5 Under 20
BJAC’S Top 5 Junior Handlers of 2024
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 are thrilled to promote them.
Rylee Harper
BJAC: What’s your name, how old are you, how long have you been doing agility, and what dog(s) do you run?
RH: My name is Rylee Harper, I am 18 years old, and I have been doing agility for 4 years. I'm currently running my two dogs, Preslee the Mini American Shepherd, and Envy the BorderPap as well as my trainer/mentors two dogs, Miley the Sheltie, and Marshall the BorderPap.
BJAC: How did you discover agility?
RH: I discovered agility from Preslee's breeder, when she invited me to come try out her junior handler class. I joined with my 6 year old chihuahua mix, and the rest took off from there.
BJAC: What’s your favorite agility memory?
RH: My favorite agility memory so far has to be a tie between running clean in the 2024 West Coast Open SpeedStakes Finals with Marshall, or stepping to the line internationally at the JOAWC with Lyla. Both were amazing experiences and gave me the true rush of adrenaline that makes agility all worthwhile.
BJAC: What’s your biggest agility goal?
RH: Long-term wise, my biggest agility goal would be to make the USA's WAO Team. In general, I would love to continue to grow my dog's toolbox of skills, and travel around the USA competing and having fun with my best friends!
BJAC: Who is your biggest influence/role model in agility?
RH: My biggest inspiration and role model in the agility community is Amber Abbott. She is an incredible teacher and someone I look up to in all aspects of life!
BJAC: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of agility?
RH: Outside of my life with dogs, I love to cook, explore new areas, hike, and just spend quality time with my family and friends.
BJAC: What is a piece of advice you would tell to a junior handler who is just getting started in agility?
RH: A piece of advice I would give to a new junior handler is to appreciate any and all accomplishments you have with your dog. I know 4 years ago Rylee would be shocked to see myself now, yet I still have a hard time remembering that, and am constantly striving to work harder and be better. The learning and growing in this sport never ends, and I think it's super important to stop and appreciate where you are in that moment, because you have already come so far!
Evelyn Lively
BJAC: What’s your name, how old are you, how long have you been doing agility, and what dog(s) do you run?
EL: My name is Evelyn Lively and I am fourteen years old. I have been doing agility since 2021 and I currently run a female Lab/BC/ACD mix, Sable, and will start competing in the spring with my female Border Collie, Mighty. I also run a loaner dog, a male Nederlandse Kookierhondje named Skye.
BJAC: How did you discover agility?
EL: I discovered agility in early 2018, when my family visited a trial for fun one weekend and we were welcomed by a junior who gave me an agility book. We didn’t have a dog, but when we adopted Sable in November of 2020, I quickly started teaching her tricks, and when I rediscovered the book the junior gave me, I decided to train Sable to do the obstacles. Soon, I started taking classes with a local competitor, and the rest is history!
BJAC: What’s your favorite agility memory?
EL: This is a hard one, since any time I have a fast and connected run is so special! But, I would have to say my favorite agility memory is from the 2024 UKI US Open! Sable, who can be very anxious at large events, was the least stressed in our Last Chance Masters Agility run, so consequently, she was blazing fast and very happy, and we even placed fourth in her height!
BJAC: What’s your biggest agility goal?
EL: My agility goals are to make the 2025 JOAWC Team USA with Skye, and to make the JOAWC and WAO teams in a few years with Mighty. However, it is most important to me to be known as someone who is kind to my fellow competitors and my dogs, handles my dogs well, and competes successfully with them while doing that.
BJAC: Who is your biggest influence/role model in agility?
EL: My biggest role model in agility is anyone who kindly helps me to be a better handler, including my current trainer, Steph Jones, and many of my agility friends I’ve made along my journey in this sport.
BJAC: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of agility?
EL: Outside of agility, I love to work on my current pet portrait commissions, go on long walks, and do fitness training for both me and my dogs. I also love hanging out with my school and youth group friends.
Abigail LaSpina
BJAC: What’s your name, how old are you, how long have you been doing agility, and what dog(s) do you run?
AL: My name is Abigail Laspina. I am 13 years old. I have been doing agility trials for just a year with my Shetland, Sky.
BJAC: How did you discover agility?
AL: I got my first dog at six years old and did not know that Agility was a sport. I met a woman named Catherine who showed me that playing in my backyard with my dog and making obstacles was a sport and she opened my eyes to this amazing world of Agility.
BJAC: What’s your favorite agility memory?
AL: My favorite Agility memory is going to BJAC camp. Living in a small town and doing trials in our area there are no Junior handlers. To be in a camp that had kids, my age and the passion I have for their dogs made it an incredible experience.
BJAC: What’s your biggest agility goal?
AL: My biggest agility goal is when I get to be an adult is to become a trainer for juniors. I’d love to show them the incredible sport and do hopefully show them the passion that I had for the sport. It is so hard to find coaches and people that are open to work with kids and I’m hoping to give them that opportunity.
BJAC: Who is your biggest influence/role model in agility?
AL: My biggest influencer and role model from the beginning of my journey with Agility was Catherine. She is the one that helped me find sky, my partner. Catherine opened my eyes to this sport and She has helped me with sky in so many ways between having her backyard open for me to train in, to just going to seminars with me and being there for support. Catherine is the person I look for at trials to be my support and just a listen ear. The main place that has influenced my Dog Agility journey is Dream Dogs. The place has helped me find incredible people to work with that are from all around the world and to be a place that I trial at most, it’s like my home base.
BJAC: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of agility?
AL: My other hobby outside of Agility is Ballet. I love the way I can express myself through Dance.
BJAC: What is a piece of advice you would tell to a junior handler who is just getting started in agility?
AL: The thing I would tell Junior handlers just starting out in Agility is to just have fun with your dog and know that every time you get out there and play with your dog in training or a trial is precious. The partnership that is created with you and your dog is a feeling that can’t be explained. Know that you are always learning and never give up on yourself or your dog.
Elsa Scheidmantel
BJAC: What’s your name, how old are you, how long have you been doing agility, and what dog(s) do you run?
ES: My name is Elsa Scheidmantel. I am 16 years old. I’ve been doing agility for 5 years. I run Style, a border collie, and Kat, a rescue border-aussie mix.
BJAC: How did you discover agility?
ES: I discovered agility when I saw it on TV. At the time, my only dog was my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Peebles, and after seeing agility for the first time I immediately tried to get her to jump through a hula hoop in my backyard. I entered her in my first agility class soon
after that and the rest is history!
BJAC: What’s your favorite agility memory?
ES: My favorite agility memory is probably the first trial I went to. The environment and energy there was incredibly electrifying, and I couldn’t wait to go to more!
BJAC: What’s your biggest agility goal?
ES: My biggest agility goal is to get on an international team with Style!
BJAC: Who is your biggest influence/role model in agility?
ES: All of my instructors (especially BJAC instructors :) ) have had a huge impact on me.
BJAC: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of agility?
ES: I do a lot of outdoor activities outside of agility. I love to go hiking, biking, and paddleboarding! I also play the flute and do trick dog with my mixed breed Hercules!
BJAC: What is a piece of advice you would tell to a junior handler who is just getting started in agility?
ES: I would tell a junior handler who is just getting started in the sport to be resilient and not give up. Agility takes a lot of hard work and patience, and it can be discouraging at points, but it’s important to not give up!
Lelah Clutter
BJAC: What’s your name, how old are you, how long have you been doing agility, and what dog(s) do you run?
LC: My name is Lelah and I am 9 years old. I currently run a 9 year old border collie named Trinity. I started doing agility in 2020 with my mom's semi retired cavalier, Nora. I ran my first Time to Beat course at a local trial in 2021 at the age of 5 and qualified with Nora under one of my most favorite judges Roger O'Sullivan.
BJAC: How did you discover agility?
LC: My mom ran agility while she was pregnant with me so I was born into the sport and have been going to classes and trials since I was weeks old. I enjoy the agility community because I am a very social person and enjoy talking to everyone at the trials.
BJAC: What’s your favorite agility memory?
LC: My most favorite memory is when Roger allowed me to run Trinity for her MACH13. He did not tell me that it was for her MACH but met me at the end of the run with the ribbon and bar and told me to go take the victory lap. I also competed in the 2022 AKC Junior Agility Invitational at the age of 7 with Nora and earned a second place overall in the 12 inch jump height and have wonderful memories of that event too.
BJAC: What’s your biggest agility goal?
LC: My immediate goal is the earn the bye into the AKC junior agility competition with Trinity. A future goal is to save enough money to buy my own dog and train it and put my own MACH on it by myself.
BJAC: Who is your biggest influence/role model in agility?
LC: My biggest influence is Mr. Roger. He is my instructor and owner of Trinity. He teaches me so many things and is very patient with me. Ms. Mary was my first instructor and she helped me with Nora and was responsible for suggesting that Trinity and I become a team.
BJAC: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of agility?
LC: I enjoy playing soccer at the YMCA. I enjoy playing my violin (which I just started lessons in August 2024) and being a part of American Heritage Girls and serving in our local community.
BJAC: What is a piece of advice you would tell to a junior handler who is just getting started in agility?
LC: Just have fun.
