Medal Testing Comes to Utah
KyLynn James Warren
An AVA judge has not been brought out to Utah for an AVA event since 1996 when Oak Hills first registered as a club with the AVA and hosted a medal testing event. Judge Kendel Edmunds changed that when she recently visited the Oak Hills and Technique Vaulters at the Oak Hills Stables owned by MaryAnn Ford in Salem, Utah.
There was a whirlwind of activity as the vaulters competed in a full day of medal testing and a much appreciated Q & A session with the judge. With participation of two clubs, 36 athletes competed for Silver, Bronze, Trot, and Novice pin medals Coaches, loungers, parents, and vaulters were all very happy with the pleasant and fun atmosphere Kendel created. All 36 vaulters successfully passed their medals including three bronze with honors awards, three commended awards, and one silver commended award.
Oak Hills hopes to have the opportunity to host many more AVA and even USEF recognized events in the near future. Being able to host an AVA judge and to put on a medal testing event was a great learning experience and practice for the club to get a better idea of how it might be to run a full scale competition. Kendel was such a joy to have and the team can’t wait to bring her out again for another testing or competition in the near future. The vaulters, loungers, parents, and coaches were each able to take away something different from their new and fun experience.
Thanks to the AVA Grant, for without it, this opportunity would not have been possible. Many thanks go out to a number of people including support form the AVA Grants Committee chaired by Jan Garrod for helping make this event happen. Special thanks to Kendel for all your help and encouragement, and especially to the AVA for helping the teams learn and grow!
Cami Swan-Bronze Medalist, age 17: “I have been vaulting for over eight years and had never medal tested. When my club decided to host our own medal test, I knew that it was my time to catch up. I was excited to have Kendel Edmunds come to Utah to visit our club, the Oak Hills Vaulters.
I applied for my bronze and trot medals and practiced my compulsory and freestyle moves for one month straight. I was more excited than nervous. Even when our canter horse Ferrari’s hocks swelled up the week of the testing, I still felt confident performing on our backup horse, Pedro, who was more pony sized. But after a lot of Sore No More and conditioning, Ferrari’s swelling had gone down by the awaited day.
On testing day, I believe that I performed as well as I could have and was awarded my bronze medal with honors in the morning, followed by my trot medal a couple of hours later.
I am so grateful that we had the opportunity to fly Kendel out to Utah. She was a great judge who had a lot of insight and vaulting knowledge to offer us.”
Brooke Watkins-Trot Medalist and PreCanter Vaulter, age 16: “Dedicated to our vaulting horses Ferrari and Stewart. Thank you guys for always being there for us. We love you!
Eyes of One
As we run in,
step in step together now
I look back on the week
and how I want to make you proud
The tension is rising,
as you mount.
But once your on,
you’ll fill the part
As one we move,
around and round
The music flows
through us now
As you move,
upon my back,
I feel a part of you
The music stops as you dismount
and the crowd stand and cheers
You give me a hug,
to let me know I did my job
and that your proud of who I am today
Then as we run out
step in step
I look back on the week,
and how I made you proud
Teri Watkins (Vaulting Mother): “This year since Nationals is located so far away in Kentucky our club decided to focus on Medal Testing. Our family is two years new to the world of vaulting so Medal Testing was yet another adventure awaiting our discovery.
WOW! What a positive experience this has been for all participating vaulters who walked away with smiling faces clutching their medals and pins on a somewhat overcast Utah day. Medal Testing is a great way for vaulters to measure their own skills against a national standard and to receive a tangible recognition. It is also a great way for beginners to gain some measured performance experience in a less stressful environment than that of a competition. Self confidence is built, friendships enjoyed, and team spirit increased.
An added bonus was the knowledge and insight we received from the Judge at our Q & A clinic. What is the best way to hold when I mount? What moves are best to incorporate into a Bronze level freestyle? What are the judges looking for as vaulters move up to the different levels? How do I increase my “stand” score from a 9.0 to a 10.0? Many other questions of the like were addressed and graciously answered by Kendel. Medal Testing added a whole new dimension to our own wonderful world of Vaulting!”
Jentry Cole -Trot Medalist and PreCanter Vaulter, age 10: “I really enjoyed testing for my trot medal and novice canter pin because it is a chance for me to be better. I’m so glad that our horses were good and that everyone performed well and passed with their goals in mind. Vaulting is so much fun and I can’t wait to be able to test for my Bronze medal soon, and hope to one day have my gold medal.”
Mary Allison (Vaulting Mother): “The day of AVA medal testing was a really interesting day for me, the parent of a newer vaulter, and someone who up until June of last year, had heard nothing of the sport.
I’ve seen many displays of the sport since that time, and every time it has been a somewhat boisterous event with lots of loud music and really entertaining environment. Medal Test day was indeed entertaining, but in a different sort of way. This was medal testing; every vaulting student willing to test was there; all determined to reach their next level of advancement. Ages from as young as four all the way to experienced adult; and all completely quiet, reverent even, to allow the judge to assess and the vaulter to concentrate. That was notable, but the spirit of support was most prevalent.
Everyone there was into each performance as well as just supporting the vaulters. Parents and family were there, mostly cheering silently from the sides. But of course that’s typical for most of their events. Another team (Technique) was also in attendance. Even they seemed just as right at home and genuinely seemed to care about the vaulter as well as the quality of work they had so dedicated themselves to achieve. Our judge was unbiased, yet still very focused on fairly giving each individual every chance to succeed, and even offered a short clinic Q & A session to help vaulters gain even more from their experience.
The spirit of sportsmanship and goodwill was prominent throughout the testing. From the beginning to the presentation of medals, only an uplifting feeling was experienced by everyone I spoke to. Furthermore the professionalism that was evident in the condition of the facilities, and in the little details of the program was very inspiring. I was very proud of each of our team members, coaches, and all those that helped put together the event. I am sure this added to my daughter’s sense of purpose and pride having attended this medal testing. I know it did mine!
Jessie Ahlborn -Trot Medalist and PreCanter Vaulter, age 14: “This was my first time doing medal testing. I wasn’t really quite sure about what to do or how I would be judged, but in the end medal testing was a wonderful experience for me. I got to learn more about my compulsories and how to do them properly. I had a great time and happy that all my hard work paid off. But I do think you should know that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for my coach KyLynn Warren, my lounger Venece Reed and Melissa Dunlevy, and our wonderful horses Ferrari and Stewart. The judge was also very amazing; she answered all of our questions without hesitation and even gave us tips on how to do better in our vaulting performances. I am so grateful for her and all the time she put into our medal testing.”
