Competitor Biographies
Highlights USA Vaulters and Teams contending for a position on the 2012 USA Team to represent the USA at the 2012 World Championships in Le Mans, France.
WOODSIDE TEAM
Coached by Isabelle Bibbler Parker and Samantha Smith
Team Members: Gabe Aniello, Alyssa Bonora, Tessa Divita, Yvonne Greenen, Siddartha Kreaden, Samantha Smith and Katharine Wick
Woodside Vaulters is one of the oldest clubs in California and has a long-standing reputation for developing champion teams and horses. Woodside Head Coach Isabelle Bibbler Parker has produced five national champion A teams since 1995. In 1998, the Woodside team earned the Bronze Medal at the World Equestrian Games in Rome. Parker was honored as the USEF Coach of the Year in 2008.
The Woodside team’s current horse, Giovanni, a 17.2 Mecklenburger warmblood trained and longed by Krista Mack, was named AVA Horse of the Year for the past three years. An accomplished vaulting and riding coach, Mack has longed for Woodside Vaulters since 2002. She was the AVA Trainer of the Year in 2007.
Parker’s coaching philosophy combines physical and mental training, exacting technique, safety and confidence built on a strong bond of trust and friendship among team members.
Co-coach Smith is a veteran international competitor. She vaulted at the World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain in 2002, and the 2004 World Vaulting Championships in Stadl Paura, Austria, as well as numerous CVIs. Smith has coached at both Creekside and Woodside. She is recognized for her outstanding compulsories abilities, and has coached compulsories at many USEF High Performance vaulting clinics. www.woodsidevaulters.org MOUNT EDEN SUN TEAM
Coached by Emma Seely and Jessica Ballenger
Team members: Kenny Geisler, Allie Thrasher, Heidi Rothweiler, Lizzie Ioannou, Kayln Geisler, Tasha Thorner and Makayla Clyne
The Sun Team are geering up to come out as a strong force at the first selection trial at their home base. Home advantage will hopefully kick the Sun Team's season off with a win. Emma has a wealth of experience coaching top individuals and Teams, even co-coaching with her rival Devon Maitozo wher they joined forces in 2006 and gave us a silver medal winning team at the last World Equestrian Games. But there is no discounting Jessica's experience with Team coaching, she has been the Team coach of Mount Eden vaulters Sun Team in the past.
Strong with experience the Sun Team may just come out with a bright start to this year's selection trials.
www.mtedenvaulting.orgINDIVIDUAL COMPETITORS
Mary McCormick - Nashville, TN (Training in Woodside, CA)
Mary began her vaulting career in 1992 and has been "crazy in love" with the sport ever since. She began competing internationally in 1996 when she was a member of the A-Team that represented the USA at the World Vaulting Championships. Since then, she has remained an avid competitor around the world and has won numerous honors both stateside and internationally.McCormick trains in Northern California with the Mt. Eden Vaulting Club. She is also an individual vaulting coach and lungeur. Currently atop the United States ranking list for individual female vaulters, McCormick has high hopes of qualifying for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Recent Success:
CVI** Leipzig 2009 - 1st place
CVI** Kentucky 2009 - 2nd place
Region II Championships - 1st place
USEF Vaulting in Vegas 2009 - 1st place
2008, 2009 - American Vaulting Association Overall High Point Winner
(At the FACE-OFF) Mary will be competing aboard Wyeth, a 10 year old Percheron/Quarter Horse gelding owned by Sydney Frankel and lunged by Poppy Coulter. Although relatively new to the vaulting world, Wyeth has been a steady and consistent partner for McCormick over the last season. He carried her to victory at the Region II Championships and helped her earn 2nd place at the Woodside Vaulters Fall Fest. Before landing a job in the vaulting arena, Wyeth worked as a cow horse on the range in South Dakota! He is now in extensive dressage and vaulting training and has proved himself as a reliable competition horse.
