03/15/2024
Zelda and I will be at different events for the next few months selling my art and fundraising. If you are not local, or would just like to donate to help us compete at the Junior Open Agility World Championships in Belgium, you can do so using “friends and family” to our PayPal page
https://paypal.me/CristianaAgility
Here is the official AKC Press Release and our official 2024 Team Banner!
*OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
2024 AKC JUNIOR AGILITY TEAM USA ANNOUNCED - TEAM WILL BE PARTICIPATING AT THE JUNIOR OPEN AGILITY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (JOAWC) COMPETITION IN BELGIUM JULY 2024
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“26 JUNIORS AND THEIR K-9 PARTNERS SELECTED TO REPRESENT THE USA IN BELGIUM”
On 19 February 2024, Coach Susan Cochran announced the American Kennel Club’s 2024 AKC USA Junior World Agility Team. This is the only Junior agility team in the United States.
There is no such thing as dog agility at the Olympics. To the 26 junior handlers and their K-9 companions who have been selected to represent the USA at THE JUNIOR OPEN AGILITY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (JOAWC) competition in Belgium - this is just as spectacular! Training daily and traveling the world to compete at the highest level of dog agility takes mental and physical skills, dedication, commitment and heart. The JOAWC is an agility competition that is officially recognized by the FCI - Federation CynologiqueInternationale (World Canine Organization) - and is the largest international federation of kennel clubs. The individual competition is held in categories of Small, Medium, Intermediate and Large dogs and is divided into three handler age categories: U12 - born 2013 or later; U15 - born 2010 - 2012; U19 - 2006 - 2009. There are two rounds (jumping and agility). The second round is run in the reverse order based on results from round one. The winner, respectively in each height category, is the junior with the best total results from both rounds. The competition is 18-21 July in Sentower Park, Belgium.
This year the AKC JUNIOR AGILITY TEAM USA has 26 juniors: one U12, three U15 and twenty-two U19 category handlers running 30 dogs: 7 All American dogs, 1 American Hairless Terrier, 1 Beagle, 11 Border Collies, 1 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, 1 Flat Coat Retriever, 1 Golden Retriever, 1 Havanese, 1 Labrador Retriever, 1 Miniature American Shepherd, 3 Shetland Sheepdogs and a Working Kelpie. This is the first time the Team has had a Cavalier King Charles, Flat Coat Retriever or a Labrador Retriever.
The team consists of 25 females and one male. They represent: 19 states across the United States of America including: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin; their community, breed and the American Kennel Club.
Congratulations to Team USA Small:
Abby Zerm and Kiwi (Shetland Sheepdog) Georgia
Carly Kreiser and Coconut (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) Pennsylvania
Emma Bayonet and Nikki (Havanese) Virginia
Hayden Brown and Onyx (Shetland Sheepdog) Kansas
Maddie Koeppe and Magic (Beagle) Washington
Mia Federico and Pippa (American Hairless Terrier) Virginia
Rylee Harper and Lyla (All American) Arizona
Sarah Ford and Hazel (Miniature American Shepherd) Kentucky
Congratulations to Team USA Medium:
Abby Zerm and Halley Wolobitz (All American) (Border Collie) Georgia
Ava Gardner and Merlee (Shetland Sheepdog) Minnesota
Cristiana Crespo and Zelda (Border Collie) Florida
Lauren Ecker and Scout (All American) Illinois
Congratulations to Team USA Intermediate:
Anabel Kubacz and Molly (All American) South Carolina
Annaka Miller and Cody (All American) Maine
Arista Haig and Tae (Border Collie) Illinois
Baylee Bales and Rey (Border Collie) Virginia
Chloe Bales and Nova (Border Collie) Virginia
Jada Sawhney and Zula (Border Collie) Florida
Mia Federico and Dera (Border Collie) Virginia
Congratulations to Team USA Large:
Abby Zerm and Please (Border Collie) Georgia
Abigail Radomski and Spark (Border Collie) (Illinois)
Isabelle McKee and Thunder (Border Collie) Wisconsin
Kadence Melamud and Fyfe (All American) New Jersey
Katie Williamson and Voulez (Golden Retriever) Louisiana
Reagan Wallace and Kiwi (Working Kelpie) Missouri
Sadie Beale and Zest (Border Collie) Michigan
Veronica Alberti and Grayson (Border Collie) New York
Carly Kreiser and Gibberish (Labrador Retriever) Pennsylvania (Alternate)
Finya Logan and Trixie (All American) Louisiana (Alternate)
Ari Beaudoin and Siri (Flat Coated Retriever) Idaho (Alternate)
Congratulations to these amazing juniors and their K9 partners selected to be part of AKC Junior Agility Team USA competing at the Junior Open Agility World Championships (JOAWC) this July in Belgium. Follow these teams representing our United States of America on their personal FB page!
Donations: Unlike the Olympics these juniors do not have sponsors and are responsible for funding their trip. Your gift of money goes directly to the Team, a specific handler or breed. Donations may be made through the Team’s PayPal account:
PAYPAL.ME/AGILITYJUNIORS
Media and Fundraising Contact:
Debby DuBay, Ret USAF, Team Manager
[email protected]
