Junior Polo Tourney Showcases Wellington’s Stars Of Tomorrow Story by Sharon Robb Photos by David Lominska
Wellington has become a hotbed for junior polo players. During the high goal polo season from January through April, several junior tournaments take place, including the recent Buzz Welker Memorial Tournament at the Grand Champions Polo Club. Based on the display of polo at the junior-level tournament, the sport’s future looks brighter than ever. On a sun-drenched Monday afternoon, with 10-goal pro players Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, Sapo Caset, Miguel Astrada and Adolfo Cambiaso watching from the sidelines with friends and family, junior polo players of all ages competed in the annual event in a fun, festive atmosphere. In the featured game, the Polo School at Grand Champions defeated Lechuza Caracas, 7-4, to win the four-chukker championship. Matias Gonzalez and Justin Daniels each scored three goals. Grant Ganzi added one goal, and Benjamin Avendano played well defensively. Gonzalez was named the
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Hope Arellano of the Palm Beach Equine Clinic team.
game’s Most Valuable Player. At 14, he recently made his 26-goal debut playing for injured Zacara team captain Lyndon Lea in the USPA Piaget Gold Cup. “I have been playing these tournaments since I was 5 with my dad,” Gonzalez said. “After we play the 20 and high goal, we come back and teach the kids to give back to the sport, and so they get a chance. It’s nice to all grow up playing together. Hopefully, we will be doing this for the rest of our lives. My dream is to play high goal so they can teach me, and I can learn more.” Ganzi, 14, a freshman at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, is carrying on his family’s tradition in polo. He started playing polo at age 5 and competing seriously at age 12. “It’s a great advantage to
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On a sun-drenched Monday afternoon, with 10-goal pro players Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, Sapo Caset, Miguel Astrada and Adolfo Cambiaso watching from the sidelines with friends and family, junior polo players of all ages competed in the annual event in a fun, festive atmosphere.
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May 2013 |wellington the magazine|