“23 JUNIORS AND THEIR K-9 PARTNERS SELECTED TO REPRESENT THE USA IN FINLAND”
On February 24th, Coach Susan Cochran announced the American Kennel Club’s 2022 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 – but to the 23 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 Finland - this is just as spectacular! Training daily and traveling the world to compete at the highest level of junior dog agility takes commitment, dedication and heart.
The Junior Open Agility World Championship (JOAWC) is an agility competition that is officially recognized by the FCI -Federation Cynologique Internationale (World Canine Organization) - and is the largest international federation of kennel clubs. Each country can enter a maximum of 28 dogs. The individual competition is held in categories of Large, Medium and Small dogs and divided into three handler age categories: U12 (under 12 years old) U15 (12-14 years old) and U19 (15-18 years old). The JO AWC dates are July 15-17, 2022
This year the AKC JUNIOR AGILITY TEAM USA has 23 juniors (one U12, two U15 and twenty U19 category handlers) running 29 dogs: 4 All American dogs, 1 Australian Shepherd, 13 Border Collies, 1 American Cocker, 3 Golden Retrievers, 2 Miniature American Shepherd, 1 Miniature Poodle, 2 Shetland Sheepdogs, 1 Belgian Tervuren and a Beagle! The team consists of 21 females and two male juniors. They represent 14 states across the United States of America including: Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Congratulations to the USA Small Dog Team: Brie Schaff and Sheltie Streak from Texas; Danielle Wagner and Mini Poodle Rainee from Minnesota; Maddie Koeppe and her Beagle Magic from Washington; Sarah Ford and Mini American Shepherd Hazel from Kentucky; Ryan Ford and Mini American Shepherd Denali from Kentucky; and Meg Loesch and her American Cocker Daisy from Washington.
Congratulations to the USA Medium Dog Team: Ava Gardner and Sheltie Merlee from Minnesota; Allyssa Daube and All American Piper from Illinois; and Abby Zerm and her All American Halley from Georgia.
Congratulations to the USA Large Dog Teams: Abby Zerm and Border Collie Taupe from Georgia; Finley Richgels and Border Collie Joker from Wisconsin; Jada Sawhney and Border Collie Zula from Florida; Maggie Hill and Border Collie Breeze from California; Danielle Wagner and Border Collie Twix from Minnesota; Kinze Williams and Belgian Tervuren Voo from Alaska; Katie Cones and Border Collie Dash from North Carolina; Tian Griffith and Border Collie Luna from North Carolina; Ashlynn Faas and Border Collie Nick from Minnesota (Zumbro Falls); Sterling Wanninger and her Australian Shepherd JT from Alabama; Deltin Cinotto and Border Collie Rascal from Illinois; and Katie Doane and her Golden Retriever Jolt from Wisconsin.
Congratulations to the USA Alternate Teams: Charlotte Gunby and her Mixed Breed English Shepherd Archie from Wisconsin; Katie Williamson and her Golden Retriever Voulez from Louisiana; Tessa Trusner and her All American Lina from Virginia; Chloe Bales and her Border Collie Nova from Virginia; Finley Richgels and her Border Collie Charisma from Wisconsin; Jada Sawhney and her Border Collie Smudge from Florida; Katie Doane and her Golden Retriever Lucy from Wisconsin; and Maggie Hill and her Border Collie Trix.
Congratulations to these juniors and their K9 partners selected to be part of AKC Junior Agility Team USA! We are incredibly proud of these junior handlers for accomplishing their goal of making the Team and competing at the Junior Open Agility World Championships (JOAWC) July in Finland.
Donations – Unlike the Olympics these juniors do not have sponsors and are responsible for funding their trip. Your donation – your gift of money - may be made through the Team’s PayPal account: PAYPAL.ME/AKCEOJ18
Media and Fundraising Contact: Debby DuBay, Ret USAF Team Manager ddlimoges@gmail.com
