Federwisch joins a prestigious short list of 21 equestrian team coaches to have been presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the 47-year history of the IHSA, including Dartmouth College 2013 recipient, coach Sally Batton, and 2013 co-IHSA National High Point Hunter Seat Team Champions, coach Mary Drueding (2012, St. Lawrence University) and Cindy Ford (2011, Skidmore College).
Federwisch began his directorship with the SCAD Equestrian Program last fall. Prior to SCAD, he had been at Virginia Intermont since 1995, coaching its IHSA teams and as director of its Equine Studies. During his first year as director and coach, VI won its Zone 4 Region 2 Championship and qualified for the IHSA Nationals (the first time VI had ever won its region or qualified as a team) without Eddie missing a stride in his volunteer role, assumed in 1994, as President of IHSA Zone 4. He presided over that Zone until 2001, when he became IHSA Director at Large, Chairman of the Hunter Seat Committee. He is synonymous with the success of the annual IHSA National Championships as its Hunt Seat Steward and Hunt Seat Horse Coordinator.
Also attending the award presentation were equestrian team head coach, Ashley Kelly, and SCAD IHSA equestrian team riders Olivia Dodd, Katherine Cameron, Johan Faulstich, Daniel Goossens, Christine Everdell, Michael Kocher, Kristin Stine, Kelly DiFiglia, Tatum Tatreau, Devon Walther, Madison Albano, Kelsey Fey, Sydney Schaefer, Kayla Myles, Jessica Amsberry, and Molly McDougall.
On Saturday, May 3, as part of the noontime awards ceremonies at the 41st IHSA National Championships, at the PA Farm Expo in Harrisburg, Federwisch will also be formally presented by IHSA Board members with the Lifetime Achievement Award and receive national recognition by his intercollegiate peers.
At time of press, the SCAD equestrian team had finished first at every IHSA horse show on its calendar since the start of the new year, suggesting coach Federwisch may get his chance to bring back SCAD's first IHSA Collegiate Cup high point team title ever.
Front Row: Equestrian Team Head Coach, Ashley Kelly; Director of Equestrian Program, Eddie Federwisch, and SCAD President and Cofounder, Paula Wallace; with IHSA Founder and Executive Director, Bob Cacchione.SCAD Equestrian Team students, pictured from left to right: Olivia Dodd, (directly behind) Katherine Cameron, Johan Faulstich, (directly behind) Daniel Goossens, Christine Everdell, (directly behind) Michael Kocher, Kristin Stine, Kelly DiFiglia, Tatum Tatreau, Devon Walther, Madison Albano, Kelsey Fey, Sydney Schaefer, Kayla Myles, Jessica Amsberry, and Molly McDougall.