2010 USPA National Intercollegiate Championships in Charlottesville, VA
The Virginia Polo Center in Charlottesville, VA is hosting the 88th annual USPA National Intercollegiate Championships (NIC) from April 5 – 10, 2010.
Last year’s Championship series was dominated by UVA winning both the Men’s and the Women’s competitions. UVA men are favored this year but many feel that Texas A&M will be a strong contender and two other hopefuls are Texas Tech and Colorado State.
On the women’s side, Cornell enters as the #1 seed, but they have to get by University of Kentucky first to get to the final. UVA and Texas A&M women will vie for the other final spot.
Although the national title is on the line, Louis J. Lopez, Jr., UVA Coach and Manager of the Virginia Polo Center, says that the NIC should be celebrated for “The great camaraderie and sportsmanship that exists between these competitors. The sport of polo in the U.S. has created a strong community of enthusiasts and players alike. We are proud to be able to support that and ensure the longevity of its competition in this country by engaging young players at the collegiate level. These individuals are truly the future of the sport in the U.S. ”
Regional and national intercollegiate polo competition is organized by the United States Polo Association (USPA) and tournaments are held throughout the country during the school year. Teams scheduled to compete include California Polytechnic State University, Cornell University, Colorado State University, University of Idaho, University of Kentucky, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, University of Virginia, and Washington State University.
Intercollegiate polo is played in an arena with goal posts at each end. Although there is no hard-and-fast rule on the size of an indoor field, an ideal playing area is 100 yards (300 feet) in length by 50 yards (150 feet) in width, enclosed in solid board walls and gates. Each team consists of three players along with their equine counterparts. Players and horses can attain speeds up to 30 miles an hour, stopping and turning on a dime in an effort to outscore the opposition. Mounted umpires maintain control of the game calling fouls when necessary and at all times ensuring safe play to protect the welfare of both horse and rider.
Visit www.uspolo.org for schedule and rosters.