Donate to help send our very own VersaSpear athletes on Team USA to New Zealand to compete at World Freshwater Spearfishing Championship.
All donations will go directly toward supporting our VersaSpear Athletes and support staff as they travel to New Zealand to represent Team USA at the 2026 World Freshwater Spearfishing Championship.
Funds will be used to cover essential expenses including travel, lodging, gear, equipment, and other costs associated with getting our team to the competition.
We deeply appreciate your support in helping our athletes compete at the highest level on the world stage.
Your generous support plays a vital role in helping our team compete on the world stage and make the most of this incredible journey.
Shelby is one of the most decorated freshwater spearfishers in the world. She’s a nine-time IUSA world record holder (six currently standing), with six national women’s titles to her name. Shelby is the reigning Women’s National Champion. Representing Team USA in three Freshwater World Championships, she earned a 3rd place individual finish in 2017, and 2nd in 2021 and 2023. In 2023, she also helped the U.S. Women’s Saltwater Team secure 3rd place at the CMAS Worlds in Spain.
Shelby entered the sport in 2014, introduced by her husband, Ryan. Since then, she’s rapidly risen to elite status, proving herself as both a fierce competitor and a supportive mentor. Through VersaSpear, she now teaches freediving with a focus on confidence, safety, and female empowerment in the sport.
Ryan is a world-class spearfisher, PFI Freediving Instructor, and co-founder of both VersaSpear and Utah Spearos. With over a decade in the sport, he has built one of the strongest freshwater diving communities in the country.
He holds two IUSA world records (one currently standing), four state records (two standing), and a remarkable history of tournament wins. Ryan has represented the U.S. at three Freshwater World Championships, placing 2nd in both 2021 and 2023. His mixed team titles with his wife, Shelby, include four 1st place wins at Nationals and podium finishes dating back to 2017.
More than a competitor, Ryan is a mentor and advocate—collaborating with state wildlife agencies to promote safe, sustainable spearfishing across the U.S.
Emily may be newer to competitive spearfishing, but she’s quickly become one of the most focused and passionate divers on the team. With a background in long-distance swimming, fishing, and boating, she brings natural instincts to the water—paired with an analytical mindset.
She studies satellite imagery, depth maps, and species-specific fish behavior to prepare for every dive. Emily’s combination of enthusiasm, curiosity, and discipline makes her a rising star. She’s ready to represent Team USA with pride, precision, and relentless drive.
Greg is a passionate outdoorsman, husband, co-founder of VersaSpear and father of five whose life changed in 2021 when he saw a spearfisher haul in a halibut and lobsters on a beach in California. The very next day, he walked into a dive shop, bought gear, and signed up for a freediving course—and hasn’t looked back since.
Greg quickly established himself as a leader in Utah’s freshwater spearfishing scene. He’s been active in competitions hosted by the National Freshwater Spearfishing Association and has successfully hunted a wide variety of freshwater species. He brings a fierce but thoughtful approach to every dive, and he's excited to test his skill set on the world stage in New Zealand.
Jess began spearfishing in 2019 and quickly established herself as a top competitor and advocate in the sport. She earned 2st place in the Women’s Team division and 3rd place individually at the 2024 Freshwater Nationals in Wisconsin, followed by a 3rd place Women’s Team finish at Lake Pleasant in 2025.
Jess is the founder of Dive Like A Girl, a Florida-based women’s spearfishing group that empowers female divers through trips, training, and community support. Her passion for the sport is matched only by her commitment to safety—always putting family first and diving with the goal of returning safely to her husband, Jason, and their daughters, Zoey and Amy.
At just 13 years old, Gordon is diving as a Junior Team USA member, bringing incredible curiosity, courage, and talent to the water. Gordon has already competed in multiple Utah spearfishing tournaments and explored Lake Powell with a spear in hand.
Outside the water, Gordon is a true hands-on learner—he loves building STEM projects, 3D printing, and taking apart anything he can attempt to reassemble. He’s an avid gardener, backyard snake-catcher, and the best big brother anyone could ask for. When he’s not diving, you’ll find him hiking with friends to a local pond or exploring something new in the wild.
Gordon represents the future of U.S. spearfishing—and he’s off to an incredible start.
Scott discovered spearfishing in Monterey, California and immediately knew it was something he had to pursue. After facing the challenges of learning the sport solo and later moving to Utah, he co-founded VersaSpear to help others access the sport more easily—with community, performance, and safety at the forefront.
Scott brings over 25 years of diving experience. He’s also a husband, father of three, MedTech innovator, food snob, and backyard pitmaster. His stats speak to his capability: a static breath hold of 4 minutes and 55 seconds, a personal freedive depth record of 109 feet, and a single-day haul of 175 fish.
These are the top 5 donors, listed in order of donation size.
Current minimum donation to be on the list: $25
Current TOP SPOT minimum: $105