BJAC’S Top 5 Junior Handlers of 2023

What is 5 Under 20?

We have had the profound pleasure of meeting and getting to know so many amazing junior handlers in agility. We made 5 Under 20 to highlight the junior handlers who are the future of our sport! Each of the juniors selected are exemplary members of our sport who consistently demonstrate kindness, inclusivity, and generosity. We are inspired by each of these juniors and and are thrilled to promote them.

Anabel Kubacz

BJAC: How did you get started in agility?

AK: I got started in agility January of 2022 when I was 11 years old. We attended classes at a local training facility once a week until about a year ago when I first learned about the JOAWC team. Molly couldn't weave or do half of the contact obstacles but over the course of the year we worked at home and in class to get to a place were we could compete and try out for the team this year!

BJAC: What is your favorite part about agility?

AK: My favorite part about agility is getting to do the sport with my dog Molly. Seeing her enjoy the courses and the trial environment as much as I am is very rewarding, even more so than being successful to me!

BJAC: What are you most proud of from 2023 with your dog?

AK: Some of the things I am the most proud of accomplishing in 2023 is going from not even being able to complete a full course to running at our first national event and qualifying for our first international team! She also got both her Open JWW and Excellent Standard AKC titles, and a 17th place challengers run at the UKI us open! I am also really proud of how far we have come as a team!

Mia Federico

BJAC: How did you get started in agility?

MF: In 2021, I took a puppy class with my American Hairless Terrier, Pippa. I got her as a show (conformation) prospect, but wanted to try sports too after seeing some YouTube videos. In that class, I met my friend, Portia, who did agility and suggested I try it with my adult dog, Mochi. I signed up for a NADAC trial without knowing anything and she helped me through the weekend. I owe it to her for getting me hooked on this sport.

BJAC: What is your favorite part about agility?

MF: While it is hard to choose just one, I would say my favorite part about agility is the problem solving aspect. All three of my dogs are very different, and I enjoy figuring out what works for each of them. I also enjoy figuring out how to adapt a training challenge when it isn’t going as expected.

BJAC: What are you most proud of from 2023 with your dog?

MF: For Pippa, I’m most proud of the confidence she exhibited during the entirety of our JOAWC trip. She ran fast and happy in the rainy, windy, and cold weather. I’m also proud of her second place finish at the Junior Agility Competition in 12” overall.

For Dera, her agility competition career only started in November, so not much to go off of, but I’m very proud of her first place overall 16” win at the Junior Agility Competition.

Katie Williamson

BJAC: How did you get started in agility?

KW: I started with my Beagle, Luna at first by teaching her fun tricks and eventually found agility through watching online training videos. Once I found what agility was, I was instantly hooked. I started taking local classes soon after. Then I attended BJAC in 2019 and was able to train with a lot of top level handlers that helped me gain more confidence and understanding of the sport.

BJAC: What is your favorite part about agility?

KW: The most rewarding aspect for me is creating a deep bond with my dog. I love the challenge of problem-solving during training sessions. The exhilarating rush of adrenaline while participating in big events is something both my dog, Voulez, and I crave. Additionally, agility has given me lifelong friendships

BJAC: What are you most proud of from 2023 with your dog?

KW: My favorite accomplishments with Voulez in 2023 was making AKC NAC finals, making the JOAWC team for a 2nd year in a row and making multiple podiums at the West Coast Open.

Hiromi Lombardi

BJAC: How did you get started in agility?

HL: As a little kid I loved teaching my dog simple tricks. In middle school I came across some agility videos online and thought it looked super fun! I was lucky to have a local facility near by where I started taking classes.

BJAC: What is your favorite part about agility?

HL: My favorite part about agility is that different teams will always have different answers to solving a course. I love finding the balance between learning, knowing, and playing to your team’s strengths while also pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to try new things. This takes a strong relationship with your dog and being open minded!

BJAC: What are you most proud of from 2023 with your dog?

HL: This year I am most proud of how our connection and teamwork has grown. 2023 was our first full year of competition as a team and we had a lot of success—most notably winning the Stakes Final at WCO! As my understanding of Savvy and trust in our teamwork grew this year, so did our success as a team. Getting to know her not just from an agility perspective, but also for who she is as a dog has been incredibly rewarding. I cannot wait to see what 2024 has in store for us!

P.S. Biggest thank you to my mentor, Annette, for sharing her Savvy with me.

Tessa Trusner

BJAC: How did you get started in agility?

TT: For as long as I can remember, I have loved dogs and dog tricks. When I was in 4th/5th grade, I was self-studying to teach my puppy, Molina, and my older Schnauzer mix, Ozzie, freestyle and performance tricks for fun in my spare time. When I first moved to my current location in Northern Virginia in 2020, I began to focus less on freestyle and disc and started pursuing my interests in agility skills. After playing competitive travel soccer since I was 8 years old, the switch to a new team, new position, and new environment after the move was something that was no longer of interest to me. At my new school, I discussed my interest of dog training and dog sports with my local sources, such as my school principal and teachers. One of my amazing teachers trained therapy dogs and knew of an agility facility in West Virginia. My teacher sent me the information. I reached out to the facility owner, dropped my soccer career, and began in classes based on my set of skills at the time. The rest is history and I am forever grateful and thankful for the people who helped and supported me at the start of my career!

BJAC: What is your favorite part about agility?

TT: There are many parts about agility that I greatly value. However, my absolute favorite part about agility would have to be the bonding experience and deep level of understanding the sport creates for dog/handler teams. The sport of agility requires a completely new level of understanding of your dog. Along with the understanding of your dog, agility also holds handlers accountable for their determination and grit. Agility allows me to set goals for something to work towards when training and spending time with my dogs. The understanding, companionship, determination, and commitment of agility are all pieces that build the bond between you (the handler) and your dog. Competing and training in agility creates a bond like no other with your dog; that is what is most important to me when participating in the sport.

BJAC: What are you most proud of from 2023 with your dog?

TT: In the year of 2023, I experienced things I could’ve never dreamed of. For Molina, I have to say I am most proud of our consistent placements at large events, and especially our showing at the 2023 WAO. As a Novice team, Lina started as a slow, careful dog. After putting in the hard work for years to build Lina’s confidence and skills, she is beginning to become a force to be reckoned with; I could not ask for a better partner as my Novice A dog! With my younger dog, Marvel, I am beyond proud of his progress in training and our relationship as a team. After WAO with Lina, I started to take Marvel’s performance seriously. He totally showed up to UKI Cup, UKI Classics, and the US Open ready to prove our hard work and progress. Marvel proved himself even in results, such as winning 1st in the Junior Award at the UKI US Open, and even beating Molina who won the 3rd Place Spot! Results aside, in this past year, the amount of hard work, trust, and support my dogs and I have put into each other is the most valuable to me.