The Humans of DogDash
Mathias & Amy Bergmann
Mathias and Amy discovered flyball after seeing a tournament in Ashland (not knowing at the time that it was a DD tournament!). In 2017, they reached out to the team and then began training their dog Maddy for flyball. With Maddy off and running, in April 2021 they adopted Minnie to add a second flyball dog. What they most like about flyball is seeing the spoiled pups and all the swag (color-coordinated harnesses, wraps, tugs, etc.).
Since 2019, the Bergmann dogs have also participated in dock diving, FastCAT, and disc sports like Toss & Fetch and UpDog. The family also enjoys Richmond neighborhood hikes and James River walks. To pay for dog sporting adventures, Mathias and Amy work in higher education.
Matt Galiani
TBA
Summer Lee
TBA
Bill Pownall
Bill has been casually participating in flyball since 2008, and began competing more seriously after getting his own dog, Shine, in 2009. Bill’s favorite thing about flyball is the camaraderie, both with his own teammates and with members of other teams in and out of our region: “You go into a tournament thinking you know what to expect but there always seems to be a hiccup along the way. When that happens there is always someone, or several someone's, to help. Everything seems to somehow work out in the end and you learn. In the evenings, there is plenty of time to socialize with teammates and members of other teams.”
Bill works as a consulting forester with Forest Resources Management, which allows Shine to tag along many days and run through the woods all day while Bill is working. Outside of flyball, he enjoys spending time with his family and following the NC State Wolfpack.
Mark Pownall
Mark’s Flyball career began when he was a young teenager. As a junior handler, Mark learned all aspects of the game and became a top trainer with a keen eye. Mark’s first Flyball dog was Spark, a BC X Aussie rescue with enthusiasm to spare. They were a great team and fun to watch in the lanes. Then came Match, a Quicksilver BRat (Border Collie X Rat Terrier). Mark and Match are the perfect pair and excelled in Flyball and Agility.
Now pursuing a PhD in genetics at Yale University, Mark lives in Connecticut with his cat, Hallway, and joins the team for tournaments whenever he can to run Match and help the team.
Outside of Flyball, Mark enjoys climbing, hiking, spending time with friends.
Teresa Pownall
Teresa started playing flyball many years ago with her spirited, no-regrets, fun-loving lab Abby. While training in obedience, a classmate who was a member of DD suggested they give flyball a try, and they were hooked right away. Abby was the perfect “first” flyball dog. Teresa currently runs two Quicksilver Sport Mixes, Fizz, and Cabo.
Teresa’s favorite thing about flyball is the supportive flyball community: “In Region 9, people look for ways to support each other. It seems there is always someone nearby to lend a hand, just when you need it. And after a day of racing, there’s nothing better than hanging with flyball friends from around the region.”
Outside of flyball, Teresa enjoys hiking with her dogs and training with them in agility. When not doing “dog stuff,” Teresa works in the human resources field and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Carole Scotto
TBA
Jill Seamster
Jill got interested in Flyball after talking with Watson's breeder. She decided to give the sport a try by attending DD practice and hasn't looked back since. "I think I am most impressed with how everyone works together to make sure all team members are successful even if they are not currently running a dog in competition. " Jill is currently running Levy and continues to work on Watson’s flyball skills. Other dog sports Jill has participated in are Agility and Rally obedience.
Jill recently retired from Prince William County Schools where she was Instructional Technologist. She now teaches yoga once a week for Stafford House of Yoga. Besides dog sports Jill also enjoys hiking, kayaking, biking, and golf. She lives with her patient husband, five dogs, and cats. "Life doesn't get any better than this."
Tracy Sklenar
Tracy got hooked on flyball in 2019 thanks to Nacho’s savant-like aptitude for it. Nacho passed his wisdom along to Hot Sauce (mixy mix), Contraband (BorderWhippet), and Raman. When she’s not flyballing, Tracy can be found teaching & competing in agility!
Mandy Tinnemore
TBA
Elizabeth Woodhouse
DogDash Founders and Friends (K9K)
Michele Banalett
Sue & Ken Breeden
Brenna Dunn
Brenna has been playing flyball since she was eleven. After graduating from the Mathematics and Science High School at Clover Hill in 2019, she is devoting a gap year to working in Yellowstone National Park before going off to college in Montana. Brenna had trained her black lab, Wilson, to play flyball but he decided flyball was not for him. As a result, Brenna became the go-to designated runner for teammates outnumbered by their dogs. Until she left for Yellowstone in June 2019, Brenna was often the handler for Flare Brown and the “ghost whisperer” for Radar at tournaments. The thing that Brenna likes most about flyball is spending time with the dogs and her teammates. In addition to flyball, Brenna enjoys agility, hiking, and road trips with Wilson.
Trisha Ferris
Trish is the owner of Studio1, a graphic art studio. She started flyball in 2011 with her Aussie, Bella, as a way to keep her hyper pup exercised through the winter months. With no intention to join a team, she was eventually sucked into the sport. In 2013, Trish acquired Tucker, a miniature Aussie. Trish enjoys drawing, piddling around on her many stringed instruments, running, hiking, camping, swimming, biking, kayaking, playing frisbee with her pups, and hanging out with friends and family.
Amy Hendrickson
Amy joined the flyball world in 2011 when her dog, Jack, was having problems with weave poles and needed a change. Amy loves how flyball is something that brings joy: “It's about the teamwork with the dog and the challenge of just playing and getting them to do their best. I loved playing with Jack because he just had the most joy with his two favorite things, balls and tugs.”
Amy’s non-dog hobbies include home remodeling, gardening, chicken watching, and reptile husbandry. To support her dog habit she works in radiology at a local hospital in Richmond, VA.
John Nelson