hunter seat Region Title and their first as a member of Zone 6.

While West Virginia was not overjoyed with fourth place, Washington & Jefferson College was likely very happy to have tied for the honor. Competing with only four riders and five divisions filled on their point card, the Presidents scored a season-high 22 points. Elizabeth Nilsen, a sophomore and co-captain from Coopersburg, Pennsylvania won her novice flat class. Lauren Vero, a freshman from Butler, Pennsylvania won her beginner walk-trot-canter. Bayleigh McMenamin, a freshman from Sewickly, Pennsylvania was second to Kelley in novice fences.

Slippery Rock University has been one of the most consistant teams throughout Region 5 this season. The Rock has scored as few as 12 points and as many as 23, with 18 being their March 19th total. Melissa McDowell, a senior from Mercer, Pennsylvania won her open flat. Susie Jansto, sophomore from Cranberry, Pennsylvania, was a winner in intermediate flat.

Slippery Rock University head coach Amy Keifer poses with her March 19th intermediate over fences entries. From left to right are Caitlin Cross, Susie Jansto, Melissa McDowell and Keifer. Ironically McDowell was a winner in open flat while Jansto won her intermediate flat a short time later.

Seton Hill University scored 16 points. The Griffons earned their only blue ribbon of the day in the final class, as senior Jenni McGee (from Oakdale, Pennsylvania) won her novice flat. Prior to this Marissa McIsaac's second in intermediate flat had been the Griffon's best ribbon. Senior Amanda Garlitz had been third in both her open flat and intermediate fences classes.

Host California University was next with 14 points. Rachel Moorhouse earned the Vulcans only top-two placing with a second in the large walk-trot class. One time Cedar Crest College rider Linda Syers was third in her novice flat.

The final school into double figures was Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The Crimson Hawks had four riders entered across five divisions, with Paige Lower (junior, from Liverpool, Pennsylvania) earning a third in novice fences and a fourth in open flat to lead the way. Shelly Wampole was fourth in intermediate fences to complete the IUP scoring with 10 points.

Julianna Currinder of California of Pennsylvania (on left) is known as "Julz." Her Vulcan teammate Kathryn McAndrew (on right) is known as "Katie." The horse in the middle is known as "Annie" but answers to "Hey You" on occasion. During the 2010-11 season Currinder and McAndrew qualified for Regionals in both hunter seat and western divisions.

Bethany College was one of several schools perhaps affected by spring break (many of the schools were in fact either returning from or headed into Spring Break). Bethany earned their second-lowest score of the year, seven points. Danielle Vitale, a junior from Davie, Florida, was third in open flat for Bethany's only ribbon above fifth.

Clarion University was one of two schools with only two riders in attendance (no spring break issues; these teams simply have two riders at this time). Melanie Daniel earned all three of Clarion's points with a fourth in advanced walk-trot-canter.

Mercyhurst College rounded out the scoring with a point. Caitlin Birmingham was sixth in walk-trot. Mercyhurst only showed for the first time in 2010-11 at the March 5th West Virginia University show.

Absent from today's show were Penn State - Behrend, St. Vincent College and the Alumni Divisions. Neither of these two teams nor the alumni showed a day later when Seton Hill hosted the ninth and final show of the 2010-11 Region 5 regular season.

From left to right are West Virginia University Western Coach Bobby Dean, Kaitlin Spadero of the Mountaineers hunter seat team and Hunter Seat Coach Debra Fields. Spadero had previously qualified for Regionals in the novice flat division. Despite scoring only a combined 40 points over the final two hunter seat shows West Virginia still won their region by 72 points over runner-up Allegheny College.

Panthers prevail in final show before Regionals: The University of Pittsburgh scored 26 points to lead the way when Seton Hill hosted at Stonegate on March 20th. For the second time this season Seton Hill came within a point of tieing for high point team, falling 26-25. Allegheny scored 23 for third place while IUP was the only other school in the 20's, with 20. West Virginia tied Edinboro for sixth with 18 points each. Slippery Rock had finished in front of both schools with 19. This may be the first time in the history of the IUP program that West Virginia scored fewer points than the Crimson Hawks (it is worth noting that IUP was in Zone 3, Region 1 for five seasons between 2005 and 2010 while West Virginia was still in Zone 3, Region 3 at that time). The Mountaineers still finished the season with a 282-210 lead over runner-up Allegheny. Seton Hill was third for the year with 203 while Edinboro was fourth by a point with 202.

--Steve Maxwell

Show Incidentals: Sunny skies, with temperatures reaching the low '50's. Entire show held indoors. Start time: 9:17AM. Finish: 2:25PM - Includes a 72 minute lunch break/Coaches & Captains meeting. Point cards posted in this region? Yes but not at today's show. Instead a large board with each division and each teams points by division was posted. Alumni Classes held in this region? Yes but not at today's show. Judge: Scott DeHelian, Columbus, Ohio. Stewards: Fields/West Virginia University, Wagonblast/Seton Hill University and Gregg/Bethany College.

Team Totals: Allegheny College (High Point Team) 31; Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (Reserve) 26; University of Pittsburgh 24; Washington & Jefferson College 22; West Virginia University 22; Slippery Rock University 18; Seton Hill University 16; California University of Pennsylvania 14; Indiana University of Pennsylvania 10; Bethany College 7; Clarion University 3 and Mercyhurst College 1.

High Point Rider - Morgan Omdal, West Virginia University
Reserve High Point Rider - Sarah Durrer, Allegheny College