The United States Polo Association® Adds Four New Members to Team USPA
The United States Polo Association® (USPA) is pleased to announce the addition of four new members to Team USPA following a rigorous tryout and selection process that just concluded in Wellington, Florida. The new members of Team USPA are Wesley Bryan of Aiken, South Carolina, Connor Deal of Culpeper, Virginia, Jared Zenni of Lake Bluff, Illinois, and Jonny Lavine of Wellington, Florida. The Team USPA roster now includes 61 players.
Team USPA was created in 2010 to allow young players from around the United States to enhance their skills and grow the next generation of American polo. Team USPA provides mentoring, training, networking, and playing opportunities to young players so they can lead the way for the future of polo in America. The Team USPA program is funded in part through sales of the USPA’s officially licensed consumer brand, U.S. Polo Assn.
In addition to the valuable mentoring and playing opportunities Team USPA provides, these individuals will also receive training in a variety of areas to ensure each team member develops into a well-rounded player. Specific training areas include horsemanship, equine nutrition, and umpiring, as well as leadership, communication skills, and financial management.
“Team USPA represents the future of professional American polo and is therefore one of the most important player development programs of the United States Polo Association,” said Peter Rizzo, Chief Executive Officer of the USPA. “As polo’s national governing body, it is essential that we ensure our country continues to train and produce some of the world’s top polo players and continues to provide playing opportunities for our American players. I am proud of the work that Team USPA does to sustain us as a leader in global polo, the most recent indicator of which was our qualification for the upcoming final round of the FIP World Polo Championship.”
New Team USPA Member Player Profiles:
Wesley Bryan
Age: 17
Handicap: Outdoor 1.5; Indoor 2
Hometown: Aiken, South Carolina
Quote: “As a young player I’ve come to know many of those on Team USPA and understand the great benefits of the program. As soon as I was old enough to try out for the team I jumped at the opportunity, and am thrilled and honored to be named to the team.”
Connor Deal
Age: 19
Handicap: Outdoor 1; Indoor 1
Hometown: Culpeper, Virginia
Quote: “Ever since I started playing polo I’ve looked up to Team USPA members. It is a dream to now be one of them and I cannot wait for all of the experiences to come.”
Jared Zenni
Age 19
Handicap: Outdoor 3; Indoor N/A
Hometown: Lake Bluff, Illinois
Quote: “Being a member of Team USPA will help me achieve my career goals as a professional polo player. It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I feel extremely fortunate to have been selected.”
Jonny Lavine
Age 18
Handicap: Outdoor 1; Indoor 1
Hometown: Wellington, Florida
Quote: “It is an honor to be a part of such a well-organized and prestigious program. I plan to utilize all of the resources Team USPA provides to its players that will take my game to the next level.”
“Team USPA is dedicated to growing young American talent with the right attitude and our selection process identifies candidates that can handle the pressures of being a professional polo player on and off the field,” said Charles Smith, Chairman of Team USPA. “We want young talent that is eager to grow their polo career through our program’s opportunities, and I believe we found that with these exemplary athletes.”