In a thrilling finish, Catamount won the USPA Sieber Memorial Tournament with a 12-11 overtime victory over Palm Beach Equine Saturday on an emotional day at Grand Champions Polo Club.
With the U.S. and Mexico flags flying half-staff in honor of polo great Carlos Gracida, who died in a polo-related accident on Tuesday, his two sons played in his honor for his team Catamount in the 12-goal final.
Catamount player-patron Scott Devon and brothers Carlitos (2) and Mariano Gracida (3) observe a moment of silence for their father Carlos before the Sieber Memorial Tournament final. Photo by Scott Fisher
After Palm Beach Equine’s Luis Escobar converted a penalty-two to send the game into overtime, Carlitos Gracida had an amazing pickup in the air to stop a scoring drive and passed to his younger brother Mariano, who sprinted 180 yards to score the winning goal.
Carlitos Gracida, who wore the colorful band his father used to wear on his polo helmet, was named Most Valuable Player.
Mariano Gracida’s horse Maharaja was named Best Playing Pony.
Catamount’s Mariano Gracida (3) and teammate Chris Nevins (4) pursue the ball. Photo by Scott Fisher
“I don’t think you could have asked for a better ending,” said an emotional Catamount player-patron Scott Devon.
“Carlos would be smiling and he wants us to be happy. I couldn’t think of anything better than having his boys with me. It was just meant to be.”
Devon said he asked Gracida’s sons to play with him in the final.
“It’s been a very emotional week,” Devon said. “It was tough for me. I practiced Thursday and that helped a lot to get back on a horse. It’s a grieving process.”
The game was the start of an emotional day for the Gracida family and friends. The day ended with beautiful and touching “Celebration of Life” for Carlos Gracida at International Polo Club.
The Hall of Famer and former 10-goal rated player for 15 years was eulogized by hundreds during a public memorial including his sons who have followed his footsteps in the sport.
“He was the most noble person,” Carlitos Gracida said during the ceremony. “He was never satisfied with himself. He never knew how valuable he was as a person, as a champion.
“Mariano and I are going to keep working and we’re going to stay strong and keep doing everything he would have wanted us to do,” he said.
Said Mariano, “My father was a man of greatness in all he did, whether it was as a father, a polo player or a teacher.”
A moment of silence was held at the morning game before Catamount (Scott Devon, Carlitos Gracida, Mariano Gracida, Chris Nevins) and Palm Beach Equine (Agustin Arellano, Juan Bollini, Luis Escobar, Scott Swerdlin) battled for six hotly-contested chukkers.
On Sunday, a moment of silence was held at polo matches worldwide to honor Gracida’s legacy.
Catamount jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the opening chukker behind Carlitos Gracida’s three goals including one on a penalty shot and the game-winner.
Palm Beach Equine started to find its rhythm in the second chukker and started reeling in Catamount, shutting them out in the second (2-0) and third (3-0) chukkers to take a 6-5 halftime lead.
The teams battled back-and-forth in the second half with both teams squandering scoring opportunities to force the overtime.”It was a good finish,” Devon said.
Carlitos Gracida finished with a team-high four goals. Devon and Nevins each had three goals and Mariano Gracida had two goals.
For Palm Beach Equine, Escobar had a game-high six goals and Arellano added four goals.
The tournament is named in honor of polo player Rob Sieber, who died from a polo-related accident 29 years ago at Oak Brook, Ill.
Marge, Sue and John Sieber flew in from Ohio to watch the final and present the awards at the post-tournament ceremony.
For game recaps, news, features and photos of Grand Champions Polo Club-related eventsLive, go to www.grandchampionspoloclub.org.
Game video can also be seen at PoloNow Network at http://www.polonow.tv/.
2014 HIGH GOAL SEASON
FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 8: 20-Goal Iglehart Cup-Wednesday, Semifinal One, Faraway vs. Los Machitos/Heathcote, 4 p.m.; Thursday, Semifinal Two, Villa del Lago vs. Palm Beach Illustrated, 11 a.m.; Consolation, Casablanca vs. CT Energia, 4 p.m.; Saturday, Final, 1 p.m.
MARCH 7-23: USPA Piaget Gold Cup: Friday, Alegria vs. Flight Options, 3 p.m.; Saturday, Audi vs. Orchard Hill, 10 a.m.; MARCH 13, Audi vs. Flight Options, 3 p.m.; MARCH 16, Orchard Hill vs. Flight Options, noon; Audi vs. Alegria, 3 p.m.; MARCH 19, Semifinals, 1, 3 p.m.; MARCH 20, Butler Handicap Semifinals, 1, 3 p.m.; MARCH 23, Butler Handicap Final, noon; USPA Piaget Gold CupFinal, 3 p.m.
MARCH 26-APRIL 20: 110th Maserati U.S. Open Polo Championships
GRAND CHAMPIONS @ PALM BEACH POLO 2014 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (HOTLINE 561-373-0073)
MARCH: Madelon Bourdieu Memorial (5 goals); The Limited Edition 8-Goal Series; USPA Regional President’s Cup (8 goals); $50,000 National 12-Goal Tournament; The Top Pony 12-Goal Series; Santa Rita Abierto (16 goals).
APRIL: Las Acacias (5 goals); USPA Association Cup (8 goals); Museum of Polo & Hall of Fame Challenge Cup (12-goals); John T. Oxley Memorial Trophy (16 goals).
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB SCHEDULE (561-644-5050)
SUNDAY: Great Futures Celebrity Polo Match, 10 a.m., benefitting the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington.
MARCH 17: Buzz Welker Memorial Tournament
APRIL 4-5: Fifth annual Gay Polo League International Tournament
APRIL 8-12: Women’s Championship Tournament
GRAND CHAMPIONS POLO CLUB
WHERE: 13444 Southfields Road, on the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 33414.
INFORMATION: There are great field side views for tournament action at the home base of pro teams Audi and Flight Options. Everyone is welcome to watch high, medium and low goal polo in a relaxed atmosphere during the winter, spring and fall tournament season and other special eventsLive including International Cup in November, Buzz Welker Memorial Junior Tournament in March, ProKidz Tournaments in the spring and fall, Women’s Championship Tournament and Gay Polo League International Tournament, both in April.