Middle School League

Beth Supik - GFS ‘98 & CSU ‘02

The 2020 Middle School Tournament season kicked off the weekend of September 19-20 at Marlan Farm in Freeland, Maryland, where four teams competed. It was the first of 13 scheduled nationwide fall tournaments in which USPA members enrolled in an academic program ranging from fifth grade through eighth grade can compete. Students enter a tournament as individuals and teams are decided based on the number of students entered and are balanced based on experience. The Middle School Tournament League began in the fall of 2014 and has continued each fall since. The intent was to provide an opportunity for the growing numbers of the I/I program’s youngest players to gain experience in tournaments, allowing them to play against competitors of the same ability and age. The response to this program has been overwhelming in participation and enthusiasm that expands each year. I have had the opportunity to manage many of these tournaments throughout the years on the East Coast from Maryland to Rhode Island. I have known some of these player's families since before they were born and others I have met in early adolescence. They range variably in polo experience and horse experience, yet all express great enthusiasm to play and learn their way around the barn and the ponies. They also demonstrate such seriousness toward the occasion to play with others on a team participating in a tournament and leave their hearts in the arena at the end of a game. Teaching children not only requires great skill, but it is a gift. The coaches who have connected with children with the curiosity and tenacity to learn polo at such a young age are worthy of praise. It takes great patience and knowledge to provide a safe and productive environment for these young players to learn in. These coaches are such positive role models to these children in their development as players as well as young adults. The polo ponies selected for these young players are truly saints. They travel straight, steady, and ever patiently with the players. I have watched ponies at this level literally kick a ball forward multiple times the length of an arena to aid a child as they desperately try to connect their mallet with it. They stand like statues as multiple children tirelessly tack them up and/or untack them. These ponies offer so much to the young players: patience, confidence, selflessness, and are critical in solidifying a passion for the ponies as well as the sport. The parents of these players are so supportive of their children as well as the program as a whole. The energy they bring to a tournament is incredible. They are not just parents to their own children, but to all involved at the tournament. Armed with bottled waters, Band-Aids, provisions of all sorts, as well as a smile; they are the heartbeat of a tournament. One very exciting and beneficial act I have witnessed at various Middle School tournaments is the participation of Interscholastic players working with the Middle School players; a strategy executed by a coach who hosts countless Middle School and Interscholastic tournaments. These Interscholastic players put on a black and white striped shirt and carry a whistle along with the designated USPA umpire and learn to officiate. Also, every team in said tournament will have an Interscholastic player as their coach. Many of these coaches and umpires are Middle School polo graduates themselves and it’s amazing to see them give back to the younger generation, many of whom look up to them for their leadership skills and ability in the arena. It is a true testament that the Middle School program continues to be a success when so many players have chosen to stay committed to playing onward to the Interscholastic and Intercollegiate levels. They have honed their mallet skills, team play, sportsmanship, and horsemanship for many years and as a result the quality and depth of I/I polo has soared. I have watched them mature in and out of the arena. I have witnessed many of them win National titles at Interscholastic Championships and I have seen their hearts break in defeat, but with grace. I have relied dearly on many of them as a manager, to help keep

an I/I tournament & Texas Christian running smoothly, University), Lila particularly with Bennett (Garrison the care of multiple Forest School strings of ponies & University of at any given Kentucky), Patricio tournament. I have Fraga- Errecart taught so many (Commonwealth how to bandage Polo Club & legs, tack a pony Cornell), Abby properly, and Grant (Maryland how to fill in a Polo Club & scoresheet, and University of now they are my St. Andrews), extra eyes and Grace Grotnik hands for me. I (Myopia Polo have awarded them Club & Southern many awards- All ABOVE: Jolie Zepp going to goal at Marlan Farm. PC: Kelly Wells. Methodist Star, Horsemanship, PREVIOUS: Linnea Johnson on Spider-Man at the Central Coast Polo Club. PC Lori Sortino University), Lea Jih- and Sportsmanship Vieira (Mountain at various I/I tournaments nationwide. There are quite a few View Polo Club & Cornell), Vance Miller lll (Prestonwood players I presented with their first award ever at a Middle Polo Club & University of North Texas), Anson Moore School tournament and I have given them countless more, (Houston Polo Club & Texas Tech University), Parker literally, especially the Sportsmanship Award. Pearce (Maryland Polo Club & University of Virginia). There are nine players who were in eighth grade and played Of these nine players, seven of them have been granted in the first year of Middle School and have now completed USPA Intercollegiate Scholarships. The requirements for their first year of Intercollegiate polo in the 2019-2020 this award (financial support renewable for up to four season, an amazing accomplishment. They played all four years) are for players who have played at least two years years of Interscholastic polo as well. Proudly, here they of Interscholastic polo, compete on an Intercollegiate are as well as the Interscholastic and Intercollegiate teams team, have a 3.0 GPA, have written a short essay, and they represent: Kaylin Bender (Garrison Forest School have two letters of recommendations. The selection

Kareem Rosser - WTR ‘11 & CSU ‘16

I/I Alum Kareem Rosser shares the exciting news about his upcoming book, Crossing the Line. “I am incredibly excited about the release of my upcoming memoir, Crossing the Line. The book gives an entirely different perspective than what has been covered in the media. I take the opportunity to detail my childhood struggles and the constant adversity my family faced living in West Philadelphia. At the same time, how the Work to Ride Program and polo saved my life. I hope my story inspires a generation of people. The publication date is February 9, 2021. I am encouraging everyone to purchase a copy. I will be giving half of the proceeds to the Work to Ride program.”

is then based on the player’s horsemanship, sportsmanship, playing ability, contribution to the sport, and academic excellence and character. The seven players are: Kaylin Bender, Lila Bennett, Patricio Fraga- Errecart, Grace Grotnik, Lea Jih- Vieira, Vance Miller lll, and Parker Pearce. They say it takes a village to raise a child. There are many who help mentor, support, and dedicate countless hours to the success of the Middle School program as well as each individual tournament. Without knowledgeable and patient professionals, supportive parents, and well-suited polo ponies, this program would never have seen a second season, nor would these young players be inspired to continue their development and love for the sport of polo as countless of them have continued to do. This is the magic of Middle School Polo.

Tinicum Park Polo Club in Erwinna, Pennsylvania, announces its new interscholastic program and the start of their first I/I Open polo team. Initiated for the increasing number of young players in the club, the Tinicum Park Polo Club I/I team has come together because of the ambition, competitive spirt, and comradeship of a few young home-grown players. Team Members Owen Halliday (17), Abdullah Chaudhry (15), Jawed BenMoussa (15) and Daniel Arnold (13), have been practicing as a team since early October but have known and played together since an early age. Daniel, Owen and Abdullah are second generation polo players with parents who are long-time members of Tinicum Park Polo Club. Jawed entered the scene via the club’s polo lessons. Emerging as a natural progression of the commitment of the young players to polo it took a series of fortunate events for the program to get off the ground. Foremost, enough young players had to become old enough and practiced enough to be eligible to form a high school team. The family-friendly atmosphere of Tinicum Park Polo Club helped foster this pursuit by encouraging youth to pick up foot mallets and participate in “kids chukkers,” a chukker for children on a short field at halftime. The club also hires youth to work at the games. Flagging and manning the score board has introduced a few to the field. Owen Halliday and Jawed BenMoussa work at the club as well as play, sometimes doing both the same day. The opportunities the USPA and the PTF offers youth created a horizon of competition, fun and comradeship that came into vision as the years went by. Daniel Arnold, a veteran of I/I Polo has played in the I/I Middle School League for the last few years. Winning the final game in 2019 at the Aiken Polo Club and being awarded an All Star in every I/I Middle School Tournament he has competed in, Daniel’s maturing to high school polo was instrumental in having the I/I program at Tinicum Park Polo Club take off. The home of the Tinicum Park Polo Team is Azra Equine Club in Allentown, New Jersey. Owned by club member and polo player Affan Iftikhar and managed by Hesham ElGharby. The club’s recent move of its winter arena program to Azra Equine Club was a key factor in the successful start of the I/I program because of the ideal facilities for tournament play. There is an outdoor and indoor arena and accommodations for spectators. The all-encompassing support of parents, an essential ingredient for a youth program to succeed, is no exception to the Tinicum Park Polo I/I team. Cheryl Arnold, Daniel’s mother has applied her skills for organizing and scheduling games in assembling a full fall schedule of home and away games. This has been a particular challenge with the safety precautions related to COVID-19. Ayesha Chaudhry, Abdullah’s mother, who encouraged

her sons to play at a young age, feels the experiences offered in polo provides chances to seize the moment; meaning it is important to learn to appreciate the fleeting magic moments that make life special, which are found in abundance in polo. The dedication of the Tinicum Park Polo Board to programs which support the growth of the club resulted in unanimous votes to approve financial support to the I/I team. The consistent upward mobility of the 27 yearold club is due in part to a plan for growth and future sustainability. They have embraced the I/I team as a means of bringing players into the game and supporting young people in learning how to play polo. Jawed BenMoussa joined the I/I team after hearing about it when he was working at the club. When asked what he looks forward to the most about being on the team he said, “I am looking forward to learning, learning about polo.” Horses, the lifeblood of anything polo, came into play as a piece of the puzzle for the program to come together. The program needed an adequate number of polo ponies for the team and the visiting teams to meet the split spring requirements of I/I games. A combination of horses from the team member’s family strings and the horses in the club’s arena polo program stepped forward to add interscholastic polo to their careers. Riding an array of horses is one of the opportunities of the I/I program and according to Owen Halliday he “likes the experience of riding different horses and it is making me a better rider.” These factors aligned with the immeasurable value of a good coach made the long-anticipated youth program come to life. The passion which Coach Hesham ElGharby, also the manager of the club, has for teaching and coaching polo inspires each individual member to work together as a team. When asked how he likes teaching high school players, polo Hesham explained that Find Fields, he has always loved teaching and likes any Ponies ins & Services tantly new teaching challenge. The new Tinicum Park Polo Club I/I team has begun a fun season of practice and games. They artemispolo.com look forward to meeting and playing new teams, as well as seeing and playing the members of teams whom they have already gotten to know in the games they have under their belts.

I/I Alum Holly Holleran has something sweet! Former intercollegiate player at Skidmore and I/I coach, she is also the founder of Tico’s Whoopies. Holly understands the value of giving back and supporting the I/I Program and through her fundraising campaign, Tico’s is offering a year-round opportunity to fundraise for I/I clubs. Tico’s Whoopies ships delicious, gourmet whoopie pies nationwide for any special occasion including care packages at school, birthdays, holidays or business gifts. The “Tico’s 10%” program is very similar to Amazon Smile. When placing an order, customers select the USPA interscholastic or intercollegiate club of their choice on the checkout page and the club will receive a percentage of the sales. Taking advantage of the program, Work to Ride has already raised some much needed funds this year. Easy to launch, the Tico’s Whoopies I/I fundraiser is a great way to start earning money for your I/I team. Checks will be sent to the club on a monthly basis.

A military "cohort" of wounded vets, a string of Harvard polo ponies and a small squad of college players combined with an unusual and useful activity at the Harvard Polo & Equestrian Center in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, last fall. In lieu of a normal intercollegiate season mounting competing visiting teams every weekend, the pandemic limitations prompted an alternate approach of hosting small groups of wounded military vets every other weekend to groom, graze, tack, ride and, most significantly, get needed respite from the Harvard horses. The program was developed out of the Boston-based Home Base, started modestly by the MGH (Mass. General Hospital) and the Boston Red Sox in 2009 to provide intense clinical treatment for wounded vets dealing with PTSD and related conditions of "the visible and invisible wounds of war.” The groups of about a dozen vets enrolled in each two week program were male and female, active duty and retired, from all services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard) and from throughout the country. A few were accompanied by service dogs. With the pandemic ebbing and flowing, they were checked regularly by MGH doctors for negative COVID-19 results. Virtually all events were outdoors with distancing and masking in effect. The “horse break" halfway through the two-week clinical program worked remarkably well for all involved. The horses enjoyed the special attention, the vets enjoyed the tactile connection - grooming, watering, grazing and then sitting gently on their backs. And the small band of attentive Harvard volunteers, active players and polo alums, may have received the biggest benefit of all. That two regular volunteers had full military experience dating back to the Vietnam War smoothed out any rough spots. Most of each weekend revolved around the horses and

culminated with a demonstration game, outdoor or indoor, at Myopia for the vets to witness their own favorite horses and undergrad players perform. The first experience of seeing the rough and tumble of a polo game was a highlight for many vets. Horses and polo weren’t the only action however. Hiking on local trails, cutting brush or fixing fencing, a taste of gardening, an impromptu Army-Navy triathlon (including foot polo and a team treasure hunt) and a quick visit to the nearby Patton Homestead to see the memorabilia of General George S.Patton added to the weekend activities. Harvard Polo hosted almost 100 wounded vets over different weekends during the fall as well as ten ER doctors and their families from MGH to benefit from some welcome horse therapy. The Home Base evaluations by the vets were consistently high, ranging from “learned from the horses” to "great to be outdoors in the country,” to “helped get my head out of my own problems” to, on occasion, “best and most useful part of the whole Home Base program.”

How creative can you get with electrical tape? Poway’s annual electircal tape challenge produced a rainbow of artsy decorations from head to toe. Marisa Carelli pictured here, turned her pony into a magical unicorn! (but we already know all I/I ponies are unicorns, don’t we?!)

Hayley Heatley Bray - Southern Methodist University ‘14

Tiger Kneece stepped into the role previously held by Chrys Beal as United States Polo Association Junior Polo Committee Chair. “Chrys Beal has done a phenomenal job laying the foundation for the Junior Polo Committee. Her enthusiasm for youth players has turned the NYTS program into one that kids across the country talk about. I appreciate her support and I am excited to continue to Tiger Kneece with his Aiken Polo Club Girls’ Interscholastic Team who won the 2020 USPA Southeastern Girls’ Interscholastic Regional impact our young American players,” said Kneece. After many years of service and dedication to the USC Aiken team and a group of younger players coming Junior Polo Committee, Beal will now focus her efforts on up in the ranks. Tiger also serves as the Interscholastic continuing to grow the National Youth Tournament Series Coaches Representative on the I/I Committee and is part (NYTS) Program. of the I/I Leadership Group. Kneece is a former 7-goal American player who now The Junior Polo Committee will move forward with three resides in Aiken, South Carolina, horse country. During focused initiatives, NYTS, the Young Player Opportunity his 25-year tenure as a professional polo player, Kneece (YPO) Grant and Junior Player Development. Beal was won the coveted U.S. Open Polo Championship®, instrumental in the development of the NYTS program USPA Gold Cup®, Monty Waterbury®, Silver Cup® and has pioneered its growth. Her drive to support and Copper Cup®. His talent on the field led him to young female players led to the addition of the All-Girls playing opportunities across the globe including Canada, division at NYTS National Championships in 2018. The Mexico, England, Switzerland, Germany, South Africa and NYTS Subcommittee has its sights set on expanding the Australia. Kneece excels at training polo ponies and hosts National Championship event in the near future. Despite a polo school aptly named “Polo Adventures.” Introducing the challenges of 2020, there continued to be significant people to the sport of polo is one of the main focuses of his participation and enthusiasm from clubs and players. The polo school. Kneece and his wife, Susie, work in tandem Oak Brook Polo Club will host the 2021 NYTS National running the Aiken Polo Club as Polo Manager and Director Championship event on their historic downtown Chicago of Marketing. He has played an active role in the NYTS field. program, hosting one of the largest qualifier tournaments The YPO Subcommittee led by Carolyn Stimmel aims each year in Aiken and working as a coach at the NYTS to reopen applications in the near future. The YPO Grant National Championship. Aiken Youth Polo is home to a is designed to provide support for young players seeking girls and open high school team, a men’s and women’s an opportunity to improve in the sport and play higher

level polo. American players have utilized the YPO Grant to play overseas and within the U.S. As part of Junior Player Development, Kneece will continue to work on an idea initiated by Chrys Beal. “It has always been my dream to have a Junior Open,” says Beal, “I feel that we are getting close to making it happen.” Identifying and capitalizing on training opportunities in Argentina remains are the forefront of the committee’s agenda. Argentina provides many avenues for young players to play at a higher level than they are accustomed to. The height of the season in Argentina coincides with a slower time for polo in the United States. In addition to pursuing training in Argentina, the Junior Committee remains committed to encouraging the development of good horsemanship through existing programs including I/I, NYTS coaching and YPO Opportunities. Raising the level of horsemanship of young American players will, in turn, elevate the level of play. Kneece has looked outside of polo to other equestrian disciplines to see what has been successful in recruiting and retaining participants. “I believe we need to direct some of our focus on the middle school age players. I have found that this is the time when parents and the kids are still exploring options for what sport to pursue seriously before entering high school,” comments Kneece. “You will have hunter jumper or three-day eventer players try polo, but it is difficult to get them to fully commit when they already are invested in another discipline.” By introducing players to polo at an earlier age, there is a great possibility of them engaging and committing to the sport. Through the various programs offered by the USPA, the Junior Committee hopes to make an impact in growing the USPA membership and elevating the level of young American polo players.

John Bianco - USPA Certified Umpire

I love the game of polo. Playing and umpiring over the years, I have met all kinds of extraordinary people and seen some interesting places. When asked to do this article, I was a little apprehensive at first. One thing that helped me decide was a chance to tell everyone how amazing I think the I/I program is. The tournament managers do such an outstanding