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Woodside vaulters selected for World Equestrian Games

by Samantha Bergeson

Three members of the Woodside Vaulters equestrian vaulting club have been selected by the U.S. Equestrian Team to compete in the World Equestrian Games, being held from Sept. 25 to Oct. 10 in Lexington, Kentucky.

This international competition in vaulting, which is essentially gymnastics and choreographed dance on a moving horse, is held every four years.

Ali Divita, a two-time national champion, will be competing as one of the three individual women performers. The 21—year—old Redwood City resident is a student at the University of California, Berkeley, and placed first in the International Vaulting Concours earlier this year.

Katherine Wick, 17, is the first alternate rider for the woman's individual competition. She won first place in the Prize of Sparkasse in Aachen, Germany this past June.

Patrick Stevens, 19, is the first alternate rider for the men's individual competition. Stevens was the men's reserve national champion in 2009.

Other local participants the from Woodside Vaulters include Katrina Nibbi, 16, Tessa Divita, 13, and Ellie Gifford, 12. They are attending as part of the Friendship Team, a group of vaulters from across the United States. They will demonstrate vaulting in Kentucky Horse Park and in downtown Lexington during the games.

Also competing in the games are two vaulters from Quito, Ecuador, hosted by Woodside Vaulters: Marina Paulina Martinez Ribadeneira, 17, and Carla Martinez Restropo, 18. Both have been training in Woodside since early August.

Isabelle Parker is head coach of the Woodside Vaulters.

Go to woodsidevaulters.org for more information on Woodside Vaulters.